Crystal Palace Dinosaurs

The days are getting shorter and colder, but we can wrap up warm and still undertake longer rides using public transport for the return!

This is a longer ride down to Crystal Palace in south-east London, to view the extraordinary dinosaur sculptures https://cpdinosaurs.org/. Most of the ride is on quiet back roads and through parks, but we do have some busy roads to navigate in Mitcham, so you need to be confident about riding in traffic. The final 8km/5 miles of the ride are the most challenging, as we climb the steep hill to Crystal Palace.

From Ealing, we ride through Richmond Park and down to New Maldon, then on through Raynes Park and Merton Park, for a short break in Morden Hall Park. Riding on through Mitcham, we reach Norbury, and the challenging climb through West Norwood, across Beulah Hill and on up to Crystal Palace.

We will make our way through Crystal Palace Park, stopping to admire the Sphinx sculptures at the top of the terrace, then making our way down to the Lower Lake where the dinosaurs live. We will have a refreshment stop at the café in the Park https://www.brownandgreencafe.com/brownandgreenlife and then make our way over to Crystal Palace London Overground station.

London Overground services from Crystal Palace run approx. every 15 mins. It is 35 mins to Whitechapel, where we can change onto the Elizabeth Line to Ealing Broadway; or you can take other routes, e.g. to Highbury & Islington. We would expect to return to Ealing by approx. 4- 4.30pm.

Ride across London to Crystal Palace Park, to view the famous dinosaur sculptures. Return by public transport.

Traffic free tracks and shared paths through parks; quieter roads where possible; some short stretches on busier roads. Steep ascents in the last 8km/5 miles.

Brief pause at Morden Hall Park. Time in Crystal Palace Park to view the dinosaurs and have a refreshment stop at the cafe.

Locks for your bike. Money/card for rail fare and cafe. Lights for your onward journey home.

First-timers welcome!