Leicester Square Christmas Market

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... An easy-going ride to Leicester Square for our first Christmas market of the year - and probably London's first Christmas market of the year. This ride is suitable for beginners who are comfortable on their bikes and want to develop their skills on the roads. It’s not a rushed ride, on the roads or at our break at the market.

We start off through back roads until we cross to Queen's Park and Carlton Vale and quiet roads of Maida Vale. We cross Marylebone Road, and soon we will be zig-zagging quiet and fashionable roads of Mayfair, arriving at Leicester Square from Piccadilly Circus. On the way back, we will push our bikes through the pedestrianised Chinatown then cycle back to Hyde Park and out in the direction of Paddington to join the Grand Union Canal, leaving at West Kilburn using quiet roads until we are back at Roundwood Park. The route is mostly flat.

Leicester Square is the home of Scenes in the Square, the bronze statues of several famous movies characters – they will be sharing the space with Christmas stalls of food and gifts but we should also be able to spot them. This is not an usual ride stop - we stay at the market for at least an hour and a half so we can enjoy what it has to offer. Therefore, you should bring a lock to park your bike while you walk around.

Helmets aren't compulsory but advisable. We recommend that you keep social distancing and wear a mask if entering a busy indoor space like a toilet.

Places are limited and sometimes get booked up with a waiting list. If you develop Covid-19 symptoms or have been told to self-isolate before the ride, or can't make it for any other reason, please ensure to cancel your space so someone else can join. Only riders who booked themselves on the ride will be allowed to join.

Unless the weather takes a nasty turn making it unsafe or unpleasant to cycle, this ride will go ahead even if it rains. Dress for the weather and bring a rain coat just in case.

We never leave anyone behind