Explore London by bike

See more of London with a guided bike tour through the capital's most iconic areas.

Sightseeing by bike is a great way to see more of London and avoid spending most of your afternoon stuck underground on the Tube. There's never been a better way to explore on two wheels now that London is pro-bike and, you can’t deny, it’s a city full of photo opportunities and bike-friendly pavements and promenades. If you’re looking for things to do in London; look no further. Our favourite bike tour is the London Bicycle Tour Company who are based in Gabriel's Wharf, near Waterloo. A super central location and right on the banks of the Thames it’s easy to get to – and you get views from the start! A bike tour is both informative and invigorating, great for something a bit more interactive than sitting on a bus. Cycle through the streets of London and explore historic buildings and city secrets. Choose from three main tours to discover the different parts of London from exploring iconic central sights to a sport-focused Olympic voyage – there’s even a night cycle, too. The choice is yours... Cameras at the ready! Central Tour There are a number of tours around different parts of the city, but perhaps the most popular is the Central Tour. Taking you past the main attractions and monuments of London, this tour will let you discover some of the biggest landmarks in the heart of London, including Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace; as well as the contrasting glass facade of the financial district and the capital's more playful in the West End. Keep an eye out for a famous face! Setting off from Waterloo, you'll start along the Southbank taking in the stunning views along the Thames before crossing and winding your way through Westminster and over to St James's Park, where you'll be able to watch the Changing of the Guard at the home of Queen Elizabeth II, Buckingham Palace. Then it's back to Trafalgar Square and onto Leicester Square for a quick look at the colourful Chinatown, before heading onto the classic cobbled streets of Covent Garden. Tour the old law firms around Leather Lane Market and Smithfield Market before crossing over the Millennium Bridge (it used to be nicknamed the wobbly bridge, but don’t worry, it’s more secure now!). Not bad for three hours - it's definitely action-packed! But don’t worry there’s plenty of time to stop for a rest and a photo opportunity. Olympic Tour If your stamina is up to it and you’re after a marathon not a sprint (metaphorically speaking) the Olympic Tour is slightly longer at seven hours and is their latest addition since the 2012 London Games. Starting on the Southbank again, you'll cycle past attractions like the Tate Modern Art Gallery, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and over the world-famous Tower Bridge. Following East London's network of canals from Canary Wharf, you'll soon come upon the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and its centrepiece, the Olympic Stadium and new ArcelorMittal Orbit. Home to the London Games 2012, the Olympic Park spans 587 acres with an Aquatic Centre, Velodrome, Copper Box Arena and the new ArcelorMittal Orbit – the giant red spiralling monument with breath-taking views around East London and the City. Don’t worry, you won’t be cycling for the full seven hours, you’ll have time to stop and explore the park on your own - whether that's to nip up the Orbit for some picture-perfect panoramas or have a spot of lunch and a quick shopping trip in Westfield shopping. Night Tour Take your tour to another level – another time even – and discover London by night. The Night Tour presents London in a whole new palette, lit up in the cool evening as the sun’s gone down. A good choice in the summer for sweeping coloured skies and also to benefit from less traffic. Look out for the iconic London landmarks illuminated against the skyline for a totally different perspective. Starting at Gabriel's Wharf on the Southbank, you'll head east to Tower Bridge and St Katherine's dock, before heading through the City of London and over the Millennium Bridge to the Tate Modern Art Gallery. There's a quick stop at the Founders Arms pub, situated right on the river, a great photo spot for views up and down the Thames. You’ll then follow the river west to the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben – one of London’s most historic silhouettes and vistas. Carry on past the impressive Gothic UNESCO Westminster Abbey, where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were married, and onto Trafalgar Square and the cultural Covent Garden. If you’re lucky and there are minutes to spare, you can cycle through Chinatown and Soho – one of London’s most vibrant areas which comes alive at night. Keep it in mind for another night... Finally, finish off back near where you started, at Waterloo Bridge, conveniently by the trendy Studio 6 pub, just in case you've worked up a thirst with all that peddling. We think you deserve it. Find out more about London Bicycle Tour Company on their website and see how you can benefit with a London Pass...