London Cyclists
Discussion
Can any of you recommend a good route for getting between Euston Station and Milbank? I tired the route recommended by Google Maps today, in the morning it was fine because the traffic was light, but in the evening it was mental around Trafalgar Square and going up towards Fitzrovia (possibly due to being a Friday night too!). There must be some good back roads to use which are a bit quieter?
I'm not a commuter so it might worth be sanity checking this with someone who is, but I'd go
Woburn Place -> Southampton Row -> Kingsway,
Right into Kemble Street,
Left into Wellington Street,
Then ideally you'd want a right/left into Savoy Street, but IIRC the lights are phased to allow you to go straight on only. If so, you'll have to do something inventive like straight on just to cross the junction then immediate u-turn and wait for a green to turn left and left again into Savoy Street. Or just walk the bike across the pedestrian crossing.
How ever you get there, at the end of Savoy Street turn right onto the Embankment and CS3,
Right at the end onto Bridge Street,
First exit from Parliament Sq onto St Margaret St, leading to Milbank.
If the traffic bothers you on the first bit to Kingsway you can always take the first right, Endsleigh Gardens, then first left and go down towards Russell Square that way, then pick your way through the one-ways to Wellington Street. The roads are more minor but you'd have a greater number of give way junctions as a result.
Woburn Place -> Southampton Row -> Kingsway,
Right into Kemble Street,
Left into Wellington Street,
Then ideally you'd want a right/left into Savoy Street, but IIRC the lights are phased to allow you to go straight on only. If so, you'll have to do something inventive like straight on just to cross the junction then immediate u-turn and wait for a green to turn left and left again into Savoy Street. Or just walk the bike across the pedestrian crossing.
How ever you get there, at the end of Savoy Street turn right onto the Embankment and CS3,
Right at the end onto Bridge Street,
First exit from Parliament Sq onto St Margaret St, leading to Milbank.
If the traffic bothers you on the first bit to Kingsway you can always take the first right, Endsleigh Gardens, then first left and go down towards Russell Square that way, then pick your way through the one-ways to Wellington Street. The roads are more minor but you'd have a greater number of give way junctions as a result.
Edited by SixPotBelly on Saturday 10th December 20:42
I go from near top of Great Portland St down to the river, I've tried all sorts and I've found the best way to be through Marylebone, down Cumberland Place, Marble Arch, down Park lane, round through to Eaton Pl, then Sloane Sq, then right to avoid the lights to get into Royal Hospital Road, and then join Embankment at Chelsea Bridge.
It sometimes used to take me 10-12 mins to get from the office to Parliament Sq if I went down Regent St and Traf Sq etc, but now if its ok I can get onto Embankment at Cheyne Walk in 15 mins.
It sometimes used to take me 10-12 mins to get from the office to Parliament Sq if I went down Regent St and Traf Sq etc, but now if its ok I can get onto Embankment at Cheyne Walk in 15 mins.
"but in the evening it was mental around Trafalgar Square and going up towards Fitzrovia (possibly due to being a Friday night too!)."
I ride north from Trafalgar square towards Euston in the morning and South towards Trafalgar Square in the evening....Going North up Charing Cross road in the evening is a bit of a nightmare at the moment, I think due to the traffic light sequence around the Crossrail development by Centrepoint, but it does tend to be worst of all on Fridays, so you might find it a bit better during the week. Going South, I go down Gower Street, Bloomsbury Street , then Shaftsbury Avenue and Charing Cross Road. Normally this is OK, but I think they sometimes mess around with the light sequences at Trafalgar Square which causes a bit of a gridlock once every couple of weeks or so.
Never tried any detours via minor roads - I just tend to accept the traffic when it's a bit grim. As per earlier post, if the traffic is abnormally bad, most alternatives will be full of cars trying to avoid it anyway.
I ride north from Trafalgar square towards Euston in the morning and South towards Trafalgar Square in the evening....Going North up Charing Cross road in the evening is a bit of a nightmare at the moment, I think due to the traffic light sequence around the Crossrail development by Centrepoint, but it does tend to be worst of all on Fridays, so you might find it a bit better during the week. Going South, I go down Gower Street, Bloomsbury Street , then Shaftsbury Avenue and Charing Cross Road. Normally this is OK, but I think they sometimes mess around with the light sequences at Trafalgar Square which causes a bit of a gridlock once every couple of weeks or so.
Never tried any detours via minor roads - I just tend to accept the traffic when it's a bit grim. As per earlier post, if the traffic is abnormally bad, most alternatives will be full of cars trying to avoid it anyway.
ian996 said:
Never tried any detours via minor roads - I just tend to accept the traffic when it's a bit grim. As per earlier post, if the traffic is abnormally bad, most alternatives will be full of cars trying to avoid it anyway.
The exception to that rule is where the road is a dead end for cars but bicycles are permitted through. Like Wellington Street, in my suggestion.Google Street View
But otherwise I agree. It's generally quicker and easier to stick to the through roads.
Edited by SixPotBelly on Monday 12th December 12:09
I guess I was spoiled when I was cycling to Old Street, sure it was busy, but it wasn't as hectic as my new route!Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff