A full day leisurely, family-friendly outing to see the breath-taking azaleas in bloom in the Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park. This is the ideal opportunity for kids to climb trees, for adults to enjoy the largest park in London, and for all to enjoy a picnic and the flowers. Hopefully we’ll see the deer somewhere on route, too.
https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/richmond-park/things-to-see-and-do/isabella-plantation
Booking is required, through the LCC website here.
Meet 10:00 outside West Hampstead Station, on the plaza in front of the Marks & Spencer.
Overground train leaving at 10:30 to Richmond. Return expected at 17:00. Cycling distance: 15km.
Children are welcome and encouraged. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult (18+).
We are always looking for experienced cyclists to help those less confident.
Isabella plantation does not have a café where we are entering. Please bring picnic blankets and food and drinks as there is no option to buy any food or drink on route. Please bring bicycle locks to secure your bicycles outside the plantation.
We’ll take the Overground train to Richmond and back, so you will need Overground tickets (Oyster Cards and Bank Cards also work). Bicycles are permitted on the Overground on bank holidays all day. However non-folding e-bikes are not allowed. While both stations have lifts there is always a risk that lifts will be out of service and that we’ll have to carry bikes up and down stairs.
Parts of the route through Richmond Park are off-road on uneven ground. This route is only suitable for normal bicycles: it is not suitable for example for cargo bikes, box bikes or trailers.
The route is largely off-road on shared pedestrian paths but includes some usually quiet roads and some parts on busier roads. It includes some hills, notably one up from the river to Richmond gate where we will have to push the bikes up (or the ambitious ones can ride it of course!). Inside the park is another hill up to the Royal Ballet School.
Plans will be adjusted according to the group’s ability. The rough outline is as follows: we’ll stop for snacks and play near Sheen Gate. We’ll continue to Isabella plantation and have a longer picnic and break. We’ll have a shorter break on the playground at Petersham gate before riding back to Richmond station.
The proposed route is here and you can see a report on last year’s ride here.
Date: 4th May 2026
Time: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location West Hampstead Overground Station
Categories
Contact Name Anna Voelker
Contact Phone 07964666074
Contact email annavcycles@gmail.com