Top 20 Bike Parks around London

London and its surrounding areas offer a diverse range of cycling experiences. You'll find extensive mountain biking and trail centers like Epping Forest, Surrey Hills, and Swinley Forest, alongside dedicated BMX tracks such as Lee Valley VeloPark Olympic Rings, Merton BMX Track, and Burgess Park BMX Track. There are options for all disciplines and skill levels.

Yes, several bike parks cater to beginners. Swinley Forest offers green and blue graded trails, making it accessible for new riders. Chicksands Bike Park and S4P Bike Park also feature smaller jumps and lines designed for those looking to improve their skills in a forgiving environment. For a more relaxed ride, Richmond Park and Hyde Park provide scenic, cycle-friendly loops.

For more advanced riders, Surrey Hills is an excellent choice, known for its challenging climbs and long descents, including technical sections at Leith Hill and advanced trails like 'Northern Monkey'. Aston Hill Bike Park also offers steep, chalky hillsides with exposed tree roots and fast downhill trails for those seeking a thrill.

Many locations are great for families. Epping Forest has wide, easy paths suitable for family rides. Swinley Forest provides well-maintained, official singletrack with varied difficulty levels, including beginner-friendly routes. For BMX, Burgess Park BMX Track even offers balance bike sessions for children.

Absolutely. London boasts several top-tier BMX facilities. Lee Valley VeloPark Olympic Rings offers world-class facilities. Merton BMX Track, the biggest within the M25, provides sessions for all ages, and Burgess Park BMX Track is a professional-grade course with significant investment. Haggerston Park BMX Track also features unique elements like a wall ride.

Woburn Trails and Chicksands Bike Park are known for their sandy soil, which allows them to drain quickly and remain rideable in most conditions, including wet weather. S4P Bike Park also benefits from sandy dirt, making its jumps accessible year-round.

Many bike parks are reasonably accessible. Lee Valley VeloPark Olympic Rings is part of the Olympic Park, well-connected by public transport. While some mountain biking spots like Epping Forest are close to London, others like Surrey Hills or Swinley Forest might require a combination of train and a shorter ride or taxi. Always check specific park websites for detailed travel information.

Yes, some dedicated trail centers offer excellent amenities. Swinley Forest has a shop for rentals and guiding, a visitor center, and a cafe. Lee Valley VeloPark Olympic Rings includes equipment hire (bike and helmet) for taster sessions and has Café 42 Degrees. Merton BMX Track also offers equipment hire and coaching.

You'll encounter diverse natural landscapes. Epping Forest is an ancient woodland with technical, rooty singletrack. Surrey Hills offers soft, loamy dirt and natural trails. Wimbledon Common — Dirt Climb features a dirt climb through the common, which can get boggy. Aston Hill is characterized by a steep, chalky hillside with exposed tree roots.

Beyond bike parks, the London area offers a variety of outdoor pursuits. You can explore numerous running trails, including the Thames Path loop or the Tamsin Trail in Richmond Park. There are also many cycling routes, such as the Thames Path and Richmond Park Loop, or the Epping Forest loop. For hikers, easy trails like the Jubilee Walkway or routes through Walthamstow Marshes are available. Find more details in the Running Trails around London, Cycling around London, and Easy hikes around London guides.

Several spots are ideal for practicing dirt jumping. Woburn Trails features a notable jump area with massive central rhythm sections and jumps of all sizes. Chicksands Bike Park is 'littered with mostly hand-crafted treats' including jump lines. S4P Bike Park, created by pro riders, offers rollers and tabletop jumps for beginners, as well as bigger lines for experienced riders.

Swinley Forest is a dedicated, official singletrack trail center with well-maintained, waymarked loops for all skill levels (green, blue, red). It offers a comprehensive experience with amenities like bike hire, a repair shop, a visitor center, and a cafe. Its new skills area, 'The Summit,' is perfect for practicing jumps, drops, and turns, making it a great option for a fun day out on sweeping singletrack.

Aston Hill Bike Park is one of the longest-running official riding areas in the south of England. It's characterized by a steep, chalky hillside with exposed tree roots providing technical challenges. You'll find a mix of natural tracks, jump lines, and a cross-country loop, with features like 'Surface to Air' (long line of jumps and banked turns) and 'Root Canal' (J-turns). It caters to all skill levels, offering a chance to progress on varied obstacles and fast, steep downhill trails.