London to Oxford By Bike

This cycling tour is suitable for most regular cyclists. You’ll spend much of the day in the saddle and you should be experienced with this to enjoy your holiday.

Before your tour, we recommend cycling a couple of consecutive days, so you get used to riding back-to-back days. Be sure to take into account the daily distances and elevation changes outlined in your itinerary.

The terrain is relatively flat, though it becomes hillier once you approach Wallingford in the Chiltern Hills.

You'll cycle along designated cycle paths and quiet country roads with the occasional stretch on busier roads as you approach towns. Most of the route (approximately 80%) is on asphalt.

You will avoid the hustle and bustle of London's busy roads by starting your ride on west London's quiet riverside paths in Putney, continuing through London's beautiful royal parks. Almost half of the route is traffic-free.

This tour is graded easy to moderate. Within the tour individual days may vary in difficulty - some might be a bit tougher or easier than the overall rating suggests.

You'll experience a variety of accommodation on this tour, from 4-star hotels to small, comfortable inns, all offering a warm welcome and traditional hospitality.

If you'd like to add extra nights along the way, or at the start or end of your tour, just let us know - this is a great way to build in a rest day or extra time for sightseeing.

Yes, solo travelers are very welcome. There will be a supplement because some costs, like transfers, aren't shared. Or if you'd like to book a single room, just ask. These are available for a supplement.

A hearty breakfast is included each morning. Lunch and dinner aren't included, so you're free to choose from the options along the way, with dinner available at your accommodation or nearby pubs and restaurants. The Chilterns in particular are known for their vineyards and sparkling wine, artisan bakeries and fresh local produce, and we've included some of our favourite spots in the app so you don't miss out.

You can start this tour anytime between March and the end of October. The South East of England sees changeable weather throughout the year, so waterproofs are essential whenever you travel. Summer months can get hot, so sunscreen is a must, while the shoulder seasons of March and October bring cooler temperatures. Spring, summer and fall are all good times to cycle, though spring and fall tend to be quieter on the cycle paths than July and August. Keep an eye on weather warnings before setting off each day, as poor conditions can affect surface conditions, and it's best to avoid cycling when a serious warning is in place.

Your bags will be collected from your accommodation each day and moved onto your overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg/44lbs per person.

It's vital that you adhere to these limits. Heavier bags, or additional items might not be transferred, and you may be charged locally. Airlines may have different allowances, but our luggage handlers do not have the same capacity or equipment, and their health and safety is our priority.

Navigation is straightforward using our app which has maps, tracks and daily route info. Simply download the information and tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone. Once on the trail you do not need signal for the app to work and follow your progress.

The cycling route is relatively well-waymarked along the way. Note that this is a distinct cycling route from the separate Thames walking path, which is a public footpath where bikes aren't allowed on some sections, so be sure you're following the correct markers.

You can easily make your way to Putney in West London from any of the London airports (Heathrow, Gatwick or Stansted), though we recommend Heathrow for both the start and end of your tour. Putney is well-linked, with both a National Rail station (Putney) and a London Underground station (Putney Bridge), and you can use Transport for London to plan your journey.

From London Heathrow Airport, you can take the Underground all the way to Putney Bridge in around 1 hour: take the Piccadilly line from Heathrow to Earl's Court, then change to the District line to Putney Bridge. Alternatively, take the Heathrow Express train to London Paddington (15-20 minutes, and we recommend buying a return ticket if you're heading back to Heathrow from Oxford), then the District line from Paddington to Putney Bridge (around 20 minutes).

From London Gatwick Airport, take the National Rail train from Gatwick to Clapham Junction, then another train on to Putney station (around 45 minutes in total). Alternatively, take the Gatwick Express train to London Victoria, then the District line from there to Putney Bridge.

From London Stansted Airport, take the Stansted Express train to Tottenham Hale, change onto the Victoria line to Victoria, then take the District line to Putney Bridge. Trainline and TfL are useful for planning your journey by train or Underground.

For your return, there are regular direct trains from Oxford back to London Paddington (around 1 hour). From Paddington, take the Heathrow Express to London Heathrow Airport (15-20 minutes). For London Gatwick, take the Elizabeth line from Paddington to Farringdon (around 10 minutes), then a National Rail train to Gatwick Airport (around 40 minutes). For London Stansted, take the Elizabeth line from Paddington to Liverpool Street (around 10 minutes), then the Stansted Express train.

You'll need your standard cycling gear. Bike hire comes with a pannier rack and bag, a pump, lock, a basic repair kit, and handlebar phone. On booking, our Tour Info will give you a complete packing list.

Since you'll have your bike with you, shortening or skipping sections may not be easy. For the best local advice on transport options for cyclists, please consult your accommodation provider or reach out to our local bike partner, where applicable.

We hire bikes suited to the terrain, including e-bikes for a bit of extra assist, in a range of sizes - just let us know your height when booking so we can get your frame right. If you would like to bring your own bike then, in the majority of cases, this is not a problem – please contact us to talk it through. We encourage all cyclists to wear a helmet, and it is law in many countries across Europe. We recommend bringing your own helmet for hygiene and safety reasons, however on most tours you can hire one.

The following bikes are available for hire:

Hybrid Bike: Scott Sub Sport 30. Included: dynamo lights, lock, water bottle holder, phone holder, rear pannier rack, mudguards, front suspension, hydraulic disc brakes and kickstand. Frame & forks: aluminium. Speed: 24 gears. Chainset: triple 48t/38t/26t. Cassette: 8-speed 11-32. Brakes: hydraulic disc brakes.

E-bike: Gazelle Ultimate T10 HMB (aluminium frame, 10-speed Shimano Deore, single 38t chainset, 11t-42t cassette, hydraulic disc brakes, 75nm torque, Bosch Performance Line mid-mounted motor, battery range up to 155km) or Gazelle Chamonix T10 HMS (similar spec, Shimano Steps E-6100 motor, battery range up to 135km).

Gravel bike: Genesis Croix de Fer 30 (Reynolds 725 steel tubing, 20-speed Shimano GRX, 46/30t chainset, 11-34t cassette, Shimano GRX hydraulic disc brakes) or Genesis Croix de Fer 10 (Genesis Mjolnir chromoly tubing, 18-speed Shimano Sora R3000, 46/30t chainset, 11-34t cassette, Shimano TRP mechanical disc brakes).

Tandem bike also available. Brand and model may vary depending on availability. Minimum age for e-bike hire is 16 years.

Please provide your height for bike sizing when booking.

Bike hire includes a spare inner tube, repair kit and pump, a pannier bag (not included on the gravel bike), a lock, lights, a water bottle holder and a phone mount, plus a battery charger for e-bikes. Helmets aren't included, so please bring your own. A frame or saddle bag can be requested for a gravel bike.

Many people choose an e-bike for the extra assistance, though note e-bikes are heavier than standard bicycles. Gravel and road bikes are only recommended for experienced cyclists comfortable with the riding position and fitness demands of this style of biking.

We highly recommend that you have travel insurance when you book with Macs Adventure. Your policy should cover medical treatment (including repatriation and emergency evacuation by air ambulance or helicopter), injury, death, third-party liability, and trip cancellation