If you have your own bicycle – or have access to one – cycling is a great way of getting around the area! If you’re a competent cyclist and have the right gear (don’t forget the all important helmet) then cycling is a very quick and easy way of getting around, particularly if you use some of the quieter side-streets in the area.

There’s also a cycle path in Holland Park, and you can also cycle in sections of Kensington Gardens – just make sure you pay attention to any signs that state which areas are not open to cyclists. You will also notice special cycle lanes on certain roads and areas – unfortunately, these aren’t as commonplace as are perhaps necessary.

Hiring a bike

As of July 2010, there’s also a new cycle hire scheme in London that allows people to rent bikes from special docking stations for up to a maximum time limit of 24 hours. There’s many of these stations dotted all around London (and you can pick up a bike from one and drop it off at another). You will need to pay an access fee and then a hire fee on top – 30 minutes hire is free; it costs £1 for an hour whilst it’s £50 for the maximum 24 hours. Full details about how to hire a bike and the costs can be found from the Barclays Cycle Hire website.

The great news is that there are many cycle hire docking stations in Kensington & Chelsea, so the cycle hire scheme may well be come very popular – and very useful – in the Borough! Here is a list of some of the stations:

in Kensington and W8

• corner of Abingdon Villas/Earls Court Road
• corner of Lexham Gardens/Marloes Road
• on Wright’s Lane (outside Cafe Nero)
• on Marloes Road (between Scarsdale Villas and Stratford Road)
• corner of Phillimore Gardens/Kensington High Street
• corner of Argyll Road/Kensington High Street
• corner of Derry Street/Kensington High Street
• on Hornton Street (outside Kensington Town Hall)
• on Kensington Road (by Palace Gate)

in Notting Hill and W11

• corner of Pembridge Gardens/Notting Hill Gate
• corner of Chepstow Villas/Kensington Park Road
• corner of Westbourne Grove/Colville Road
• on Pembridge Road (by Portobello Road)

in Earls Court and SW5

• corner of Nevern Place/Earls Court Road
• corner of Penywern Road/Earls Court Road
• corner of Trebovir Road/Warick Road
• corner of Bolton Gardens/Earls Court Road

in South Kensington and SW7

• on Gloucester Road (near the Underground station)
• on Gloucester Road (by Queens Gate Gardens)
• on Thurloe Place (by South Kensington Underground station)
• 3 locations on Queens Gate
• on Prince Consort Road (outside Royal College of Music)

in Chelsea and SW3/SW10

• on Sydney Street (outside Royal Brompton Hospital)
• corner of Flood Street/King’s Road
• corner of Royal Avenue/Kind’s Road
• corner of Sloane Avenue/Ixworth Place
• on Denver Street (near Draycott Avenue)
• on Pont Street (near Cadogan Square)

© 2012 The Guide to Kensington & Chelsea. All Rights Reserved.