Cycling through Springfield Park is a way to leave London for a few hours without the bother of actually travelling. Continue through this little-known park and you can follow a cycle route further east along the Lea Navigation towpath. Wide-open paths make it safe for a family cycle ride along the scenic Lea River. There are amazing views across the river and the Walthamstow marshes and it’s so tranquil you really feel like you have escaped from the busy city.

One of the original houses in the park survives – the very elegant White Lodge Mansion. It’s now the Spark Café which is a great place to stop for delicious hot and cold food and great views across the park. Further along the path you come to the Olympic site with the Olympic arena practically bending its arches over the path – it’s an amazing sight. Turn right here and you come to Victoria park – another favourite park in East London.

What makes this ride so special is the fact that you really feel like you are cycling ‘behind the scenes’ in London. The ride is interspersed with natural and man-made beauty – wild hedgerows and rolling marshes give way to towering architecture and winding canals. You really gain an insight into Britain’s industrial past and future.

Photo courtesy of Loz Flowers on Flickr