London Brighton

Appreciate this is a well travelled route and probably a lot already discussed on it, but was hoping I could still get some help. I am taking my girlfriend on a cycle from London to Brighton on the August bank holiday. The longest either of us will have cycled but both fairly fit and keen to give it a go.

Our start point will be Wimbledon and are aiming to leave at about 7:30 on the Sunday to avoid a lot of the traffic.

We are thinking of going via Woldingham as it is meant to be quite scenic this way? Has anyone done this? Any good routes to get there?

Also any roads that we should be avoiding? Would like to keep it as quiet as possible where I can.

Thanks in advance for all help!

Tom

Hello Tom... that sounds like a nice way to do it - how long were you planning to take?
I've done it a few times A23 and A22 from Tooting. If you're going via East Grinstead and Lewes, I'd look for a quieter road for the A22 stretch from (approximately) the M25 to East Grinstead. The A22 is busy and narrow and is a bit of a grind (and I don't mind mixing it with traffic, usually).
After East Grinstead > Forest Row and on to Lewes, the A22/275 route is clearer and there are some stunning bits of countryside flashing past.
(also, there's an old railway line > dirt track that takes you to Forest Row if you don't want the long steady climb out of EG and slightly insane descent on the road).
Okay: My ideal route would probably be to do the A23 from south London to Gatwick to get out of the mothership, then head east and down through Sharpthorne/Cinder Hill > Horsted Keynes and so on. It would be a total change of pace.
Take gears. Water. And plenty of time.
Looking forward to seeing other suggestions!
Best...

Awesome thank you very much for such a lengthy reply. I shall look at the route through sharpthone and see what I think.

We will be doing in on 25mm road bikes are the roads all suitable?

Hoping it will take about 5/6 hours with a coffee or two or something but fairly relaxed. The distance shouldn't be a problem for us and we are in no rush.

Hey,
If you're going out East Grinstead way, then this route may help you out..
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/1559344495

It's a route I plotted that starts from Crawley (avoiding London A-road traffic, and if it's "London Gatwick", then it's still London-Brighton, right??), takes a diversion towards Tunbridge Wells (to take in some hills), and then loops back down to Brighton.

The bit you might be most interested in is mile 30 onwards. If you get to East Grinstead, then follow vilms' route through Forest Row, then keep going to Nutley and follow my route. It's mostly country roads, generally quiet, excellent road quality perfect for road bikes, and beautifully scenic.

hope that helps, do share your route once it's done

enjoy!

The Ditchling Devil Audax route route will swing pretty close to where you start.
A nice route down. It will take you over Ditchling, and if you are so inclined, up Devils Dyke, which will be a delight. I've only ridden it fixed, so with a few gears you'll be okay.
Plenty of shop and cafe options all the way down.
I thinks route is on ridewithgps, and definitely on Audax uk website.
(Only the first 90 or so Km will be applicable)

Ive ways gone via slugwash and Ditchling beacon. I'll try and dig out the route.

Hi Tom,
I've ridden to Brighton a fair few times now over various routes and the below is my favourite. Once you get out over Farthing Down, nothing but lovely country lanes (and Ditchling) await.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/3994534

Hi. I rode this two weeks ago, using a route I nicked off @youramericanlover. Definitely the best route I've ever done, with amazing lanes the whole way. Easily adaptable to go from Wimbledon. In particular the route I we the North Downs, out of Coulsdon, is superb.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/2248608

Ignore the madness suggestion of A23 and A22. Absolutely barmy.

Quick though : )

Definitely this. Unless your training for a time trial stick to the lanes in the east.

I do it to get from London to Brighton instead of catching a train (because 14 years of the sodding commute was enough).
Definitely gonna give the @mashton / @youramericanlover route a go!

when i do it, i skip ditchling by going to newhaven and along the coast.

also, it might be worth thinking about heading to Rye instead... not as much fun as Brighton when you get there, but the route through High Weald AONB is proper nice, and Camber Sands has sand instead of pebbles : )

Anyway, ignore me... as you were.

Thank you very much all! Definitely will be avoiding A23 and A22. Will let you know how we get on, very much looking forward to it!

I know that like @mashton has nicked my route so it sounds like I'm tooting my own horn, but it's the best way I've done, and I've gone a fair few ways there. You can stay west of the A23 and take in Black Horse Lane and Lonesome Lane which are nice, but you then generally have to contend with Crawley and Horsham, and anyway you're still stuck with Devils Dyke which is not wildly dissimilar to Ditchling enjoyment-wise. Like he said after Coulsden South you get the joy of leaving London via Happy Valley and from there it's basically great lanes all the way there. Also takes in Slugwash Lane which is a complete must for a Brighton ride.

PS if you take your not too experienced partner to Brighton via the A22 and A23, expect to get dumped on the beach.

Only change to that route I would make is the way down from the Ditching Plateau to Brighton. Keep left over the roundabout of doom rather than going right over it. It cuts out the crap drag back up the A Road, before descending into Brighton.

Have you got a gpx file for this route? Would be tempted to give that way a try one time. Cheers in advance...

I don't have a gpx but we head from SE london, out through West Wickham / Layhams Rd, then: Beddlestead Ln, Pilgrim's Way, Brasted, Ide Hill... then roughly google maps route from there with a few tweaks / mistakes along the way...

Then fish and chips at the place on the high street followed by a roll down to the beach : )
I should add the train ride back is easier from Brighton!

You nicked that route off me ;)

Can't remember who I stole it from.

So that's where it came from. Makes perfect sense now.

Thanks - will give that a go next time!

Did the London to Brighton (and back) today instead - enjoyed the ride, despite the rain.

The last time I did LtB I started your route down Layhams Road but then straight on to top of Titsey Hill, then right along The Ridge, down and across the A25 to pick up Tandridge Lane (lovely road, bit flatter than Ide Hill direction), right at Lingfield onto the B2128, which takes you to Turners Hill, then just pick up the official LtB ride route over Ditchling.

Lunch at the Constant Service, massive roast!

https://www.strava.com/activities/1064553420

Thanks for this! Did it today and found it dreamy. Would have to be a strong arguement to get me to try any other route to Brighton in future!