Waterloo to Kentish Town (East)

I'm looking for recommended route. I want to end up on Torriano Avenue, where it meets Leighton Road. It looks like I should head for York Way, but I'm not sure of the best way to get to there from Wateroloo Station.

Suggestions?

Probably something like this. There are a couple of cut throughs that don't show up on google maps such as popping straight onto Bow Street or riding through the middle of Regents Sq. The section north of from joining Grays Inn Road looks like busy main roads but once you get past Wharfdale Road it's not that bad. Or at least it never used to be when I commuted up it on a daily basis five or six years ago.

Bit of dog climb up the remainder of York Way to Camden Park, but you have to go up that hill at some point.

Over Waterloo bridge, over Aldwych and up Kingsway. continue up Southampton Place. I think cycles can go straight on up the contraflow bus lane (it is a contraflow, right? if not go round the square) at Russell Square and left into Bernard St. Right at the roundabout into Brunswick square / hunter st, right into Tavistock place/regent square/sidmouth street. Left into Grays Inn Rd and straight to York Way.

I think cycles can go straight on up the contraflow bus lane (it is a contraflow, right? if not go round the square)

It is a contraflow and you can ride on through.

My suggestion of the Bow Lane section is to avoid the nonsense that is Aldwych. It's not unridable but the switching lanes of traffic and likely pedestrian asshattery at the crossings doesn't fill me with joy. Riding up past the Opera House and then around by the Museum means you get a chance to check if anything good is going on.

It's a good suggestion, but you need to be careful in that area in case you accidentally go shopping :-)

If you want a quieter route head straight at the end of Waterloo Bridge; there's a cycle path that cuts over pavement into Wellington St in Covent Garden. The BM and Russell Square are easy to get to from here. I then head for Ossulton Street - Royal College Street-Camden Road

Over Waterloo bridge, over Aldwych and up Kingsway. continue up Southampton Place. I think cycles can go straight on up the contraflow bus lane (it is a contraflow, right? if not go round the square) at Russell Square and left into Bernard St. Right at the roundabout into Brunswick square / hunter st, right into Tavistock place/regent square/sidmouth street. Left into Grays Inn Rd and straight to York Way.
+1, will take 10mins

Waterloo Bridge, Aldwych, left into Drury Lane (the Bow Street cycle lane is always full of peds), Museum Street, right Great Russell Street, left Mont St, straight on into Russell Square, at the north east corner go north through past SOAS and the Uni which brings you out on Woburn Sq, right into Tav Pl (I try not to use the utterly useless and positively dangerous bike lane), left into Cartwright Gardens, right Euston Road, and then follow the bike lane up through Somers Town, Roy Coll Street, right onto Randolph Street, Agar Grove, fork left on to the bike lane Stratford Villas, left Murray Street, right Camden Road, left Sandall Road, right Bart Villas >>> Leighton Road.

Avoids most of the major roads, and peds.

This is the route I would use if I was dawdling.

If I want to get there quick, I would probably just go Aldwych underpass, Drury Lane, St Giles, TCR etc to KTR.

"If I want to get there quick,"

Hahahaha,that I would pay to see!

This little wiggle through LSE cuts out Holborn junction and Russell Sq - it's a nice route.
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2708185

"If I want to get there quick,"

Hahahaha,that I would pay to see!

Shut it sonny.

Seriously, I would avoid York Way at all times, because you have a good chance of crossing the path of Hanson cement lorries, who have been involved in a few fatals over the last few years.

Thanks for the advice. Will try a few variations. Here's what I did (by sort of making it up / making mistakes).

Over Waterloo Bridge, right-most lane, through the tunnel, emerging on Kingsway. Carried on, onto Southampton Row. At the bottom-right of Russell Square, I went straight on, in the bus lane. I remembered someone had mentioned Bernard Street, so I went right here, and ended up going round Brunswick Square, and onto Judd Street. I kinda fucked up when I realised I couldn't turn right at Euston Rd, so took the last right before Euston Rd, and meandered my way through a little alley onto the pavement on Euston Rd, and scooted until the junction with Argyle Street, where I was able to get onto Euston Rd, and get in the right lane for York Way.

So - improvements to this route welcome!

Also what's the best way back again from Torriano Avenue to Waterloo?

This

Except don't turn on to Exeter Street and just carry on to Waterloo Bridge at the traffic lights at the end of Bow St.

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and then follow the bike lane up through Somers Town, Roy Coll Street, right onto Randolph Street, Agar Grove, fork left on to the bike lane Stratford Villas, left Murray Street, right Camden Road, left Sandall Road, right Bart Villas >>> Leighton Road.

+1 on this. York Way is always crammed with buses and construction lorries. The worst you're likely to get going through Somers Town is some school children with knives, and they generally reserve those for each other.

If you wanted the absolutely most direct head-banging light-busting etc route (15 mins or possibly a lot less depending) then:

Stamford Street to Blackfriars >>> Farringdon Street Road Kings X one way >>> York Way.

left into Cartwright Gardens, right Euston Road, and then follow the bike lane up through Somers Town

Missed Cartwright this morning, so went up York Way again. Looking at the map - where does the cycle path go? Ossulton Road? Chalton Street?

Ossulston Street and then it wiggles. As cycle lanes go (and I am a vociferous critic of the LCN) it's a pretty good one.

Ossulston Street and then it wiggles. As cycle lanes go (and I am a vociferous critic of the LCN) it's a pretty good one.

My experience of cycle lanes is that they're an excuse for drivers to get too close, or try to overtake unsafely.

I prefer a more aggressive road position, unless the traffic is able to go much faster than me.