Finchley to Farringdon - A scenic route?

My lovely wife wants to start commuting to work but wants to avoid the big roads (I keep telling her I think bus lanes are safer than side roads but she disagrees). She also needs a way back that doesn't involve a difficult climb (I keep telling her Archway Road is the easiest hill but she doesn't want to use a big road).

Does anyone have any suggestions for a nice route for her? Anything from around Highgate on would be fine, we know the local area very well.

Cheers

Nick

Your surname is not Griffin is it?

erm, no.

Anything else?

no. i have nothing useful to offer on this subject. apart from a

BUMP!

buy her a moped.

The GF and I just acquired one of these - http://www.futuremaps.co.uk/london-wall-map/london-street-map-2

as she has started cycling more around London. Useful for learning how to get from A to B using different roads.

This is my neck of the woods. You could go through Hampstead Garden Suburb, emerging on whittington Road
Then up past the Spaniards Inn to the Pond Square. Take a left down East Heath Street. At the bottom follow the signs via Camden and you emerge and Chalk farm Road. Its no longer scenic. Go round Camden, onto Camden Street, Pancras Road, past the new Terminal on your left. Cross the Euston Road onto Judd Street take a left at the end onto Guilford Street, then a right down the back streets near Great Ormond Street. YHou come out on Theobolds Road. Onto Hipster Highway and the journey is complete :)

The GF and I just acquired one of these - http://www.futuremaps.co.uk/london-wall-map/london-street-map-2

as she has started cycling more around London. Useful for learning how to get from A to B using different roads.

I like maps. Thanks

buy her a moped.

It was nicked.

This is my neck of the woods. You could go through Hampstead Garden Suburb, emerging on whittington Road
Then up past the Spaniards Inn to the Pond Square. Take a left down East Heath Street. At the bottom follow the signs via Camden and you emerge and Chalk farm Road. Its no longer scenic. Go round Camden, onto Camden Street, Pancras Road, past the new Terminal on your left. Cross the Euston Road onto Judd Street take a left at the end onto Guilford Street, then a right down the back streets near Great Ormond Street. YHou come out on Theobolds Road. Onto Hipster Highway and the journey is complete :)

Hadn't thought of going the west way round - I've always gone through Holloway. Some of those roads are still pretty busy 'though, and narrow. Still, some stuff to plan around there, so thanks for your thoughts.

There's the Parkland Walk down from Highgate Tube to Finsbury Park.
It's only a two mile stretch of the journey, but it's a lovely route. From Finsbury Park, she could go down Green Lanes, past Clissold park, then through the relatively quiet streets of Cannonbury to get to Upper Street.
The Parkland Walk can get a bit muddy - best tackled with fat tyres

See here for the discount on the Cycle map Aroogah & I got ... https://www.lfgss.com/thread41584.html

There are some clever routes you can do on back roads that head slightly south of Holloway road from that station below Archway (Upper Holloway?), Crossing Cally road around Roman Way, and then work your way though Barnsbury, down to Penton street, Amwell Street, and cut through to Farringdon whereever suits, say Exmouth Street.

Keep altering the route each time. Eventually a wicked back-road hybridised route can be created. Enjoy yourselves.

www.cyclestreets.net does quiet/balanced/fast routes - I think you'll find the 'quiet' routes fit her needs.

It's clear I don't come here very often, so thanks to all who have made suggestions since my last response. She still hasn't plucked up the courage to go for it but maybe I'll encourage her again with these further suggestions.

Thanks again.

Starting from Finchley Central, Long Lane and then Creighton Avenue are very useful. Much less busy than the alternatives.