New Commute (richmond > paddington)- Route tips appreciated...

I've chiselled a rutted path through Richmond Park, over Putney Bridge and up the Kings Road to Regent Street for the last 7 years. Alas, as of Monday my company will be in Paddington Central, a new, tall, glassy developement squeezed between the Station and the A40 Westway. Entrance for cycles has to be via Harrow Road, from the north.

Anyone doing a similar ride? I'll start by using Hammersmith Bridge, skip round Hammersmith one-way, up Kensington High Street, then I start to struggle....Hyde Park? then into a maze of one-way streets.....then head over Bishops Bridge road onto a tasty looking gyrotary system that is Harrow Road. I ride early, 6.30am in, 4pm out....when I can't get away sooner!

Any tips most appreciated.

So like this then: [ame]http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/311916[/ame

Which side of Richmond Park do you start? If out to the west you could give Kew-Chiswick-Shepherds Bush-Notting Hill a go:
[ame]http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/311917[/ame

I used to work in the Paddington Basin area.

I' probably go along High St Ken, and either

a) up through Kensington Gardens boardwalk, queensway, bishops bridge road. Oh - as you said.

or

b) into the park at Albert memorial, then onto the road past the serpentine gallery, along north carriage drive a bit, wiggle through the streets a bit (lots of one ways - you have to work out the quickest route - I did Albion St > Hyde pk Cres > Radnor Place >Norfolk Place > through the hospital) come out on Praed St and turn up London st behind the station and then go straight on, (not following the road round to the right) This comes out at the canal basin which is under the nasty gyratory and I think where you want to be.

^ that sounds a lot more complicated than it is!

Thanks brett. My start is a mile west of Ham Gate, so I'll stick to crossing/lapping the park still. Like the idea of taking in Hammersmith and Shepherds bush.

...and Villa-ru, yeah....I see I'll have lots of opportunities to vary my route and even have a variety of bridges to use....I might even head back down fulham Palace road and over Putney bridge for ole-times sake. Or if I'm in a rush (very unlikely!) I can take a straighter line over chiswick bridge.

I do have a weakness for café stops that I think I be a problem around Hammersmith > Paddington, ie too many of them?

Kipsy, if you're running late then you might get spotted on the HSK then. Just me, Broker, Velocio and Dancing James normally but would be good to add to the numbers.

TIP: Every now and then the cops like to hang out on the HSK near Holland Park and harass cyclists who RLJ.

I live not far from Paddington and would recommend this route on the routes database

I took a few of the North's chaps this route, and it might not be the most direct, but it is lovely and quiet.

I'm swaying towards HSK, if only as a poor exchange for my habitual spin down the Kings Road. Plenty of cafés too. Sadly tho Aroogah, I'm kinda on the fuzzes side re. RLJ, mainly cos I appreciate the rest. Spot me: tatty red/yellow chrome bag, tatty '06 Wangster, tatty blue helmet.

Villa-ru, I really like the idea of taking in the Broadway in HP. 2 london parks on my old route, so all equal.

Arvy - good work! Nice little detour round hammersmith and the kinda ducking and diving I like.

Edit: as per Aroogah's observsation below.....

I'm swaying towards HSK, if only as a poor exchange for my habitual spin down the Kings Road. Plenty of cafés too. Sadly tho Aroogah, I'm kinda on the fuzzes side re. RLJ. Bet they do a fair bit of trade.

I don't RLJ either. I don't know how you ride so I'm just passing along a bit of local info in the event that it is useful. Judge not and all that....

I go through Richmond, over Kew bridge, Chiswick roundabout then through Chiswick to Shepherds Bush, up Notting Hill then hang a bit of a left. Actually I go straight on up the Bayswater to W1, but that's not Paddington!