Ride London 2023: When is it, how to take part and where are the road closures?

Ford RideLondon, one of the capital’s biggest cycling events, is taking place this May Bank holiday weekend.

Around 25,000 riders are expected to take part in the three day event starting in central London and travelling through Essex before making their return on 30, 60 or 100-mile routes.

A similar number are expected to join an eight-mile Free Cycle unticketed family bike ride on closed roads around Buckingham Palace between 10am-3pm on Sunday.

From routes to road closures here is everything you need to know about RideLondon 2023.

When is Ride London 2023?

The Ford RideLondon FreeCycle will take place on Sunday, May 28 between 10am and 3pm. The event opens up eight miles of traffic-free roads in the city centre.

There are also three other cycle rides taking place that day: RideLondon-Essex 100, RideLondon-Essex 60 and, RideLondon-Essex 30.

The Classique begins on Friday, May 26, with stage one. Stage two is on Saturday, May 27, while the final stage is on Sunday, May 28.

Can anyone join RideLondon 2023, and is it free?

The Ford RideLondon FreeCycle does not cost anything and anyone can take part.

Thousands are expected to enjoy a gentle ride around a landmark-laden loop on traffic-free roads in the heart of central London from 10am to 3pm.

What is the RideLondon 2023 route?

The 2023 Ford RideLondon FreeCycle route will pass some of London’s most famous locations, from St Paul’s Cathedral and Somerset House to world-famous Buckingham Palace and The Mall.

RideLondon-Essex 100 will head out of London past the Olympic Park and through the London boroughs of Westminster, City of London, Tower Hamlets, Newham, Hackney, Waltham Forest and Redbridge. It will then go through Essex via Epping Forest. In Essex, it will take in Epping, Ongar, Great Dunmow, Felsted and Writtle before heading back.

RideLondon-Essex 60 will not go any further than Epping, while RideLondon-Essex 30 turns around at Woodford in north London.

All routes will start on Victoria Embankment in central London and finish at Tower Bridge.

What road closures are planned for London?

Around 25,000 people are set to take part in the event on Sunday and a number of roads will close in central and east London to ensure the safety of the cyclists.

Here is the full list of road closures in London.

Central London

St James’s Park and Green Park

• The Mall – 6am to 6pm
• Birdcage Walk – 6am to 6pm
• Constitution Hill – 6am to 6pm
• Spur Road – 6am to 6pm
• Horse Guards Road – 6am to 6pm
• Marlborough Road – 6am to 6pm

Camden

• Kingsway, A4200 – 8am to 7.30pm
• High Holborn, A40 – 8am to 7.30pm
• Holborn, A40 – 8am to 7.30pm

City of London

• White Lion Hill -12.01am to 9pm
• Holborn Circus, A40 – 8am to 7.30pm
• Holborn Viaduct, A40 – 8am to 7.30pm
• Newgate Street, A40 – 8am to 7.30pm
• Upper Thames Street, A3211 – 4am to 7.30pm
• Lower Thames Street, A3211 – 4am to 7.30pm
• Byward Street, A3211 – 4am to 7.30pm
• St Paul’s Churchyard – 5am to 7.30pm
• Ludgate Hill – 5am to 7.30pm
• King Edward Street, A40 – 8am to 7.30pm
• St Martin’s Le Grand – 8am to 7.30pm
• Gresham Street – 8am to 7.30pm
• Lothbury – 8am to 7.30pm
• Princes Street – 8am to 7.30pm
• Cheapside – 8am to 7.30pm
• Bank Junction – 8am to 7.30pm
• Mansion House Street – 8am to 7.30pm
• Poultry – 8am to 7.30pm
• Queen Victoria Street – 8am to 7.30pm
• Puddle Dock – 8am to 7.30pm

Lambeth

Westminster Bridge Road, A302 – 8am to 7.30pm

Southwark

• Tooley Street, A200 – 4am to 9pm
• Tower Bridge Road, A100 – 4am to 7.30pm
• Bermondsey Street – 4am to 7.30pm

Tower Hamlets

• Tower Hill, A100 – 4am to 7.30pm
• East Smithfield, A1203 – 4am to 7.30pm
• The Highway, A1203 – 4am to 7.30pm
• Limehouse Link Tunnel, A1203 – 4am to 7.30pm
• Aspen Way, A1261 – 4am to 7.30pm
• East India Dock Tunnel, A1261 – 4am to 7.30pm

Westminster

• Temple Place – 12.01am to 9pm
• Victoria Embankment, A3211 – 12.01am to 9pm
• Blackfriars Underpass, A3211 – 12.01am to 9pm
• Northumberland Avenue – 12.01am to 9pm
• Horse Guards Avenue – 12.01am to 9pm
• Whitehall Place – 12.01am to 9pm
• Bridge Street, A302 – 4am to 7.30pm
• Parliament Street, A3212 – 4am to 7.30pm
• Whitehall, A3212 – 4am to 7.30pm
• Great George Street – 4am to 7.30pm
• St James’s Street, A4 – 8am to 7.30pm
• Piccadilly, A4 – 8am to 7.30pm
• Coventry Street, A4 – 8am to 7.30pm
• Haymarket, A4 – 8am to 7.30pm
• Pall Mall, A4 – 8am to 7.30pm
• Pall Mall East, A4 – 8am to 7.30pm
• Trafalgar Square – 8am to 7.30pm
• Cockspur Street, A4 – 8am to 7.30pm
• Duncannon Street, A4 – 8am to 7.30pm
• Strand, A4 – 8am to 7.30pm
• Aldwych, A4 – 8am to 7.30pm
• Waterloo Bridge, A301 – 8am to 7.30pm

Closed bridges

• Southwark Bridge – 4am to 7.30pm
• Tower Bridge – 4am to 7.30pm
• Westminster Bridge – 4am to 7.30pm
• Waterloo Bridge – 8am to 7.30pm

East London

Newham

• Lower Lea Crossing, A1020 – 4am to 7.30pm
• Western Gateway – 4am to 7.30pm
• Tidal Basin Road – 4am to 7.30pm
• Silvertown Way, A1011 – 4am to 7.30pm
• Barking Road, A124 – 4am to 11.30am
• Hermit Road – 4am to 11.30am
• Grange Road – 4am to 11.30am
• Upper Road – 4am to 11.30am
• Plaistow Road, A112 – 4am to 11.30am
• New Plaistow Road, A112 – 4am to 11.30am
• West Ham Lane, A112 – 4am to 11.30am
• Broadway, A118 – 4am to 11.30am
• High Street, A118 westbound – 4am to 6.30pm
• High Street, A118 eastbound – 4am to 12pm
• Rick Roberts Way – 8am to 7pm
• Abbey Lane – 8am to 7pm
• Abbey Road – 8am to 7pm
• Manor Road, A1011 – 8am to 7pm

Redbridge

• Hollybush Hill, A1199 – 5am to 6.30pm
• Woodford Road, A1199 – 5am to 6.30pm
• High Road, A1199 – 5am to 6.30pm
• Woodford Green, A1199 – 5am to 6.30pm
• Woodford New Road, A104 – 5am to 6.30pm
• Woodford Green, A104 – 5am to 6.30pm
• Manor Road, B173 – 5am to 6.30pm
• Chigwell Road, A113 – 7.30am to 6pm
• Broadmead Road, A1009 – 7.30am to 6pm

Tower Hamlets

• The Highway, A1203 – 4am to 7.30pm
• Limehouse Link Tunnel, A1203 – 4am to 7.30pm
• Aspen Way, A1261 – 4am to 7.30pm
• East India Dock Tunnel, A1261 – 4am to 7.30pm
• Leamouth Road, A1020 – 4am to 7.30pm
• Bow Road, A11 westbound – 4am to 6.30pm
• Bow Road, A11 eastbound – 4am to 12pm
• Blackwall Tunnel Northern Approach, A12 northbound – 4am to 12pm
• Blackwall Tunnel Northern Approach, A12 southbound – 4am to 6.30pm
• East Smithfield, A1203 – 4am to 7.30pm

Waltham Forest

• Green Man Interchange A12, A106, A114, and A1199 – 5am to 6.30pm
• Woodford New Road, A104 – 5am to 6.30pm
• Woodford Green, A104 – 5am to 6.30pm

All four boroughs listed and Hackney

• A12 Northbound – 4am to 12pm
• A12 Southbound – 4am to 6.30pm