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MTB
8 of the best places to mountain bike if you live in London
Not sure where to get your shred on in the big smoke? Escape the hustle and bustle and head for the hills at these great spots.
Mountain biking in and around London might seem like an impossible task – the UK's capital city is of course vast and its urban zones far-reaching.
But that's not to say it's impossible. Within an hour and a half of central London there is a surprisingly varied array of MTB spots, some of which are renowned for quality trails and frequented by some of the top mountain bikers in the world. Visit any of the locations below and you might bump into the likes of freeriders Matt Jones and Sam Reynolds, downhiller racers Bernard Kerr and Brendan Fairclough, or even Red Bull TV presenter Rob Warner.
Not sure where to start in your search for mountain biking trails near London? The below list is a great place to start.
1. Woburn Trails
The local jump spot, Woburn Sands
© Jamie Ledson
Opening hours: 7:00-20:00
Cost: £5/day
Trail grades: green, blue, red
Uplift: No
Woburn is a legendary riding spot that has welcomed all levels and disciplines of riders for decades. Its sandy soil makes it a perfect all-weather riding spot and its modest slopes mean it is a great place to go for a singletrack blast on its network of trails. The most notable feature is the jump area: Matt Jones is regularly seen on the massive central rhythm sections, but there are also jumps, drops and hucks of all sizes scattered around. Woburn is maintained by volunteers (there are regular dig days – get yourself signed up) and a day pass or annual membership is required to ride.
2. Chicksands Bike Park
Chicksands bike park
© [unknown]
Opening hours: 6:00-22:00
Cost: £5/day; £75/year
Trail grades: blue, red, black
Uplift: No
If you are looking to up your riding, Chicksands could be the place. The small hillside is littered with mostly hand-crafted treats including a 4X track, slalom track, jump lines and some singletrack – all of which have bermed turns and plenty of airtime ensured. But there is something for all levels, with small drops and jumps to learn the basics before scaling up. As the name suggests, the terrain here is sandy, meaning it drains quickly and therefore rides well in every season. If you are looking for gravity-fed riding on an enduro or downhill bike, you’ll have fun here. Day passes are required to ride and cost £5.
3. Surrey Hills
The Surrey Hills: Peaslake
© Duncan Philpott/Red Bull Content Pool
Opening hours: 24 hours
Cost: Free
Trail grades: green, blue, red, black
Uplift: No
The Surrey Hills area has become a sort of accidental mecca for mountain biking in the south. People flock here at the weekends, meaning the car parks and trails can be very busy. And for good reason – dozens of hand-shaped sections of singletrack dart through the pretty forest, with soft, loamy dirt and short uphills making this one of the most fun days out on a bike near London. For those looking for a real test, the Northern Monkey line can't be missed.
With so many riders frequenting the trails near Peaslake, this has become a real – if unofficial – hub for mountain biking. Make sure to be courteous to other trail users, take your rubbish home and spend a few pounds in a local pub or cafe to make sure mountain biking continues to be welcomed here.
4. Aston Hill Bike Park
There's something for everyone at this Bucks spot, including a jump line
© Peter Dean / Flickr
Opening hours: 8:30-16:30
Cost: £6
Trail grades: blue, red, black
Uplift: No
Aston Hill, near Wendover, is one of the longest running official riding areas in the south of England. Its steep, chalky hillside has hosted numerous races and events and its club scene has helped progress the skills of huge numbers of riders. With decades of use, it is no surprise that exposed tree roots are one of the technical challenges here, but aside from the testing natural tracks there are also jump lines and a cross-country loop.
There is something for everyone at Aston Hill, including smaller features to practise skills on before progressing to the likes of ‘Surface to Air’ – a long line of jumps and banked turns – and the J-turns of the legendary 'Root Canal'. Day passes or annual membership required.
5. Rogate
Opening hours: 10:00-18:00
Cost: £7 (free B1KE membership required)
Trail grade: blue, red, black, black & yellow (pro line)
Uplift: No
Where: Rogate Downhill, Coombe Hill, Rogate GU31 5DL
Rogate has long been a site for downhill mountain biking. The bikepark is placed on a small hill but it makes great use of the available elevation. All of the riding here descends from a starting point atop the hill and the theme is definitely gravity-fed, although a downhill bike is certainly not necessary – bring any trail or enduro bike and you’ll have a great time sessioning the short runs and jumps.
Rogate Downhill is managed by B1KE, an organisation that runs several riding spots in the south, and you will need to sign up for a membership (for free) and then pay a day pass or annual ride fee.
6. S4P Bike Park
Opening hours: Daylight hours
Cost: Free (B1KE membership required)
Trail grades: No grading – pump track, rollers and dirt jump trails
Uplift: No
S4P Bike Park is a dirt jump park created by pro riders Olly Wilkins, Brendan Fairclough and their friends as a spot for aspiring riders to get into riding jumps and to progress their skills. Rollers and tabletop jumps are great for getting started, while the bigger lines are serious enough to keep even the most experienced rider busy.
Several lines of jumps of varying size are shaped from the sandy dirt, meaning the trails are rideable in most conditions and they aren’t too brutal when you bail… The bikepark is open to all, but you need to sign up for a (free) B1KE membership.
7. Swinley Forest Mountain Biking
Swinley Bike Hub rider Jack Tate testing new lines
© Tristan Taylor
Opening hours: 9:00-18:00 Mon-Sat; 9:00-17:00 Sun
Cost: Free
Trail grades: green, blue, red
Uplift: No
Swinley Forest is the only dedicated, official singletrack trail centre in this list. That is to say, it has several waymarked loops of singletrack, a shop with rental and guiding, plus a visitor centre and (all-important) cafe. The trails are easy and there is little elevation, so you’ll need to pedal for speed. But it’s a fun day out on sweeping singletrack and there’s a new skills area called The Summit to work on your jumps, drops and turns. There is no day fee here, but if you are arriving by car you’ll need to pay a small parking fee.
8. Epping Forest
Epping Forest is home to hundreds of winding trails
© Flickr / emaybe
Opening hours: 24 hours
Cost: Free
Trail grades: green, blue, red
Uplift: No
Epping Forest’s trails are the most natural – or least maintained – in this list, but there are some fun cross-country rides and singletrack blasts to be had, plus it’s the closest mountain biking to central London. To get the most out of the mellow trails, ride a hardtail or lightweight trail bike and sprint, pump, shred to your heart's content – remember, you don’t need massive elevation to have great fun on a mountain bike.
Don’t expect trail centre signage, but scout around and you’ll find some decent routes around the forest in a convenient, tube-accessible location. If arriving by car, there are numerous car parks within the forest with direct trail access; Golding’s Hill Car Park is a good starting point. Rental is available from Go Further Cycling, and Epping Forest MTB provides guiding and coaching.
