Quiet roads that take you through beautiful towns and the countryside of Surrey and Sussex. This is an alternative route to the British Heart Foundation London to Brighton ride that takes place every Summer.

Distance: 48 km approx.

Start and finish: Cafe Gold, Hanwell, West London

Terrain: Cycling through the streets of West/South West London, complete with the usual pot-holes and roadworks we all love :p

Places to eat: Well, starting and finishing at Cafe Gold is an obvious place. Otherwise there are numerous cafes dotted along the route. Particular favourites are Amandine (Richmond Hill), Puccinis' (Surbiton) and the Old Maids (Kew Road) - don't forget your lock though!

THE ROUTE

Starting at Cafe Gold, it's directly south towards Boston Manor until you cross the A4 (underneath the M4 flyover). Keep south until you come to a T-Junction, turn Left and your on Brentford high street. Keep West (following signs for Syon Park) and turn left at the cross-roads (sign posted Syon Park). Follow the road as it twists and turns until you come to a large roundabout, follow signs for Twickenham until you come into the high street. Following signs for Kingston, turn left at the traffic lights and again continue along this road until you come to Kingston bridge (just before the bridge is an excellent Bike Shop called Sigma Sport.

Don't cross the bridge, instead follow signs for Hampton Court (famous for King Henry's house, gardens and maze). The road fro Kingston bridge to Hampton is ideal for sprinting as the tarmac is smooth and their is a useful cycle lane marked. Follow the road as it curves to the south, over the mini-roundabout, pass Hampton Court House (on the right) and over Hampton Court Bridge. Keep following the road South until you come across a large double roundabout. Turn left (1st exit) for Kingston. Follow the road, sign posted Kingston, the river will now be on your right. Pass the Jaguar car dealer, pass the large gym (both on the right), until you come to some traffic lights signposted 'Surbiton right'. Turn Right, and then left before the railway bridge.

Now straight up Surbiton high street, over the roundabout, up Surbiton hill and across the crossroads. Then down the other side - take care sleeping policemen. Another roundabout, keep straight, until you come to the end of the road, trun right and follow the road to some more traffic lights. Turn left and again at the end of this road turn right. This will now lead you to Kingston hill. A little way up, turn left and follow the road into Richmond Park through Kingston Gate - yeah - once in, trun right at the roundabout and go up the hill, a little further on is the descent with a little roundabout, go straight across this one - following the road still. At the next roundabout, take the 1st exit and again, follow the road. Across yet another roundabout, and up and the hill. At the top is another roundabout and the gates to exit the park (Richmond Gate). Just outside the gates is.. ahem.. another roundabout - turn right and 20m on, another roundabout. Keep straight, admiring the view to your right over the fields and the river. Follow the road to thr right as it turns (Amandine is here).

Follow the road down the hill towards Richmond. At the end of the road turn right (having just gone over a railway bridge. You'll then come onto Richmond roundabout, take the second exit signposted Kew. Follow the road (Kew Road) north, Kew Gardens is on your right and the Old Maids cafe is on the left. Keep going until you cross Kew Bridge, once over turn left and follow the road back into Brentford. Turn right at the traffic lights, passing the police station on your right, keep straight, back across the A4, under the M4, up Boston Manor road until you come to a one way section. Follow this, keeping to the right, turn right at the end of this road (onto the Uxbridge Road) and 200m on the left is... Cafe Gold and a nice caramel latte ;-)