England itinerary for the Avenue Verte London-Paris

About 3 weeks ago, I published the first part of my series on the Avenue Verte London-Paris, detailing the route we followed in France with activity ideas and places to visit along the way, as well as my usual selection of great addresses!

I ended the previous post at the English Channel crossing from Dieppe to Newhaven by ferry, if you remember correctly. We set foot (and bikes) in Great Britain at the end of the day to continue our journey on the English side.

Cyclist with arms open on a cycle path lined with green trees in England.

Cyclist on the tree-lined cycle path of the Avenue Verte London-Paris. Sunset over the sea with golden reflection on the waves, ferry crossing.

Lighthouse in silhouette at sunset near Eastbourne, Sussex, England.

Table of Contents

Stage 1: Sussex, England

Sussex

is an English county located south of London, along the English Channel. The city of Brighton, which we discovered and loved last year with my favorite photographer, is also located in this county to give you an idea.

Green landscape in Sussex with a winding river near the English coast.

English countryside with sheep, river, and kayaks.

Where to stay in Eastbourne? York House Hotel

This night in Eastbourne, a seaside town, really reminded me of our 2018 getaway to Brighton.

I’m not entirely a fan of this type of English hotel that lacks a bit of charm for my taste, but the room with a sea view was very pleasant in the morning.

The positive point: a kettle in the room (it’s always something I particularly appreciate in a hotel room) but no herbal tea (so I always bring some with me just in case, that way I’m never caught off guard).

Woman reading in a hotel room in England near a large window.

Hotel room with desk, mirror reflecting a woman reading, and luggage.

Woman having breakfast at the hotel in England on a long set table.

Best Western York House Hotel

14-22 Royal Parade, Eastbourne

Stroll in Seven Sisters Park and along the Cuckoo Trail

Seven Sisters Country Park

is located between the towns of Seaford and Eastbourne and boasts a spectacular series of chalk cliffs!

Hiker overlooking the coastal town of Eastbourne and its pier in England.

Hikers observing the landscape from a fence on top of a grassy hill. Hiker near the white cliffs of England with Beachy Head lighthouse.

Hiker with yellow backpack on a grassy hill near the sea in England.

Moreover, up there you get a beautiful view of the town of Eastbourne. Starting from the seaside resort, you can begin your excursion from the Beachy Head viewpoint. There is also a parking lot nearby if needed.

We then cycled part of the route from Polegate to Horam via the Cuckoo Trail, a 14km walking and cycling path that connects Hampden Park to Heathfield.

Forest trail in England, shaded by a canopy of green trees.

Cyclists on a forest path of the Avenue Verte between England and Paris. Cyclist on a cycle path shaded by trees in England (Avenue Verte)

Dense English forest with dark trunks and light green foliage, Cuckoo Trail.

In England, I found that the Avenue Verte route changes a lot in terms of landscape compared to what we had seen in France. There are also many people walking on this route on weekends, which is a little busier (at the time we passed through, at least) than in France where we met a few less people, it seems to me.

Lunch at Café Lakeside Horam

This is the ideal address to enjoy a little fish & chips (£10.20) and a local beer on the way to London. Plus, the setting is very nice as the restaurant is located by a lake.

Rustic interior with bar counter, Marshfield Farm ice cream freezer and a standing man.

Fresh blond beer with foam, near Café Lakeside Horam. Fish and chips with peas, salad, lemon, and pickle.

Café Lakeside Horam with picnic tables and corrugated iron roof.

Café Lakeside Horam

Horam Manor Farm, A267, Horam, Heathfield

Stage 2: London, capital of the United Kingdom

Here we are at the final stage of our journey, the English capital that I unfortunately know too little… I really need to plan to come back for a bit longer to discover more! But if you already want to check out my other articles on London, it’s here.

Cyclists and bikes parked in front of the Nags Head Estate in London.

Bike in front of the Palace of Westminster in London under a blue sky. Reflection of a London Parliament tower in a puddle.

Red brick facade of a large historic building in London.

For information, it is at the foot of Westminster Abbey that the Avenue Verte officially ends (or begins, depending on which side of the Channel you are on) in London.

Stroll in Richmond Park, London

This very large park on the edge of London (it is actually the largest in the English capital) located in the Richmond upon Thames district, is home to several herds of red deer and fallow deer that live freely. Since it’s super big, it’s really a great idea to do it by bike to make the most of it!

Richmond Park London, pond under a dramatic sky with sun rays piercing through clouds.

Deer grazing in a green park in London, bordered by large green oaks.

Two deer in the green grass of Richmond Park in London. Doe grazing under an oak tree in Richmond Park in London.

Doe in Richmond Park in London on the Avenue Verte route.

Richmond Park, London

free access
open from 7am to 7:30pm (winter) and 8pm (summer)

Where to stay in London? New Road Hotel

I really liked this industrial-style hotel. Our room was small but very functional (for info it was room no. 225), it was just missing a place to put my suitcase, I think.

By the way, this London hotel reminded me of a Parisian hotel we tested with the favorite photographer a few years ago, the Citizen M Gare de Lyon.

Hotel room with woman lying on a bed reflected, near brick wall.

Woman jumping for joy on a hotel bed in London. Yellow pendant lights above a brick wall inside a hotel in London.

Indoor yoga fitness area with mats and kettlebells, view of terrace.

I also really appreciated the English breakfast à la carte which was very nice. You can have an avocado toast in healthy mode, or a typical English plate with sausage, bacon, scrambled eggs, and baked beans.

Avocado toast and poached eggs, topped with pumpkin seeds and chili.

Interior of the German Gymnasium restaurant in London with customers having lunch.

Full English breakfast with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and STAUB beans.

In addition, the hotel has a very good restaurant, the Mr. White’s English Chophouse, and it’s a very good address for dinner in the evening on-site, for example.

Crab cake with tartar sauce and arugula, meal in London.

Restaurant interior London with open kitchen and seated customers.

Fish fillet with green sauce, carrots, and potatoes, London meal.

Turkey or chicken slices on avocado, pomegranate seeds, and old-fashioned mustard. 1/2 PINT beer glass with CE M18 mark, meal in London.

Roast chicken, potatoes, cherry tomatoes, and broccoli on a white plate.

Red fruit dessert in a verrine with fresh herbs, served in London. Chocolate tiramisu served with accompanying cream in London.

The plus point: there is a zone with unlimited hot drinks on every floor of the hotel, which is quite well thought out I think.

My advice: our room looked out to the back of the hotel and clearly it’s much quieter than those facing the main road, so if you can give your preferences when booking, I recommend that if you like tranquility like me.

Modern workspace or library in a London hotel with table and chairs.

New Road Hotel

103-107 New Road, Withechapel London
Price: from £135 per night

Cycling around London

We took advantage of our last morning to go for a little bike ride in London with a stop at Columbia Road Flower Market in the East End neighborhood. The Victorian shops on Hackney Road have a lot of charm and the atmosphere in the streets on Sunday morning (market day) is really very nice.

Crowd and flower seller on a busy London street, near the market.

White dahlia close-up with blurry yellow and red flowers in the background. Outdoor cafe staff in London preparing orders near a chalkboard menu.

Street musician playing guitar in front of a brick wall in London.

Woman using her phone near flower displays in London. Old Chevrolet pickup truck in London near a flower seller.

Cobbled London street with passers-by near a market and brick buildings.

Walker in London carrying a plant and a blue bag near a flower stall. Group of people and dog on cobbled street in front of a "Printers & Stationers" storefront in London.

We then headed to the very nice Brick Lane neighborhood to enjoy its Sunday morning open-air market and it was particularly fun!

I loved the eclectic atmosphere of this neighborhood which, for me, well represents what I love about the English capital: a joyful mix of genres, something we see too little of in France, I find. Here, very different people seem to coexist, each keeping their own styles, differences, and peculiarities without it being a problem for anyone. It’s quite fascinating… It would be nice to be able to find this kind of mix in Paris…

Street art mural in London with rabbit, mermaid, and colorful faces.

Yellow ofo bike in front of a mural of a woman holding a key, London. Street chess player in London under blue umbrella.

Charlie Burns mural at Brick Lane, London, with toilet paper on sale.

Street chess game in London, Brick Lane, under a blue umbrella. Street scene in Brick Lane, London, with arc sculpture and car on containers.

Street scene in London with mural and passers-by at Brick Lane market, Avenue Verte

Street market in London, Brick Lane, with sellers and suitcases. Street musician in London playing guitar with drummer Lewis Floyd Henry.

It’s really a spot I loved and there is also quite a bit of street art in this area if you like that.

I’ll take this opportunity to give you a good address for a Cycle Cafe Bar Workshop located on Old Street that we didn’t have time to test, but which was highly recommended to us by our guide: Look mum no hands!

Cafe terrace in London with "look mum no hands!" sign and bikes.

Lunch at German Gymnasium restaurant

This establishment has the advantage of being located between King’s Cross and St Pancras stations. It’s therefore the ideal spot for a lunch before taking the train. It offers specialties with German-sounding names in a very chic setting.

For our part, we tested the Sunday brunch menu, which is of very good quality!

Interior of German Gymnasium London restaurant with mezzanine and dark staircase.

Interior of the German Gymnasium restaurant in London with columns and set tables. Salmon tartare with green garnish, served in London.

Cheeseburger and thick fries served in London, Nicolas Diolez restaurant.

To taste: the smoked salmon tartare; the GG burger; for dessert the sweet Berlin, with cinnamon pancakes, rhubarb compote, whipped cream, maple syrup, and caramelized bananas (a total killer)…

Stacked pancakes with rhubarb and grilled banana, cream topping, London.

German Gymnasium Restaurant

1 King's Boulevard, London N1C 4BU
Price: weekend Brunch Menu 2 courses £28 / 3 courses £35

Thanks to the Avenue Verte London Paris and Clémence from the aiRPur Agency for this beautiful adventure, as well as to Visit Britain and all my joyful fellow bloggers with whom I pedaled during this beautiful journey! Hikers overlooking the coastal town and the sea, Sussex, England.

I hope that with all this I have made you want to discover the Avenue Verte London-Paris, and if you too have your favorite addresses and tips for this itinerary, don’t hesitate to share them in the comments below!

Photo credits: Nicolas Diolez
Photos not royalty-free, photographer's authorization mandatory before any use