Cycling With Kids – Around the Isle of Dogs
Our shortest cycling route of all – only about 14 km (9 mi).
We do it only if we don’t have enough time for the longest runs.
From Poplar to Mudchute Farm
As always, we start at Home, and the initial part of the cycling route is the same as the Woolwich and Bermondsey routes. At Blackwall, we use the passage under the DLR track, Aspen Way and roundabout and get to the Poplar Dock Marina.
Over the Blue Bridge and on to the Thames Path (NE Extension).
Our first stop is usually the playground next to Kelson House (a quite tall block of flats). Next to it is Timmy’s favourite Folly House Beach which is not named on either Google or Bing maps, but both maps point at it when you typed it in the search.
After practising in throwing stones to the River Thames, we continue our cycling route South on Themes Path.
After just a couple of hundreds of metres, we turn West towards the Mudchute Farm.
Mudchute Farm is our favourite farm in London. It is probably one of the biggest, well-organised farms with a lot of activities throughout the year – especially the school holiday period. We always bring iceberg lettuce to feed the animals – especially chickens and cows love it.
Part of the farm is the Mudchute Equestrian Centre, so we do spend a lot of time watching the horses – soon we will join for the riding lessons so we will be there ever more often.
The farm also has quite a nice cafe/restaurant which does offer an opportunity for tasty lunch/coffee break.
Playgrounds & Sightseeing
Just next to the farm is the Millwall Park & Playground which is the obligatory stop on this cycling route.
From there we head South to Island Gardens to have a look over the river and join back on to the Thames Path.
Sometimes there is a possibility to have a look at the big ships anchored at Greenwich. Usually a cruise ships on their stop at London. During the Olympic Games, HMS Ocean was stationed there.
We go past the SS Great Eastern’s Launch Ramp which was quite a surprise for me the first time I’ve seen it (remember reading about the SS Great Eastern when I was just a boy).
As the Thames Path take us off the river bank, we go past Docklands Sailing and Watersports Centre and join the path back by the Sir John McDougal Gardens.
From there we continue North on the Thames Path to past the Canary Wharf pier and its bars and restaurants and to the Ropemakers Field & Playground.
On the Way Home
The playground used to be Timmy’s favourite spot until the big castle was removed for safety reasons. In 2019 new ship feature was added, so this cycling route stop is popular again. From there we join the Limehouse Cut and head back Home.
This route is one of five I am presenting here to offer some guidance on how the route could look like and what kind of stops or activities we do. I am sure you can come up with even better ones; we just work with what is near us.
Please share yours, I am interested to see your route as well!
Our Routes
