by The Londoner
📏Distance: 64 mile ⏱️ Duration: 5.5-6 hours 🚴 Difficulty: Advance 🚲 Terrain: Road 🗺️ GBX file
Those who follow our blog know that occasionally, The Londoner packs his backpack and sets off with a group of cyclists on journeys across the United Kingdom. The route from London to Brighton, between 64 to 70 miles (102-112 km, depends on the route), is a well-known cycling route in England. However, the pampered Londoners decided to combine it with some good wine along the way and spend half a day in Brighton, one of England's picturesque coastal towns, especially when the sun graces it above the British isle.
So, two guys rebelled against this 'old folk' plan and decided to go straight on, while the rest of us decided to keep the high climbs for the start of day two. Having said that, the 'traditional' way is to do it all in one go, and it's certainly donable.
Biking in London... Sadly, despite all the infrustracture work of some councils, cycling in London is still dangerous and challenging. No wonder the starting point of the renowned London-Brighton route is in Croydon, in the south, as crossing London from north to south is a demanding task amidst the sometimes chaotic traffic, exhaust fumes, and honking (not necessarily due to the sporting effort!). After Tooting, the neighborhood of the current mayor's childhood, the cyclists can finally catch a breath, as the congested city streets give way to Surrey's rural roads. And they begin to search for a place to eat.
As it t turns out, if it's not the bustling capital, on a regular workday Friday, there's no pub for miles around the village areas that will open its gates ahead of midday. In Castle at Outwood, already in the Sussex county, we finally find a local pub willing to nourish the famished group with sausage rolls.
Bubbling in Sussex
When two brave cyclists - Y and D, choose to continue with the traditional one-day route, the others get on to Ridgview Wine Estate, where we are getting a tour of the vineyard and explanations that the climate of Sussex and southern England resembles the climate of Champagne.
But first and foremost, we ask Mark from the visitor centre to arrange something to eat (the sausage roll from 12 didn't sustain us for long), and in a perfect manner, he explains that the restaurant on-site will only open in a few months... So after 80 odd kilometres - he starts pouring us some fine English sparkling wine.
The vines in the estate are of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes, and the harvest is manual, taking place in October, similar to Champagne, before the region becomes too cold. The winery is committed to sustainability, and its wines have won international awards. In 2017, it was crowned the world's best wine producer, 49 years after the Wine and Spirits Competition was launched when it outperformed the French Champagne houses.
A winery tour costs £40 per person and includes several wine tastings.
Ditchling Beacon
The first day ended with some more drinks and a good meal at the hotel. After a satisfying breakfast, we set out to climb the Ditchling Beacon, the most eastern peak of Sussex County and a great viewpoint overlooking the Sussex Downs at an elevation of 248 meters above sea level.
The ascent to the top was rated 4, as the Tour de France passed through here in 1994. Here you need to take the middle road, and don't succumb to Strava's "more popular" route which will look promising but will end in a gravel hike up that is impossible at some stages for bicycle. At the summit, we encountered colourful cyclists and hikers. The climb was quite challenging, especially after the mentioned failed navigation that took us through the hilly route, before we managed to get back to the road. However, once at the top, we could let the wind caress our faces and gather strength for the downhill ride towards Brighton.
Brighton
With the sound of a trumpet and a leisurely descent, the riders entered Brighton after a steep downhill treat, and immediately turn towards the southern sea. But before we get there, a bit of history: The settlement "Brighthelmstone" was mentioned in the famous Domesday Book of 1086 as a fishing town. Over the next five centuries, the thriving trade of mackerel and herring fishing was the main occupation of the town until, in 1730, it developed into a popular seaside resort.
The day tripping to Brighton is not a modern invention. In 1841, the London and Brighton Railway Company opened the railway line to the town, and the population, which was 7,000 in 1801, grew to 120,000 in the early twentieth century.
Near the English beach, we had to walk our bikes beside the Royal Pavilion, one of the main attractions of the city. This was the former home of the Prince Regent, later King George IV. It was built in the Indian style by the renowned architect John Nash, due to the strong interest in Indian culture during those years.
The Pavilion also served the heir, King William IV, but later Queen Victoria sold it to the city of Brighton in 1850.
Royal Pavilion in Brighton, England The Royal Pavilion in Brighton - not appreciated by Queen Victoria Brighton, England Splendid Indian architecture - the Pavilion Palace in Brighton on a rare sunny day
The sea called us, and we abandoned previous plans to sit at one of the well-known fish restaurants, Riddle and Finn, on the beach or at English's near the shore. Instead, we decided to go with the perfect weather and cycle along the famous promenade. It reminded us of Santa Monica's famous pier, topped up by video arcades and the giant i360 observation tower of British Airways – a 138-meter high observation platform that offers views of Brighton and the coast.
The amigos got off their bikes and led them towards The Lanes - a collection of narrow streets filled with restaurants, numerous galleries, and many "fish and chips" shops, as well as street performers.
From here we will let ourselves immerse in the summer sun after a little stroll in the packed Lanes and passing by the numerous galleries. We finally let down our hair by chugging down cold wine and enjoying a local fish restaurant. The return to London will be via Thameslink train, which luckily requires no special reservation for bicycles at off-peaks times.
London - Brighton is definitely more challenging as a day ride, and certainly doable. However, some English wines helped us do it the fun way, with a bit of a 'sparkle'.
