Cycling in Richmond Park, South West London

On a sunny Sunday morning, hundreds of lycra-clad road cyclists are doing laps of Richmond Park.

Lime Biking Ludgate Circus, Central London

For many younger Londoners, Lime bikes have become a key mode of transport, further fuelling the city's cycling boom. The cycle lanes around Ludgate Circus must be some of the most congested in the capital. 

Herne Hill Market, South London

 

Every Sunday, the pedestrianised area near Herne Hill station hosts a market and the surrounding cafes and restaurants welcome the resulting influx.

Wellington Street, Central London

Near the tourist hotspot of Covent Garden, Wellington Street is home to several of London't renown theatres.

Oxford Circus, Central London

 

A heatwave in London doesn't put off hordes of shoppers from visiting the many retailers on Oxford Street and Regent's Street. Both roads are becoming partially pedestrianised, easing the overcrowding on the pavements.

Cycling Waterloo Bridge, Central London

 

Waterloo Bridge now has a wide and protected cycle lane, giving riders a chance to admire the views across the river, rather than worrying about cars, lorries and buses.

Sermon Lane, near St. Paul's Cathedral, Central London

You can approach the south side of St. Paul's Cathedral via the aptly-named Sermon Lane.  No longer a lane, this ancient street has been pedestrianised, paved with flagstones and merged with Peter's Hill.

Vintage Cars on Roupell Street, Central London

Sometimes used as a backdrop in period dramas, Roupell Street - near Waterloo Station - is a good spot for vintage car spotting.

Blackheath, South East London

A large expanse of elevated open land surrounded by early nineteenth century housing, Blackheath is a great example of how much land London's Victorian planners set aside for green space.

The Climb to the Stelvio Pass, Lombardy, Italy

 

There are 42 hairpin bends on the road from Bormio up to the Stelvio Pass, which, at more than 2,700 metres, is the second highest road in the Alps.

Riding the Mortirolo Pass, Lombardy, Italy

One of the toughest climbs in Lombardy (no matter which way you go up), the relentless ride up to the Mortirolo Pass is worth it for the serene scenery on the plateau at the top (and then the super smooth tarmac on the hairpins down to Grosio).

Bormio, Lombardy, Italy

With its roots and architecture in the Middle Ages, Bormio makes for an attractive and enthralling base for a winter skiing or summer cycling trip. As Italy's gateway to the Stelvio National Park, the Alpine town is surrounded by scenic cycling routes and walking trails, as well as ski lifts. Within Bormio, there are cobbled streets, medieval churches and the Piazza del Kuèrc, which is lined by cafes, the Palazzo del Podestà and the Tower of the Bajona, Bormio’s civic bell tower. As you browse the old-school eateries and shops on both sides of the Adda river,  you're likely to cross Bormio's distinctive 14th century stone bridge - Ponte di Combo,  

Ripa di Porta Ticinese, Milan, Italy

 

Running alongside the Naviglio Grande canal, Ripa di Porta Ticinese is lined with quite touristy bars and restaurants. Despite the obvious commercialism, it's an attractive and atmospheric place for an early evening stroll or sundowner.

Bellagio, Lake Como, Lombardy, Italy

 

An upmarket tourist hotspot on a peninsula jutting out into Lake Como, Bellagio is in an enviable location. Its cobbled alleyways tumble down to a busy waterfront at which hordes of American and Asian visitors alight and aboard frequent pedestrian and car ferries.  Some of the elegant mansions that line the lake host smart hotels and pricey restaurants, while most of the genteel shops are targeting the tourist trade. Although the budget conscious should stay (and eat) outside the historic heart of Bellagio, don't be put off by the high price tags - loafing about by the lake is free and fun.

Duomo di Milano, Lombardy, Italy

 

Built over six centuries, the Duomo di Milan is a vast, yet intricate, building that gleams almost white in the afternoon sunshine. More squat than most of its peers, Milan's Duomo is both very majestic and very distinctive. Built in the Gothic style, the Cathedral's mesmerising facade is an onslaught of detailed stonework. Although construction work began in 1386, the building wasn't considered complete until the 1960s. Fittingly, the Duomo overlooks a grand square, which is major draw for tourists, but doesn't feel particularly crowded even in summer.

Como, Lombardy

 

On the southwestern tip of Lake Como, a short train journey from Milan, sits the small historic city of Como. Its pedestrianised core, demarcated by the 12th century walls, is a pleasant place to wander round for a couple of hours.  Although you won't be the only one admiring the fine 14th century cathedral, cobbled streets and Renaissance and neoclassical architecture, Como feels like less of a tourist trap than some of the other settlements around the eponymous lake.

Madonna del Ghisallo, Magreglio, Lombardy

If you ride south from Bellagio towards Magreglio,  you'll take on a famous 700 metre climb. At the top, you'll reach the Madonna Del Ghisallo, a 17th century chapel that was anointed as a shrine to cyclists in 1949. In front of the church, marble columns commemorate some of Italy's greatest cyclists, such as Fausto Coppi, Gino Bartali, and Alfredo Binda.  

In 1973, a monument dedicated to cyclists was erected next to the Sanctuary. Made of bronze, it represents the struggle between victory and defeat, and bears an inscription by Bruno Raschi stating that the bicycle is an instrument of practice and exaltation in life, according to the shrine's web site. From a viewing platform behind the chapel, you can see Lake Como and the surrounding mountains. The site is also home to a more mundane building that houses a cycling museum.

Milan's Historic Trams, Lombardy, Italy

 

Some of the trams ferrying passengers around Milan are more than 80 years old. The network, which consists of 18 lines, has been running since 1876, when the trams were drawn by horses.

La Ca’ Granda, Milan, Lombardy, Italy

 

Although it is little more than 100 years old, the University of Milan occupies a beautiful red-brick 15th century building known as La Ca’ Granda. Originally a hospital, La Ca’ Granda was bombed badly during the second world war, but was restored in the subsequent decades.

Landscapes at the Southern End of Lake Como, Lombardy, Italy

From the hills south of Bellagio, you'll glimpse views of the majestic mountains that loom over Lake Como.