Avenue Verte; Guide To London To Paris

Top DogDays

Avenue Verte London to Paris

We recently cycled the Avenue Verte London to Paris cycle route…why? I’m still trying to work that out! There was 7 of us in our party; 1 almost pro cyclist, 1 JOGLE veteran, 1 cyclist with balance issues (the last time I rode I ended up in an ambulance) & 3 children of varying abilities.

You can follow our experiences that includes a wealth of practical information and handy hints and tips for those considering a journey along Avenue Verte.

Photo; Phil Loach

Our Avenue Verte; Accommodation & Route

The Avenue Verte runs from the London Eye to Notre Dame in Paris over 250 mile route using the Newhaven/Dieppe crossing. We averaged 30 miles a day over 8 days and completed a self guided Avenue Verte route.

For those that wish to follow our Avenue Verte itinerary I’ve put together a list of accommodation that we used during our journey complete with a route planner.

Top Tips for the Avenue Verte

Signage; Avenue Verte signage comes & goes throughout the route and, at best, can only be described as sporadic. Without a doubt, you will need to draw the route before you leave.

Factor In Delays; factor in time for punctures, maintenance issues, food stops, toilet breaks, changes of clothing due to the weather, children stopping & going off course!

Select Carefully; this route is not advisable for a road bike although there are road based alternatives to some of the tracks.

Shops Are Shut; remember rural supermarkets & shops are shut for lunch in France between around 12 & 3pm. For those on a complete budget break, plan ahead & carry lunch with you.

Pack Your Tools; at the very least you will need to carry puncture repair kits, inner tubes, allen keys, chain key, chain link and a list of bike shops along the full length of the route, (there is a great one in Forges-Les-Eaux). The majority of the Avenue Verte route is located in rural areas so it is vital that you are prepared for all eventualities.

Be Prepared; unfortunately you can never depend upon the weather in England or France so prepare for a full day in the rain or the hot sunshine. Always carry snacks & liquids with you as there are large chunks of the route without sight on a single shop, vehicle or even another person!

Children; whilst the bulk of the Avenue Verte is on country lanes, cycle paths & rural routes, getting in & out of London & Paris is particularly difficult. You will need to consider quite how cycle savvy your children are before considering a family trip. The route does take you on main London & Paris roads in & out of the cities.

Belongings; we opted for a trailer attached to 2 of the bikes to carry all our belongings along the route. This gave us more space than panniers could provide but offered us a budget solution away from courier options.

Photo; Phil Loach

Avenue Verte; Worth The Ride?

Absolutely! Whilst I’ve certainly had easier holidays, we all felt a great sense of achievement by the end & something we will all remember for the rest of our lives.