Lunar Cycle
Written by Meriem Mahdhi
If you like cycling, London has one of the best
cycle paths along the River Thames, adding
that touch of inspiration and romanticism
to your commute. Whether it’s to work, for
leisure, or because your flat mates are too
noisy to tolerate at this hour, there’s a
reason people say their favourite nights in
London have been spent cycling around until
dawn. So here is a guide on how £2 can fund
a night you’ll probably remember for the
rest of your life.
Step one: grab a bike from Embankment.
If you happen to be in Embankment at 11pm,
probably sipping on a coffee you got from
that late–closing Starbucks overlooking the
station, the view will be too beautiful
to move away from. You can find a bench
overlooking the London Eye, because we don’t
want you riding with one hand and holding
your cup with the other.
Because it’s nighttime and the roads are
commuter-free, you have more cycling
options available. Your best bet is to
take a Santander bike from one of the six
stations in Embankment only, otherwise you
can always use Lime or Ride by Uber.
Step two: ride the cycle path up until
Tower Bridge.
You can cycle along The City of London and
experience the financial district in its ghost
town guise. It should take no more than half
an hour and offer the most amazing view of
the city, all the way until the end. Odds are,
you won’t encounter anyone sharing the cycle
lanes with you in the middle of the night –
it all adds to the adventure, but remember to
take care and stick to familiar locations.
Once you arrive at Tower Bridge, find a seat
and enjoy the view and the emptiness of the
city. London after dusk somehow manages to
be both a hotspot for nightlife lovers and
a deserted city, ready to welcome you and
your time off for reflection, even better
with a splendid view.
Hungry after all the thinking about your
life choices, career, mental health, family,
good friends, bad friends, your dog, or
Boris Johnson? No problem, you’re just a
ten-minute ride away from Beigel Bake in
Brick Lane. That certainly doesn’t need an
introduction.
17