Meet Alice, PR Manager at The Hoxton hotel brand and editor of Flash Anthology, a website dedicated to exploring the UK and beyond. Alice lives in London and uses the Brompton subscription scheme for every day riding and local adventures, knowing that it provides maximum flexibility to suit her lifestyle.
For as long as I’ve lived in London, I’ve always cycled. It’s free exercise and it gets you places fast, plus I can’t stand London traffic. Whether I’m up early to the lido, straight to the hotel, from work to the park, or out for dinner somewhere, I love knowing I can get anywhere I need to on my Brompton.
I love to start my day at the lido. In South London, Charlton Lido and Brockwell Lido are my favourites. I throw all my things in my Brompton waterproof bag, which is the perfect size for carrying my towel, goggles and a change of clothes, plus I don’t have to worry about throwing my wet things in afterwards.
I’m always cycling between meetings, so I throw my laptop and charger in the front bag. When you’ve given up cycling with a rucksack, I don’t think you can ever go back. It’s so freeing to cycle with no ‘luggage’!
Cycling in a city is a surefire way to be able to connect with the outdoors and nature. You’re more aware of the weather and the open spaces, and if you take the scenic route, sometimes you’ll forget you’re in London! I love cycling along the canals in East London — all the way to Victoria Park, which is great for cycling around or stopping for a picnic or a pint.
Often, I’ll cycle to meet my husband after work. It’s so easy to just fold up and bring my bike inside and either leave it in a cloakroom or beside the table. I could live on pizza — London faves are Theo’s in Camberwell, Sodo in Bethnal Green, or Mike’s Pizza in Peckham. For something more seasonal and special, I love Bar Crispin in Soho (get the anchovy focaccia).
After a long week in the city it’s time to escape and chase some horizons. We went winding down through the South Downs on a sunny weekend visiting the vineyards of Sussex and the coast of Eastbourne.
Inspired? Hire a bike today for your own little adventure!