Author: Rob Ainsley

Where is it? On the Grand Union Canal Paddington Arm, about five miles west of Paddington station. What’s quirky about it? The quiet, rural-feeling canal is clearly at ground level – you think. But out of nowhere, the North Circular suddenly appears far below you: disorientated, you realise you’re on an aqueduct. Why bike there?…

Where is it? On Limehouse Cut, where the canal ducks under the A12, just before Bow Locks. What’s quirky about it? It’s Britain’s only floating towpath – it was the only solution to making a cyclable and walkable towpath under the main road.(There’s supposed to be a floating and movable towpath where the Rochdale Canal…

Where is it? The King’s Arms, a pub at 65 Newcomen St, just off Borough, a bit south of London Bridge. What’s quirky about it? Its coat of arms is the only surviving bit of the original, medieval London Bridge, the one that was always falling down or burning up. The arms come from the…

Where is it? Vauxhall Bridge, a bridge in Vauxhall. Cross over the wide, fast bridge and you’d think it’s central London’s most boring crossing. But you’re on a bike, not a bus or car, so stop and peer over the parapet. What’s quirky about it? You see eight large female figures depicting the arts and…

Where is it? 111 Cannon St, in the heart of London, which means a busy road with anonymous shops and bland modern blocks. But at least there’s a pub called The London Stone just down the road. What’s quirky about it? It’s said to be the original centre of London in Roman times: the stone…

Where is it? 5 Strand Lane, off Strand/Surrey St, hidden away in a back lane and probably half a building site. What’s quirky about it? It’s a National Trust property which is the “remains of a bath – possibly Roman”. To see it, you press a light switch on the outside wall and peer in…

Where is it? 56 Artillery Lane, in higgledy-piggledy back streets off Spitalfields Market not far from Liverpool St station. What’s quirky about it? Built in 1756, it’s said to be the oldest surviving shop front in London. Don’t know what it ever sold – top hats, probably, or lampblack or snuffboxes or vittles or something….

Where is it? Cloth Fair, just south of Smithfield Market. What’s quirky about it? It’s said to be the oldest surviving house in London, a miraculous survivor of the Great Fire, the Luftwaffe, and the even worse Developers. It’s been sympathetically restored quite a bit, apparently, but would be instantly recognisable to its original inhabitants…

Where is it? At the west end of Ganton St, just off Carnaby St in swinging Soho. What’s quirky about it? It’s, um, a giant plug. Maybe a reminder of those ancient days when your company’s computer was the size of a small factory, and your electricity bill the size of a round. Why bike…

Where is it? A bit north of Hyde Park. Head west from Paddington Station about half a mile to the end of the road and it’s there in front of you. What’s quirky about it? Nos 23 and 24 don’t exist, despite being decorated with proper window and door frames and balconies. The windows are…