wellness
Islington Expands Safe Cycling Routes Through Parks and Canal Towpaths
New marked paths through Clissold Park and along the Regent’s Canal towpath give parents and novices protected space to ride without mixing with heavy traffic.
How we reported this
Islington Council opened two new family cycling loops on 1 July this year, one circling the perimeter of Clissold Park and the other running from Angel to Caledonian Road along the canal towpath.
Wellness groups in the borough report rising demand for outdoor activity that does not require gym membership fees or indoor equipment. With summer daylight stretching into the evening, residents are looking for routes that keep children away from main roads while still providing a proper workout.
Two protected routes now signposted
The Clissold Park loop measures 1.8 kilometres of flat tarmac separated from pedestrian paths by low bollards. Families can start at the Stoke Newington Church Street entrance and ride clockwise past the paddling pool and the aviary before returning to the café. A second route follows the Regent’s Canal from City Road Basin to Thornhill Bridge, where the towpath widens to three metres and speed limits are posted at 10 mph. Both paths connect to the existing cycle hire docking station at Essex Road station, which added 40 extra bikes last month.
Local data from Transport for London shows that cycle journeys starting in Islington rose 18 per cent between April 2025 and April 2026, with the largest share coming from households with children under 12. The same report lists average daily use of the canal towpath at 2,400 riders on weekdays and 3,100 on weekends.
How to use the routes safely
Beginners can join free 45-minute led rides every Saturday at 10 a.m. from the Clissold Park café, organised through the Islington Active Travel programme. Helmets and bike locks are available to borrow on site. Parents are advised to check the TfL cycle map app for real-time surface conditions before setting out, especially after heavy rain when the towpath can become muddy near the Thornhill Bridge section. Sessions run until the end of September and require only advance booking through the council website.
Residents who prefer to go independently can collect a paper route leaflet from the Islington Central Library on Holloway Road or download the GPX file from the council’s active travel page. The loops link directly to Gillespie Park’s new bike repair stand, installed in May, where volunteers from the local cycling group offer free puncture fixes on the first Sunday of each month.