Three Active Ways to See London

3 unique and active ways to experience London

City sightseeing can often mean sitting on a tour bus or making your way through a crowded transport system juggling a map in one hand trying not to look too lost – it can often be a stressful and tiring process.

Recently some of our staff decided to find new and more adventurous ways to explore London. Few people would even consider swapping the tour bus for a kayak but in the last month we’ve experienced three different ways to explore our Capital City.

If you like your sightseeing a little more energetic then you’ll be pleased to hear there wasn’t a tube station or bus to hop on or off as we ran, biked and kayaked our way around London and here’s how:

Kayak London
An amazing way to get a different perspective on the city. Kayak under Tower Bridge, float past Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament whilst dodging commuter vessels and boat houses.

The guys at Kayaking London offer a choice of trips all setting off from Chelsea and along the way the guides point out interesting places – many of which you would have overlooked if you’d been following a map!

Different trips are available including Big Ben By Night, or the one we did - Explore London - plus there are special themed trips (see their website for details!) Times are dictated by the tide so you can paddle with the tide out and back – this makes for a good workout but ensures you enjoy the ride.

Top tip – don’t drink the water (of course) and you’ll need a dry bag for your essentials, plus a sun hat, sun cream and waterwater proof camera case and water bottle or Camel Bak hydration system. You could fix a GoPro to the front of your kayak so you can document your adventure!

Run London
Get your trainers on and join one of the guided running tours around the city provided by Jog Tours as you combine a spot of sightseeing with a workout!

You’ll be joined by fellow runners of a similar ability as you enjoy running past the sites and parks of London. Runs are up to 6km in distance, and with four different routes, you can choose whether to take in the iconic sights or jog round the Royal Parks. Guided runs operate three times a day on weekends and cost just £25..

Ride London
Of course you can hope on a Boris bike and cycle your own tour of London but we highly recommend joining one of the organized tours hosted by the brilliantly named Tally Ho Cycles! These guys are full of knowledge and make the trip incredibly entertaining. The bikes are hand built, comfortable and come with a distinctive vintage twist (handle bar baskets optional!).  For added fun you can dress in tweeds and a flat cap as you enjoy the sightseeing on a comfortable Brooks saddle.

Two different tours lasting 3 hours each are available in London. Choose between the sites of well known monuments such as the Westminster Abbey or travel to the East End and discover the old city places like Brick Lane and quiet canals.

Fancy some another active way to see London? We also tried Stand Up Paddle Boarding and we’d highly recommend checking out these guys who run trips from Kew to Richmond most weekends: www.active360.co.uk.