We’ve gone from East to West, North to South and finally it’s time for central London!
Our choices are all independent bike shops that we know and love. As always, we encourage contributions in our comments – please share your favourite choices to help fellow cyclists!
Soho Bikes
26 Berwick Street, Soho W1F 8RG Tel: 0207 439 9577
In the heart of central London, Soho bikes is a great bike shop. It carries mainly Trek and Genesis bikes for urban riding, but it also has some really very fancy mountain bikes for when you need to escape the city. The workshop can do pretty much any kind of servicing, and it has a well priced list. The accessories section is small but perfectly formed, with some great urban style items: they stock Chrome Industries, Bern and Knog to name but a few.
Soho bikes has an excellent coffee shop that also serves food. They also hold events in store so its worth checking out them out next time you are in the area, even if you sans bike.
Condor Cycles
49–53 Gray’s Inn Road, London, WC1X 8PP Tel: 020 7269 6820
Condor have had a bike shop for over 65 years. They make their own frames and build up bikes to any specification. Their shop on Greys Inn road is an Aladdin’s cave of components and accessories up stairs. Downstairs there are so many nice bikes, the kinds you kind of just have to touch but probably shouldn’t.
They have a full service department and loads of components for any upgrade your heart desires. Accessories wise, they have performance orientate things, but also some great urban items – this is where I got my Mission Workshop bag. The staff really know their stuff and can advise on parts and they also have a bike fitting service.
Look Mum No Hands!
49 Old Street, London, EC1V 9HX Tel: 020 7490 3928.
No strictly a bike shop as it doesn’t sell bikes, but it does deal with all other things bike related including excellent servicing and accessories. They also have their own line of clothing and accessories, some of which are great for urban riding. Their have lots of mechanics and can do most repairs on most bikes.
Of course, they are a cafe, and a damn good one at that. They have really lovely coffee, some excellent looking food and beer on tap. There is a lot of seating so it’s a great place to go and get work done (although be aware that they turn off their wifi over lunchtime). Finally, Look Mum host some great events, it is definitely worth checking out their calendar.
London Green Cycles
4 Chester Court, Albany Street, NW1 4BU Tel: 020 7935 6934
London Green Cycles are situated just to the East side of Regents Park. They specialise in cargo bikes, so if you have been feeling like your loads are outstripping your bike’s carrying capability then these guys are for you! They have an amazing range of bikes in stock, ones for carrying extra people or extra things. They also stock a wide range of everyday accessories suitable for any kind of rider. The workshop will service other bikes as well. They also do call outs if you can’t take your bike to them.
On top of this, they have cargo bikes to hire. If you have ever wondered if they would fit into your life or flat then it’s a great way to find out. It is also a great way to move smaller loads around London – probably easier than driving if you are not used to it!
Cloud 9
38 Store St, London, WC1E 7DB Tel: 0203 20 50 190
Cloud 9 cycles are to be found in Bloomsbury on Store Street. They have some lovely prebuilt bikes, but also do their own bike building. They stock a lot of frames, own brand and others, and parts and can build it up to your own spec.
The workshop services most bikes and they can handle any kind of bike type, including Bromptons and full carbon race machines. Cloud 9 also offer bike fitting services, particularly important if you are about to embark on a full build as they are quite expensive!
What are your favourites?
fitzrovia cycles.
from my personal experience, they’re excellent and worth a mention.
best bike shop in town
One London bike shop that I am impressed with is tokyobike in Shoreditch. I loved their designs – very stylish. Friendly staff too though I don’t know what their post-sales customer service is like. I’d never heard of them before and I came across them by accident…I had just attended a nearby Guardian retail event where Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen was the keynote speaker. Probably why I was taken with the tokyobike aesthetic!
Agree with Carl – Fitzrovia are brilliant always friendly nothing an issue and good value
Lunar Cycles in Kentish Town. Always get my bike serviced or repaired there. Great service and price.
London Bicycle Repair Shop just off the Cut in Waterloo, reasonably priced, down to earth practical advice, they’ll repair if they can rather than replace and they even contact you a week or so after a service to make sure you’re happy.
Also London Bicycle Workshop on Clerkenwell Rd. Smart premises good advice and very efficient.
Just a shame neither of these nearer to me in NW6. Nowhere reliable in this part of London at all!
Hi Peter
I’m in NW6 too.
Can I ask what local bike shop you use in our area.
I used to use Chamberlain Cycles in Kentish town but since the takeover, they have become pretty expensive.
Thanks
Sean
Skinny Eric’s in Hackney Wick! Really good work and really affordable. I don’t go anywhere else now.
+1 for Fitzrovia Cycles.
It’s run as a co-op by the workers.
Friendly, knowledgeable staff, a good selection of bikes and accessories, and great service.
Looking for Speedplay pedal servicing…. any suggestions please? Any of the above? Thanks!
Another +1 for Fitzrovia Cycles.
SBC Cycles is another great bike shop with a similar ethos, but fairly new so may not be on everyone’s radar yet.
Bicycle Workshop on All Saints Road is an excellent place for all things bike including for Brompton repairs and servicing.
Also Ealing Cycles on Bond Street (that’s Bond Street, Ealing!) have space for a good range of makes (including for kids) with the excellent Pat heading up repairs downstairs.
Fitzrovia Cycles 136-138 New Cavendish Street, London W1W 6YD http://www.fitzroviabicycles.com wins my vote every time. Great service whether it’s a Brompton or a Woodrup, single speed to tourers. Excellent knowledge and fantastic can do attitude.
For urban bicycles and cycling accessories with style, Velorution at 75-77 Great Portland St, London W1W 7LR http://www.velorution.com is cutting edge.
The Cycle Cave in Highgate. Really excellent for vintage steel framed cycles. They have masses of spares, excellent workmanship and very reasonable charges. Highly recommended
+ yet another one for Fitzrovia Cycles http://www.fitzroviabicycles.com/ Good selection of all types of bikes.
http://www.londonbicycleworkshop.com/
Thank you Peter C who recommended The London Bicycle Workshop (Clerkenwell). I took my bike there last week and they were fantastic. My bike has never run so smoothly.