360 km | 4,400 m | Self-Supported | One Relentless Circle
27th to 28th June £80 (+ tracker deposit)
A full circumnavigation of London on gravel, bridleways, woodland singletrack, canal paths, field crossings and forgotten connectors.
A challenge that becomes mentally harder the further you ride, because you are never that far from warmth, trains and an easy way home.
Can you finish the orbit?
The Essentials
- 360 km gravel orbit of London
- Approx. 4,400 metres of climbing
- Self-supported gravel ride
- London Orbital Gravel Challenge
- Bridleways, byways, towpaths, old railway lines, woodland tracks and small roads
- Start and finish in Greenwich
- Live GPS tracking for every rider
- Fast target: sub-24 hours
- Other options: ride it over the weekend or tackle individual sectors
Why Ride Around London?
The strange thing about The 360 is that London never fully disappears.
One moment you are riding beside the Thames, the next through chalk woodland, sandy heathland or deep into Epping Forest in the middle of the night.
The route crosses motorways, railway lines, towpaths, bridleways and forgotten scraps of countryside hidden between suburbs and commuter towns.
You are rarely far from a station, a road or a way home.
Which is precisely what makes finishing difficult.
Riders spend an entire day orbiting one of the world’s biggest cities while constantly deciding whether to continue or stop.
The route is never truly remote. The challenge is deciding to keep going.
Route Map & Live Tracking
The 360 follows a full gravel orbit around London using bridleways, byways, canal paths, woodland tracks and old railway lines, constantly changing character as the route moves between Thames Path towpaths, chalk ridges, sandy heathland and deep woodland trails through Epping Forest in the middle of the night.
During the event, this map comes alive.
Every rider carries a live GPS tracker, allowing friends, family and fellow riders to follow progress around the route in real time.
If you have never come across live tracking before, it quickly becomes strangely addictive. Tiny moving dots begin telling stories. Riders spread out through the night, stop briefly at garages and cafés, then slowly begin converging back towards London again.
Riders spread out surprisingly quickly. Some move fast and barely stop. Others settle into steadier rhythms, riding through the night or sleeping for a few hours before continuing the orbit.
Watch dots move across the North Downs, through the Chilterns and back towards London through the night. Somewhere around midnight, people who swore they would “just check quickly” are usually fully committed to dot watching.
Read the Route Before You Ride It
Three recce blogs. One full gravel orbit of London.
Greenwich to Guildford
Thames Path, Crossness, Greensand Ridge and the North Downs.
Read Greenwich to Guildford >
Guildford to Hemel Hempstead
Surrey Heaths, Swinley, Maidenhead, Marlow and the Chilterns.
Read Guildford to Hemel >
Hemel Hempstead to Greenwich
Railway lines, Lee Valley, Epping Forest and the ride home through the night.
Read Hemel to Greenwich >Who Is The 360 For?
The 360 can be raced, ridden steadily, bikepacked over the weekend or tackled one sector at a time.
Some riders will aim to complete the full route in under 24 hours. Others will ride until they have had enough, found enough or simply run out of legs.
A single 90 km sector is still a serious ride. Two sectors ridden hard becomes a proper challenge. The full orbit is there if you want it.
Because every rider is tracked live, friends, family and fellow riders can follow progress throughout the event. Dots spread out around London, regroup at cafés and garages, then slowly work their way back towards Greenwich through the night.
The route is designed for experienced riders comfortable navigating independently using a GPX file and managing themselves for long periods outdoors.
You do not need to race The 360.
You do need to keep moving.
Frequently Asked Questions
What bike should I ride?
A decent gravel bike or MTB will both work well. The route constantly changes character and both have advantages and disadvantages. I’ve ridden it on both and honestly it is six of one, half a dozen of the other.
The most important thing is that your bike is reliable, recently serviced and fitted with suitable tyres for the conditions.
What tyres should I use?
Tyre choice depends heavily on the weather leading into the event. In dry conditions, fast rolling gravel tyres work very well. If the weather turns wet, expect chalk, woodland and sections of the Greensand Ridge to become significantly slower and more technical.
Is there a time limit?
Yes and no.
Riders at the sharp end will typically target sub-24 hours, with the fastest aiming closer to 22 hours. Others may choose to bikepack the route and complete it over the weekend.
Can I ride just part of the route?
Absolutely. The route naturally breaks into sectors and many riders use The 360 to challenge themselves over shorter distances rather than riding the full orbit in one go.
A single sector is still a proper ride. Two sectors ridden hard is a serious challenge.
How does the tracking work?
Every rider carries a live GPS tracker during the event. This allows friends, family and fellow riders to follow progress around the route in real time.
Riders do not need to pay the tracker deposit when entering. A payment link is sent out with the rider briefing roughly two weeks before the event.
The deposit is automatically refunded once trackers are returned.
Do I need lights?
Yes. Strong front and rear lights are essential. Even fast riders will spend significant time riding in darkness, particularly through the Chilterns and Epping Forest.
How do I navigate the route?
Riders navigate using a GPX file supplied before the event. Ideally you should use a dedicated bike computer such as a Garmin or Wahoo, although some riders do use phone-based navigation.
Is the route fully supported?
No. The 360 is entirely self-supported. Riders are responsible for their own pacing, mechanicals, food, navigation and decisions throughout the ride.
Can I bail out if needed?
One of the unusual things about The 360 is that you are never especially far from civilisation. There are stations, shops and routes back into London all around the course.
Which is precisely what makes finishing mentally difficult.
Enter The 360
A 360 kilometre self-supported gravel challenge around London.
Ride it fast. Ride it steady. Ride through the night. Bikepack it over the weekend. Or simply see how far around the orbit you can get before London finally persuades you to stop.
Bridleways, chalk ridges, canal paths, woodland singletrack, old railway lines and one very long circle around the capital.
Can you resist the temptation to quit?
