Transport for London has sent out an email reminding people that the Tour de France is coming to London on Monday 7th July. They warn people to plan ahead and not to get caught out, as road closures, bus diversions and busier stations are expected.
The race will start in Cambridge, travelling through Essex, north, east and central London, finishing on The Mall. Roads on and around the route will be closed to traffic from 10:00 and reopen by 18:00, provided it is safe to do so. Some roads around the finish area will close to traffic on Sunday afternoon. Pedestrian access to properties will not be affected. Tower, Southwark and Westminster Bridges will be closed for most of the day. The Congestion Charge will remain in operation, however, due to the closure of Tower Bridge, a signed diversion route across Blackfriars Bridge through the Congestion Charging zone will operate charge-free. If leaving the signed diversion route, you will need to pay the charge or you could face a Penalty Charge Notice. Road users are advised to avoid areas near the event route wherever possible.
Tube and Rail will be the best way to get around although stations along the route will be extremely busy, particularly during the evening peak. Buses in the area will be on diversion or will stop short of their destinations from 09:00 – 18:00. A number of Barclays Cycle Hire docking stations will be suspended.
To see how your journey could be affected, including maps of the predicted traffic impacts to help you plan, please click here.