Richmond Park: bring a picnic and enjoy each race twice
Tickets for the men's and women's Olympic road cycling events went on sale today, including 15,000 for the managed areas on Box Hill in Surrey.
Even if you weren't one of the lucky ones to get your hands on tickets though the notorious official processing system, you can still enjoy the race for free.
For starters there three free cycling festivals around Box Hill over the weekend of the road races (CW May 24): the Box Hill Cycling Expo, the Box Hill Festival of Cycling and the Surrey Hills Road Race Festival.
Surrey County Council also plan to host big screens in public spaces in Dorking, Leatherhead and West Byfleet.
There are plenty of additional places to watch the race come by too, and we've selected our five favourite alternatives to head to on July 28-29.
Richmond Park
London's cycling hotspot sees the race twice, and the slight slope makes a good natural grandstand. Watch the peloton roll out, enjoy a picnic in the park and then catch the sharp end of the race when it comes back through just a few miles from the finish.
Hampton Court
Pop up out of Hampton Court railway station and you'll find yourself practically on top of the course. Both races will pass through here twice too, either side of the Box Hill loops, and you can enjoy the festivities at Hampton Court Palace.
Kingston Bridge, Kingston upon Thames
Billing itself as the place to go for those without tickets, fans can see the men's and women's races cross Kingston Bridge on their way back into London. You can also hang around for a few days and catch the time trials on August 1.
Elsewhere on the Box Hill loop
The men will complete nine loops and the women two, so there are plenty of chances to watch the race unfold. Finding a spot where the road tilts uphill should ensure the riders won't just be zooming past.
Staple Lane, East Clandon
More of a drag than a proper hill, the race heads over here just before the approach to Box Hill. Catch the peloton in full technicolour with the perfect backdrop of the expansive views of the capital.
This article originally appeared in the May 17 issue of Cycling Weekly
Related links
Confusion surrounds Box Hill ticket sales
'Extra' charges for London 2012 road races and time trials
LOCOG raise Box Hill Olympic capacity to 15,000 fans
Reader comments
Add your comments
DJG
May 29 18:25
Are there going to be large screens anywhere? Although it looks as if Box Hill would have been the only good spot on a flat circuit.
Pat
June 13 12:01
I know there will be a big screen in Hyde Park and I’ve found another one at Denbies vinyard outside Dorking http://surreyhillsroadracefestival.com/. I’m struggling to find out if there are others. Richmond Park would be ideal. Help!!!
sallyhowdle
July 03 13:17
I just want to email my Dad this page so we can sort out going to watch some cycling.
dave piurnell
July 04 23:01
route and large screen
Andy
July 18 14:59
There's a big screen at West Byfleet. http://www.celebratewoking.info/getwestbyfleetcontent.aspx#Olympic-Cycle-Road-Races
Rebecca Nicholl
July 23 10:34
There's a big screen at Victoria Park too...
Grelag
July 23 12:15
Great article - nice overview. Did anyone find out if there will be a big screen in Richmond Park? With thousands of cycling enthusiasts flocking together there, I would imagine a large proportion of these actually want to see the race unfold during the afternoon!
Pat
July 24 15:59
It's train down to Dorking for me. Get there for about 10. Watch race on big screen and see them come pass. Walk down to the foot of Box Hill and watch again. Then walk back to Denbies to see the finish on the screen.
NMS
July 25 12:27
@Pat re: Dorking That is what I was thinking too but I am not at all familiar with the area of the course. How easy will it be to walk on the course streets/roads (which I assume will be barriered off) with all the multitude of brand new Wiggens/Cav fans doing the same. Long queing for trains back with the throngs is also a bit worrying ( I would take my 10 year old with me).. Perhaps someone who saw last year's rehearsal race there may have an opinion?
Gemma
July 25 20:41
Anyone know of or know where to find out the approximate times the race will be passing through Richmond Park etc? Going to try and battle our way down there through the crowds with a 4 month old baby - would be gutted to get there and miss it!
Pat
July 25 21:54
I don’t know which sections will have barriers. From watching other bike races I know it’s not possible to barrier the whole route. Usually police and stewards are around to coax the crowd back out of the way while the race caravan is passing. There might be barriers through Dorking town. There will be a big screen in Meadowbank Recreation ground, which is very close to where the route comes through Dorking. From Dorking to Box Hill the route goes along the A24 which is a dual carriageway and very unlikely to have barriers. There will be a big screen at Denbies vineyard. From Dorking station to Denbies is about 0.8 mile to walk. From Denbies to the foot of Box Hill is just under a mile to walk. It could well be busy on trains back to London, but if Cav wins we won’t care about that! There’s loads of information on the gosurrey website - http://www.gosurrey.info/olympic-road-cycling/olympic-cycling-road-race/
Kate
July 26 17:00
My daughter lives in Richmond and the race is going right by her door YAY!! Have had lots of info from Richmond Council, barriers go up at 4am throughout the route. Crossing points will be limited, as with the London marathon. Richmond will be rammed as its at the end of the district line. However have heard nothing re a big screen. I think quite a lot of the pubs will have big tellys tho.
Pat
July 26 19:24
Gemma. Aprox race times can be found here - http://www.gosurrey.info/olympic-road-cycling/race-times/
Carl
July 30 19:59
This was such a good / helpful article. And we had an awesome weekend on Box Hill. Now I have the day off for the time trial. But where to watch? Any thoughts?