Best cities for riding a motorbike in the UK

While lots of bikers tend to tour the countryside, there is plenty to see from the saddle in the city too.

We’ve picked four motorbike friendly cities in the UK, which have great motorbike facilities and good links to exciting rides. Here are the Bike Insurer’s Best cities for riding a motorbike in the UK.

London

Yes, we know London is congested, but where else can you ride past Buckingham palace, Big Ben and along the Thames?

While you are there, why not pop by the London Motorcycle Museum in Greenford, West London?

For an almost traffic-free experience, ride through the square mile (AKA the City) on the weekend. As very few people live there, the streets tend to be quiet on Saturday and Sunday, and you may even come across a Hollywood movie being filmed.

There are two legendary biker cafes in the capital, Ace Café on the North Circular and The Bike Shed Motorbike Club in Shoreditch, just off the A10.

There is plenty of bike parking around, especially in the centre; some are even free, many of which are in the City.

Edinburgh

The Scottish capital is a fantastic place to base yourself for a touring holiday.

Surrounding Edinburgh are some beautiful quiet roads where you can enjoy lochs, stunning views, places of historical interest and some great biker friendly pubs and cafes.

By staying in the South East of Scotland, you can avoid most of the heavy tourist traffic heading north. The city itself is also beautiful to ride around and motorcycle parking is free across Edinburgh; with 120 solo motorcycle spaces available.

There are a few famous biker meeting places in the city, one popular haunt known as the Bikers Cove is situated near the Forth Bridge in South Queensferry.

Another well-known meeting spot is the Leadburn Inn, which is located at the crossroads of A701 & A70. Every first Thursday of the month is biker night.

Glasgow

If you plan on touring Scotland, Glasgow should most certainly be a stop off, or even your base. Fort William is a day trip of just over 100 miles, and Loch Lomond is just over 30 miles away.

If you want to stray off the beaten track a little, head west to Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park, which has quiet roads and beautiful scenery. Like Edinburgh, there is plenty of parking around the city and all of it is free.

York

York is a great place for motorcyclists; while the historic narrow streets are not always easy for cars, they are perfect for bikes.

Also, you can ride your motorbike in some bus lanes, where indicated by a motorcycle symbol, and you can benefit from access to many free dedicated bike parking bays.

York is also a perfect base for exploring the Yorkshire moors and dales. For the motorcycle enthusiast, East Coast Motorcycle World, a huge biker superstore, is only 30 miles east of the city. Also popular with riders is the Squire Biker Café in Sherburn-in-Elmet.

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