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    Santander Cycle Hire

    3.5 (40 reviews)
    InexpensiveBike Rentals, Bikes

    Santander Cycle Hire Photos

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    Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
    Andy B.

    These are just too awesome!! The sooner other cities roll them out, the better. For someone like me, who enjoys wandering round London, but possesses an innate hatred of both the tube and all who frequent it, these make the perfect means to get round the city. Very cheap, comfy and easy to use, and stations are located all over the place - scooting about London has never been easier, or more fun. There's even a far better cycle lane network than I was expecting, so all nice and safe too. They're particularly good for whizzing through Hyde Park, and past the Queen's house. Though people do look at you quite oddly if you fly past singing to yourself... Btw, I will never refer to them as anything but a Boris Bike.

    Me with a bike.
    Yolanda B.

    I am writing a review because I am 1. Happy I am still alive and 2. There is a slight learning curve to your first check out (at least it was for us). So your first time renting there are actually two steps to the process if you don't hit "release bikes now" quick enough during the first transaction. So that actually caused you to "book" time with a credit card. Once that is done a receipt is printed with a code. Then you go back into the machine and enter the code to get a bike released. The second receipt gives you the bike release code. My next recommendation is that all of those who are not avid cyclists should avoid renting at terminals that would throw you out into peak traffic lanes (as my husband did!) go to Hyde or Green park first. Ride around the bike lanes out of traffic so all the people on the road aren't yelling at you to stay to the left. Then, and only then, once you are comfortable riding, venture out.

    Qype User (theduc…)

    I think I could have been best described as skeptical when I first heard about this scheme where there are public transport bicycles. Today it launched and I have had a go. At present you need membership to ride one of the 6,000 cycles from 400 docking stations located around Zone 1 of the Underground map in central London. The first 30 minutes are free and you pay £1 for 30 minutes to 1 hour and then charges rise further - but today in summer I faced a trip from Oxford Circus to Covent Garden. It took 13 minutes on the bike which has a tiny bit of storage space on the handbars. Just enough for my sandwich! Using a electronic member key to unlock the bike from their station you should adjust the seat, test the brakes and then, safely, get on the road. Remembering the highway code and indicating I did wonder considering the number of CCTV int he city and the unique number on the side fo the bike if I could get in trouble for any road offences, but in fact it was stopping at red lights that annoyed me the most. This is because you really move on a bike in Central London and red lights are plentiful. I would suggest taking a map of the docking stations with you as locking the bike up is easy (you just push it into an empty gap in a docking station) but finding them is a bit troublesome if you don't know the area. Each docking station has information where another one is if it is full and if you put your key into the slot at a full station you get 15 minutes extra to find a space elsewhere. For the moment it is good in summer, but it will be interesting to see how many bikes get broken, vandalised and stolen as they did in Paris. I also want to see if they get busy in rush hour in the next few weeks, then if Londoners use them when you can get a ride on a credit card without membership or even better with an Oystercard, even in the harshest of winters, then my little bike scheme you will become a man my son.

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    16 years ago

    OK until you try to update your payment details. The website cannot cope with this...so a good idea let down by bad IT.

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    Santander Cycle Hire Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Santander Cycle Hire

    (This is why Londoners just call them "Boris Bikes", as they were initially brought in by Mayor Boris Johnson).

    Mentioned in 6 reviews

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    Evans Cycles

    Evans Cycles

    3.1(20 reviews)
    1.5 kmWaterloo, Southwark
    ££££

    Yet another shocking experience from Evans Cycles. They've had my bike for five days and only go…read morethe repair it when I turn up to collect it. It was meant to be ready on Friday but I couldn't collect as I was off work. You think they'd have it ready three days later! Having been advised it would 'just take five minutes' I was still waiting ten minutes later. This is the second time in a row this branch have made me wait while they repair my bike, despite coming back for collection. Last time they rushed the repair and I had to bring it back two more times to be done again. What's the betting they rush this repair and I break down on the way home? Next time I'll be using The London Bicycle Company round the corner - they're a professional organisation. Further to my last review - to top it all off after they rushed my bike repair on the spot I pointed out to Evans Waterloo that this is when mistakes happen - queue - a problem with my gears on the way home; what a surprise! They had messed up the gears when replacing the back wheel inner tube and I was missing a gear. They made such a mess of re-repairing my bike last time I just got my husband to fix it this time. On my first interaction with Evans I really felt they couldn't organize a children's tea party let alone repair a bike. The only reason I returned this time was because I have an injured ankle and I couldn't walk far enough with a flat tire to get to the London Bicycle Company. This time Evans Waterloo really excelled themselves proving that they can't even repair a flat tire - nice work guys. DO NOT USE THIS SHOP - they're utter amateurs.

    I think the reason this store is worth a mention over many of the other Evans Cycles stores is that…read moreit is set-up as Road specialist store. This means that most of their bike stock, clothing, and accessories are geared up towards road bikes. Out of interest there is a mountain bike specialist around the corner on Waterloo Road. As a road specialist the store and its staff are very much geared up for giving you the best advice and support for road bikes. Whenever I've been in here it has always been busy, but the staff are very helpful when you get to speak with them, and are never in a rush to get rid of you and serve the next person. They finish with you when you are good and ready. The store is well laid out and there is room for wheeling in your bike.

    London Bicycle Repair Shop LTD

    London Bicycle Repair Shop LTD

    3.0(7 reviews)
    1.6 kmWaterloo, Southwark
    £

    Friendly and helpful independent cycle repair shop successfully cutting a place for itself in the…read morelocal area despite being hidden off a side road and having two large Evans Cycles round the corner for competition. You can see why people return here - they're relatively cheap for parts and labour and are friendly enough. Now that my office is moving, I don't know if I'll go back here especially, but you ought to if it's convenient.

    Have been here several times, mostly with small issues and once for a service for my old foldable…read morebike. Also took my new replacement folding bike for them to check as soon as I had got it. I trust these guys this much. Each time they've been shy but perfectly happy to help and fix things. They're simply guys who love bikes and love fixing bikes and they do it with a smile. And when they fix stuff, they've usually found something else on the bike that they can improve and throw it in for free. As an example, my rear mud guard was loose - always had been - so when I took it in to fix my chain I just expected a new and oiled chain at the end of it. When I got the bike back, not only had they fixed my brakes and my chain they had also made from scratch some means of stopping my rear mud guard from bouncing all over the place. No charge. No problems. Don't expect this every time you go but it shows how far they go to make sure everyone leaves with a smile. They're great :D

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    London Bicycle Repair Shop LTD - Logo

    Logo

    London Bicycle Repair Shop LTD

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    Action Bikes

    Action Bikes

    3.0(2 reviews)
    0.8 kmWestminster
    ££££

    Why go to one of the big chains when you can get dedicated service from staff passionate about…read morecycling. Been going here for all of my bicycle related needs for the past couple of years after a bit of a fall out with a big chain store. Great range of accessories and clothing to supplement their extensive range of bikes including Trek and Brompton. The attention to detail in both mechanic services and also my recent custom bike build is second to none. I think the likes of E***s would run scared when confronted with a bicycle to build in over 120 component parts but the team built it and tuned it to perfect for me in a day. Support your local bike shop and get a good relationship going with them... it pays off. 11/10 would recommend

    Rude and unhelpful, these guys just don't want your business…read more To save money and get some much-needed exercise, I decided to get a a bike under the cycle to work scheme. Action Cycles was listed as the nearest shop taking part in the scheme. I rounded up a list of the accessories I'd need with the bike and headed down to the store. A surly employee carefully typed the order into the computer and said he would give me a call in about 3 days when the items were ready. After hearing nothing for a week, I called them. They said, Everything's here apart from the helmet and lock. Would you like to come and collect? I declined. What use is a bike in London without a lock, or a helmet? After no word from them for another 10 days, I called back again. This time they said, Everything's ready apart from the top and jacket you ordered. I asked them where they had gone, as last time it was only the lock and helmet that were missing They said, Oh, someone must have told you the wrong thing. The top and vest are out of stock with the manufacturer, and won't be in for weeks. So I have here a voucher for over £500 that Action bikes don't seem to want. I'm not sure that I want to be a customer.

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    Action Bikes - Under the Arches at Embankment...

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    Under the Arches at Embankment...

    Santander Cycle Hire - bikerentals - Updated May 2026

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