London is notoriously one of the most expensive cities in the world, but in 2026, finding a “magical” deal is easier than ever if you know where to look.

Whether you’re visiting for a West End show or a business trip, you don’t have to stay in a shoebox to save money.

At Hotels-Fairy, we’ve analyzed thousands of rates to find the sweet spots where price meets comfort. Here is your definitive guide to the best budget hotels in London for 2026.

Basecamp: Modern Minimalism on a Budget

Finding value in London’s competitive hotel market is an art form. The Custom House Hotel serves as an excellent case study for the budget-conscious traveler.

The Vibe: Modern, bright, and impeccably clean.

The Trade-off: Space is at a premium. Expect “aircraft-style” compact bathrooms that prioritize efficiency over luxury.

Pro Tip: At approximately £30 per night, it remains one of the best-kept secrets for those who simply need a clean, reliable place to rest between excursions.

Navigating the Underground in London

London’s transit system is a marvel of engineering. While the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) can occasionally face weekend maintenance closures, the city’s bus network and the iconic Underground (The Tube) are remarkably resilient.

The “Oyster” Essential: Do not attempt London without an Oyster card or a contactless payment method. It makes hopping between lines seamless.

The Learning Curve: Don’t be discouraged by a wrong turn on the platform. The system is designed for quick corrections; simply hop off and head to the opposing platform to get back on track.

The Icons: From Big Ben to the London Eye

No trip is complete without the “Big Three”: Tower Bridge, The Tower of London, and Big Ben. however, the London Eye offers a perspective unlike any other—for better or worse.

A Note for the Vertigo-Prone: While many claim the Eye is a “gentle” ride, those with a fear of heights should be prepared. The capsules are spacious, but the ascent offers a sheer perspective of the Hungerford Bridge that can be jarring.

If the rotation pauses while you’re at the 135-meter apex, take a deep breath and remember: the photos your companions take will be worth it, even if you’re viewing them from the safety of the ground later!

Dining and Entertainment in London

London is a global hub for entertainment. Catching a world-class act at the O2 Arena is a must-do experience, offering top-tier acoustics and an electric atmosphere.

The Dining Dilemma:
London’s food scene is diverse, but it can be a “Rip-off Republic” if you aren’t careful.

The Canary Wharf Trap: While the shopping centers are impressive, dining in high-density business districts on weekends can lead to slow service and “premium” prices for modest portions.

The Newsagent Mystery: Unlike other European cities where kiosks sit on every corner, London’s “newsagents” are often tucked inside supermarkets like Tesco Express, Sainsbury’s Local, or WHSmith stations. If you’re looking for a bottle of water and a paper, look for these blue and orange storefronts.

Why “Budget” Doesn’t Mean “Basic” anymore?

The London hotel landscape has shifted. A new wave of “hushpitality” and “micro-luxury” hotels has emerged. These spots offer smaller rooms but high-end communal spaces, free high-speed Wi-Fi, and prime locations that used to be reserved for 5-star prices.

Top-Rated Budget Picks for 2026

The Trendy Choice: citizenM London Bankside
Perfect for the modern traveler, citizenM continues to dominate the “affordable luxury” category.
Why it’s a deal: You get mood-pad controlled rooms and designer lobbies for a fraction of the cost of a traditional boutique hotel.
Pro Tip: Use a comparison tool like Hotels-Fairy to check for “member rates” that often drop 10% lower than the list price.

The Reliable Classic: Premier Inn Hub (Various Locations)
The “Hub” concept is specifically designed for London. By making the rooms more compact and tech-focused, they pass the savings directly to you.

Best Locations: Kings Cross, Shoreditch, and Westminster.
The Hidden Gem: The Z Hotel Victoria
Located just steps from the Gatwick Express, this is the ultimate spot for those arriving on a budget flight. The rooms are sleek, and they often offer a free wine and cheese social in the evenings.

How to Save Even More on London Hotels

To truly find the cheapest hotel prices, you need to look beyond the “Rack Rate.”
Book 12 Weeks Out: Data shows that for London, the 90-day mark is the “Golden Window” for the lowest prices.
Avoid the “Tube Trap”: Staying in Zone 1 is expensive. Look for hotels in Stratford or Greenwich. With the high-speed rail links, you can be in Central London in 10 minutes but save £50+ per night on your room.
Use Comparison Tools: Don’t trust a single booking site. A hotel might be £120 on one site and £95 on another. Using a search engine like Hotels-Fairy scans 30+ sites in seconds to find that discrepancy.

Final Verdict: Where to Stay?

If you want culture and nightlife, go for Shoreditch. If you want sightseeing and history, Victoria is your best bet. Regardless of the area, 2026 is the year of the savvy traveler.
Ready to find your deal? Compare London Hotel Prices Now on Hotels-Fairy.com

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While these events captivate scientists and tourists alike, they also pose significant challenges to international travel, particularly when ash clouds or other volcanic hazards disrupt aviation and infrastructure.

As of April 1, 2025, with ongoing volcanic activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula, the question arises: how do Iceland’s volcanic eruptions impact global travel, and what can we expect moving forward?

A Historical Perspective: The Eyjafjallajökull Eruption of 2010

To understand the potential scale of disruption, we must first look back to April 2010, when the Eyjafjallajökull volcano erupted, causing one of the most significant interruptions to air travel since World War II. This event serves as a benchmark for assessing volcanic impacts on international travel.

Unlike the fissure eruptions seen recently, Eyjafjallajökull’s eruption occurred beneath a glacier. The interaction of magma with ice produced a highly explosive event, rapidly cooling lava into fine ash particles and generating vast amounts of steam. This propelled an ash plume into the jet stream, which carried it across Europe.

The result was staggering: over 100,000 flights were canceled, stranding millions of passengers worldwide. Airspace over much of northern Europe closed for nearly a week, with ripple effects felt as far as North America and Asia. The ash, composed of tiny glass-like particles, posed a severe risk to jet engines, capable of clogging turbines, reducing visibility, and causing engine failure.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimated daily losses to the airline industry at $200 million, with a total economic hit exceeding $4.7 billion. Travelers faced not only logistical nightmares but also personal and economic consequences, from missed business meetings to canceled holidays.

This event highlighted the vulnerability of modern aviation to volcanic ash and set a precedent for how governments and airlines respond to such crises. It also underscored Iceland’s unique capacity to influence global travel, given its location along key transatlantic flight routes.

The Nature of Recent Eruptions: Reykjanes Peninsula

Fast forward to 2025, and the volcanic landscape has shifted. Since December 2023, the Reykjanes Peninsula, located in southwest Iceland near the town of Grindavík, has experienced a series of eruptions—eight by April 1, 2025.

These eruptions, including the most recent one southeast of Þorbjörn, differ significantly from Eyjafjallajökull. They are fissure eruptions, characterized by lava flowing from cracks in the Earth’s crust rather than explosive ash plumes.

Unlike the 2010 event, these eruptions lack the glacial interaction that amplifies ash production, resulting in minimal airborne ash and, so far, no significant disruptions to air travel.

Keflavík International Airport, Iceland’s primary gateway and a hub for transatlantic flights, lies just 20 kilometers from the eruption sites. Despite this proximity, it has remained operational throughout the recent volcanic activity. The Icelandic government and aviation authorities report no flight cancellations or delays directly attributable to these eruptions as of April 1, 2025.

This resilience stems from the nature of the eruptions and improved preparedness since 2010. Scientists and forecasters, including those at the Icelandic Meteorological Office, monitor seismic activity and lava flows closely, ensuring that any potential hazards—like gas emissions or localized ash—are communicated swiftly.

Why Ash Matters: The Science Behind Aviation Risks

Volcanic ash is the primary threat to air travel during an eruption. Composed of pulverized rock, glass, and minerals, ash particles are fine enough to remain airborne for days or weeks, drifting thousands of kilometers depending on wind patterns.

When ingested by jet engines, ash can melt at the high temperatures inside turbines (around 1,200°C or 2,192°F), then solidify on cooler components, disrupting airflow and potentially causing engine failure.

Historical incidents, such as British Airways Flight 9 in 1982 and KLM Flight 867 in 1989—both of which lost all engines after flying through ash clouds—illustrate this danger.

The 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption demonstrated how ash can paralyze aviation when it reaches high altitudes and spreads across busy flight corridors.

In contrast, the Reykjanes eruptions have produced lava flows and gas emissions, such as sulfur dioxide (SO₂), but little to no ash capable of reaching the upper atmosphere. This distinction is critical: without significant ash production, the risk to international flights remains low, even for routes passing over or near Iceland.

Current Impacts on Travel: Localized but Manageable

While the Reykjanes eruptions have not replicated the widespread chaos of 2010, they have caused localized disruptions. Grindavík, a fishing town of 3,400 residents, has been evacuated multiple times since late 2023 due to seismic activity and lava flows. Some homes were destroyed in January 2024, and infrastructure like roads and pipelines has been damaged.

The Blue Lagoon, a major tourist attraction near the eruption sites, has faced temporary closures, including during the latest eruption in April 2025, as a precautionary measure against gas emissions and potential lava encroachment.

For international travelers, these impacts are minimal unless their itinerary includes the Reykjanes Peninsula. Flights to and from Iceland remain unaffected, and popular destinations like Reykjavík, the Golden Circle, and the South Coast are far enough from the activity to operate normally.

The Icelandic tourism board emphasizes that “business as usual” prevails outside the eruption zone, supported by robust infrastructure and emergency planning honed over decades of volcanic experience.

However, gas emissions pose a subtler risk. Sulfur dioxide, released during eruptions, can degrade air quality and pose health hazards, particularly for those with respiratory conditions.

While current wind patterns have kept SO₂ away from major population centers and flight paths, a shift could affect travelers on the ground or, in rare cases, require flight rerouting to avoid concentrated plumes. So far, this has not materialized into a significant issue for international travel.

Preparedness and Mitigation: Lessons from 2010

The aviation industry and regulatory bodies have not stood still since 2010. The Eyjafjallajökull eruption exposed gaps in ash tolerance standards and coordination, prompting significant changes. Before 2010, airspace regulators adopted a zero-tolerance approach: any detectable ash led to closures.

Post-2010, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus established ash concentration thresholds—typically 2 to 4 milligrams per cubic meter—below which aircraft can safely operate. This shift allows for more nuanced responses, avoiding blanket shutdowns unless ash levels exceed safe limits.

Real-time monitoring has also improved. The Icelandic Meteorological Office, alongside international partners, tracks ash plumes, seismic activity, and gas emissions using satellites, ground sensors, and weather models. Airlines receive immediate updates, enabling them to adjust flight paths if needed. For the Reykjanes eruptions, this system has confirmed negligible ash production, keeping airspace open.

Iceland itself is well-prepared. Authorities construct barriers to redirect lava flows away from critical infrastructure, such as the Svartsengi power plant and Keflavík Airport access roads. The country’s experience with frequent eruptions—three on the Reykjanes Peninsula alone since 2021—ensures that contingency plans are tested and effective, minimizing travel disruptions.

Potential Scenarios: What Could Change?

While the current situation is stable, volcanic activity is inherently unpredictable. Several scenarios could elevate the impact on international travel:

1. Explosive Eruption with Ash: If a Reykjanes volcano shifts to an explosive phase—perhaps due to magma interacting with groundwater—or if a different Icelandic volcano (e.g., Katla or Grímsvötn) erupts under a glacier, ash production could spike. A plume reaching the jet stream, as in 2010, could disrupt transatlantic and European flights, depending on wind direction.
2. Prolonged Activity: The Reykjanes system could remain active for years or decades, as some geologists predict. While short-term eruptions have little impact, sustained activity might strain local infrastructure, indirectly affecting tourism and flight operations if resources are stretched thin.
3. Wind Shifts and Gas: A change in wind patterns could carry SO₂ or minor ash toward Keflavík Airport or populated areas, potentially grounding flights temporarily or requiring health advisories for travelers.
4. Tourist Surge: Ironically, eruptions can boost travel. The 2021 Fagradalsfjall eruption drew “volcano tourists” to witness lava flows, a trend that continues. However, this increases pressure on Iceland’s tourism infrastructure and could complicate evacuations or safety measures if activity escalates.

Advice for Travelers in 2025

For those planning trips to Iceland amidst ongoing volcanic activity, the outlook is reassuring but requires vigilance. Flights to and from Keflavík are operating normally, and most tourist sites remain accessible. However, travelers should:

• Monitor Updates: Check the Icelandic Meteorological Office (Vedur.is), Safe Travel Iceland (Safetravel.is), and airline notifications for real-time information.
• Avoid Eruption Zones: Heed local authorities’ advice to steer clear of Grindavík and active sites, where hazards like lava, gas, and unstable ground persist.
• Secure Insurance: Comprehensive travel insurance covering natural disasters ensures flexibility if plans change.
• Stay Flexible: While disruptions are unlikely, having backup options for flights or accommodations mitigates risks.

The Bigger Picture: Iceland’s Role in Global Travel

Iceland’s eruptions remind us of nature’s power to shape human mobility. The 2010 Eyjafjallajökull event was a wake-up call, exposing aviation’s fragility and spurring global improvements in resilience.

Today, the Reykjanes eruptions highlight a different reality: not all volcanic events are equal, and with preparation, their impact can be contained. Yet, the potential for a game-changing eruption lingers, tied to Iceland’s restless geology.

As of April 1, 2025, international travel faces no major volcanic threat from Iceland. Keflavík Airport hums along, connecting Europe and North America, while tourists marvel at lava flows from a safe distance. But history teaches us to respect the unpredictability of this island. Whether it’s a quiet fissure or a roaring ash cloud, Iceland’s volcanoes will continue to test our ability to adapt—and keep the world watching.

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Quite often these days with all the Covid-19 restrictions, rules and travel bans, one question keeps coming up. Where shall we travel as soon as the travel restrictions are lifted?

I know very well where I will like to travel, where I will like to go back. Back to Kochi in Japan and join again the Yosakoi dance festival as we did in 2019.

Let me tell you bellow about one of the most memorable holidays that we ever had, our Yosakoi dance festival experience.

Visiting Kochi in Japan

Most travelers when they visit Japan, tend to travel to the well-known cities across the country, Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama, Kobe, etc. We wanted to go off the beaten track and avoid the tourist traps.

So, when I ask a Japanese friend of mine to recommend some less well-known places, he said “if you are going to Japan in August, you must visit Kochi and enjoy the Yosakoi dance festival. So, we did just that!

We flown with British Airways from London Heathrow to Tokyo International Airport an eleven and a half hours flight and from there with Japan Airlines in an hour and twenty minutes we were at Kochi Ryoma Airport in Nankoku city.

Yosakoi Dance Festival – Kochi 2019

The Yosakoi festival is one of Japan’s most celebrated festivals, it takes place the second week of August, from the 9th to the 12th for 4 days in the heart of Kochi City.

Around 18,000 dancers participate in more than 200 teams, including many teams from abroad, like US and Europe.
The participants in the festival wear traditional Japanese costumes, as they parade through the Kochi city, dancing and performing well orchestrated choreographies. In their hands they hold wooden hand clappers called “Naruko”.

Originally “Naruko” was an instrument used by Japanese farmers to scare and deter crows and other pests from attacking and destroying the rice fields. If used correctly they make quite a loud noise.

Also, it is considered a traditional toy for young kids. These days the Naruko hand clappers are used in Japanese dance festivals such as the Yosakoi, as a rhythm instrument held by the dancers.

What does Yosakoi means?

That was my first question to our hostess in Kochi. Apparently the “Yosakoi” name comes from “Yosakoi Bushi” which is a folk song, from the Edo era (between 1603 & 1868) indigenous to the Tosa region, a former province of Japan in the area that is today the Kochi prefecture on Shikoku island.

The song is describing a love affair between a monk and a beautiful woman. “Yosakoi” means come and visit at night, and “Bushi” means warrior often used to refer to Samurai. So “Yosakoi Bushi” means, come and visit at night Samurai!

If you would like to hear a really beautiful version of the “Yosakoi Bushi” folk song check out the video here.

What are the rules of the Yosakoi Dance Festival?

The rules are actually quite simple, the Yosakoi dancers are required to march forward dancing while holding the “naruko” clappers in their hands.

The dancers have to incorporate phrases from the “Yosakoi Bushi” song into their dance music.

However, the style of the dance is free style. Participants can dance their own way and bring their own choreography. The regular participants in the festival are taking it very seriously and there is fierce competition between the teams to outperform each other.

There are also some teams who are open to join them for a small fee and participate in this vibrant festival from the inside.

It doesn’t really matter if you speak the local language or not, as long as you hold “naruko” in your hands and you are ready for a dance, you can join in. That’s the spirit of the Yosakoi festival. Yosakoi makes the world smile!

If you are not brave enough to join in, you can watch Yosakoi teams dancing throughout the day for free!

Kochi Castle

Since you are in the city you have to visit the Kochi Castle. A very well-preserved castle with a wonderful museum next to it. The Kochi castle is actually one of the twelve Japanese castles with its original towers still intact.

The entrance to the gardens and the surrounding area is for free but if you wish to climb to the top of the castle, there is a fee of 300 Yen each (Two Pounds).

Also make sure you have a small plastic bag with you to put your shoes in, as you will be asked to take them off in order to climb the internal wooden staircase which is quite steep. So, make sure you have a thick pair of socks on.

The views from the top are magnificent, well worth the effort of climbing up and down the steep staircase.

The Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden

This is another of our favorite spots in Kochi, the Makino botanical gardens are well worth a visit. A stunning display of orchids as well as some giant lily pads in the green house. Over 3000 different species of plants and flowers are in the botanical gardens.

You must see to appreciate and enjoy these lovely gardens. Make sure you allocate 3-4 hours at least for your visit, so you don’t rush. If you get thirsty or fancy a quick snack there is small cafe on the side of the botanical gardens.

Where to stay in Kochi

During our seven days in Kochi we stayed at Sansuien. A very beautiful Ryokan, which is a type of traditional Japanese inn, with a beautifully maintained garden. There was also a nice spa available for the guests to come and relax after a long day sight-seen.

The Makino Botanical Garden are within a short taxi ride from Sansuien, the Kochi Castel, was less than 10 minutes by foot and the city center was another 15 minutes stroll.

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The travel and tourism industry have been among the first victims of the Covid-19 pandemic. Holiday makers in the UK and across the world had to cancel their holidays.

All types of holidays have been affected from short trips with in the UK, holidays abroad, cruises, safaris and island hoping, the holiday industry has been on its knees since the appearance of the pandemic.

Having absorbed the initial shock the travel and tourism industry has been adopting rapidly to the evolving worldwide conditions and the travel restrictions that most countries have introduced.

We all remember the massive boom in the 80s and 90s of the tourism industries in Spain and Portugal with the introduction of the charter airlines and later on with the rise of the low cost airlines.

Similarly, the tailor made holidays will see a massive increase this year as more and more travelers will opt for more hands on approach, choosing and designing their own holidays.

What are tailor made holidays?

The tailor made holidays quite often are also referred as bespoke holidays, which means made to individual order or custom-designed according to traveler’s needs, specifications and requirements. It is exactly the opposite of the package holidays and the mass tourism of the 90s.

What are the benefits of tailor made holidays?

Tailor made holiday’s offer a unique experience, the traveler can choose not only where and when to go on holidays but a lot more.

Taking in consideration the health and safety requirements of the pandemic, holiday makers can build a travel itinerary to minimize the risk of Covid-19 during their travels.

Can choose the means of transportation, flights, ferries, trains, etc. Can also hand pick where to stay, hotels, villas, mountain cabins. Choose excursions and less crowded tours and activities. The pace of the holiday is dictated by the individual needs and requirements of the traveler.

Whether the traveler wants to see the northen lights, take a tea with a geisha, float above Cappadocia in a balloon or photograph the Himalayan wild Yak, it’s all possible on a tailor-made holiday.

Also these days travelers focus a lot more on sustainability. They think a lot more about the impact of their travel on the environment and move towards carbon neutrality when they plan their holidays.

Are tailor made holidays expensive?

As a rule of thumb, they are a bit more expensive than package holidays but tailor made holidays always offer great value as they are designed with a specific budget in mind.

Having access to specialized tour operators, travel guides and local experts can really make the difference between a holiday of a life time and a less memorable experience.

Examples of tailor made holidays in the UK and abroad

Coasteering Holidays in the UK

In the UK we are very fortunate to have a very beautiful country side with many well maintained historical sites, castles, abbeys and ancient halls.

From hiking the Scottish Highlands to whisky tasting on the isle of Jura and from discovering Pembrokeshire in Wales to the coastal villages of Devon & Cornwall.

The choices are endless, you can mix and much a number of different activities to suite even the most demanding travelers.

Due to the pandemic it is highly advisable to contact in advance any distilleries, farmers markets, local festivals or community events and celebrations before visiting, as itineraries might have change due to local Covid-19 restrictions.

Self Driving & Campervan Holidays

This year more and more UK holiday makers are also opting for a campervan hire. This segment of the holiday industry has seen a 200% increase with in the last six months.

Hiring a campervan in France, Spain or Italy offers the opportunity to explore the continental Europe and at the same time keep travelers in a protective environment.

Sailing Holidays

Sailing holidays is another segment of the holiday industry who is going to benefit a lot this year.

Hiring a four or eight berth sailing yacht around the Mediterranean is becoming very popular and very cost effective as quite often it works out cheaper per person than going down the traditional route to book accommodation and transportation separately.

Mountain Hiking & Trekking Holidays

Mountain hiking and trekking holidays are another type of tailor made holidays for those who want to be close to the nature. Due to Covid-19 more and more people take a step back to reevaluate their approach on life and seek to rediscover the outdoors.

Mountains, rivers and gorges are high on the list of the adventurous and soul-searching explores.

Whether a traveler books a package or a tailor made holiday this summer, should always follow that local health and safety regulations.

Booking a holiday through an ABTA or an AITO member company can make a big difference if things go wrong and have to reschedule, cancel, or even in need of repatriation back to the UK.

At Hotels Fairy we have actually booked a tailor made holiday for the summer. We are planning to go mountain hiking in the South of Greece and to cross three gorges on the island of Crete. The well known Samaria gorge as well as the less known Diktamos gorge and Imbros gorge.

The post The rise of the tailor made holidays after Covid-19 appeared first on Hotels Fairy.

Last September we were very fortunately to spend a week in Ireland. The Emerald Isle was our test track for the electric bikes that we wanted to buy. Dublin was our base and Cormac of Greenelectricscooters.ie was kind enough to provide us with the electric bikes for our test rides.

Why Ireland?

Because of the numerous cycling possibilities. Our visit to Ireland was a wonderful experience, a country with a beautiful scenery, rich architecture and cultural heritage.

The vast countryside of Dublin, with the countless quiet and twisty country lanes to cycle and test our electric bikes was the perfect testing ground.

We stayed clear of the major truck roads. The minor lanes were generally quiet, unless we came close to the more touristy spots. Also, we found the Irish people to be very friendly, most welcoming and very helpful when we needed directions.

Why buy an electric bike?

These days for most people sustainable travel plays a bigger role in the decision-making process when booking a holiday.

Whenever we travel for work or holidays, we are always aware of our carbon footprint, what impact has our travel to the environment and how we can offset it.

Also, the recent Covid-19 pandemic has made us seek a healthier lifestyle, which makes an electric bike the ideal partner for this transition. To become fit again and at the same time enjoy the outdoors a lot more.

An added bonus to owning an electric bike for us, is that it saves us money on short commutes within our town.

Where in the past we would have taken the car for a short distance trip, now we take the electric bikes.

Cycling with an electric bike

An electric bike makes cycling a lot easier. These days there two different types of electric bikes, those that have a thumb throttle like a scouter and those that have a pedal assist.

These are two different approaches, the thumb throttle will engage the motor without you pedaling at all, so you can cruise down the road with no effort at all.

On the other hand, a pedal assist electric bike will stand still without pedaling. However, when you do start pedaling the motor will kick in and it will amplify your input (from +60% to +300%), and make cycling a lot easier.

We went with the pedal assist electric bikes as we wanted to keep fit and also it feels more natural, like you are cycling a normal bicycle.

Electric bikes are heavier than normal bicycles as they house the electric motor and the battery. Electric bikes tend to weight around 18 kgs on average, where normal bicycle will weight around half of that.

Cycling routes suitable for the electric bikes in Dublin

Cormac, the man behind Greenelectricscooters.ie had a number of cycling routes to suggest to us. We will only mention here a handful of them, some were outside of Dublin and some were within the city.

With the exemption of the last cycling route, Malahide to Drogheda, all other distances bellow are calculated in a loop (to go and back) from the Grand Hotel in Malahide where we stayed.

Malahide to Howth – 32 Km

Since this was our first ride, we choose an easy ride just 32 km but it was a very rewarding one as the views at the Howth were spectacular.

We also stopped at the Howth castle and the National Trust museum which is next to the castle. On the way back we took a small detour, to the visit and explore Portmarnock beach.

The Sally Gap – 84 Km

This is a very well-know cycling route in Dublin but definitely a tough one if you are on a normal bicycle or out of shape like us. However, it was not a problem with the electric bikes we were able to climb up to the 680 meters plateau like professionals.

The views from the top are very rewarding, the highlights of the ride were the Lough Tay lake with its dark waters and the Glenmacnass waterfall.

We got back to our hotel and our electric bikes still had some charge left. So, the 100 km (60 miles) range of the electric bikes is a very genuine quote.
We were also very surprised to see that both electric bikes where fully charged within 3 hours.

Cycling to the Phoenix Park – 44 Km

Another gem route suggested to us by Cormac of Greenelectricscooters.ie. Cycling to the Phoenix Park from our hotel was a lot easier than the Sally Gap, as the park is only 50 meters above sea level.

What we did not know was that the Phoenix park is the largest enclosed public park in Europe almost 2000 acres. It is also the official residence of the president of Ireland as well as the residency of the US ambassador in Ireland.

The gardens of the park were bursting with flowers and the whole park was very well maintained. We spent half of the day exploring the park and taking photos of the deers who live inside the park.

We also had a nice relaxing and very tasteful time at the Phoenix Café near the Walled garden by the Ashtown castle.

Bonus tip, get yourself the thee Jams selection pack that they make and sell in the café. It is a really, and I mean really nice jam (Blackcurrant, Raspberry & Strawberry). We only regret that we did not buy more.

Maybe the nice man of Greenelectricscooters.ie could get some for us? I hope he reads this.

Malahide to the Georgian Dublin – 42 Km

Our next cycle route took us inside the old Dublin town. It is really amazing how a small medieval town like Dublin between the 1690 to 1820 was transformed by a classical architectural frenzy with numerous castles, mansions, grand houses and public buildings.

Nearly a century of peace and prosperity allowed Dublin to expand outside of the boundaries of the old medieval town and become the second most important city in the British Empire.

After so many years this prosperity is still clearly visible throughout the architectural landscape of the city.

The House of Lords, the Georgian House Museum, the Long Room of the old Library, (65 meters in length) holds more than 200,000 very rare and really old books, making it one of the most impressive libraries in the world.

Malahide to Drogheda – 50 Km

We chose this cycle route in order to explore the country side outside of Dublin and also pay a surprising visit to Mr. Cormac of Greenelectricscooters.ie, they are based in Drogheda.

We wanted to personally thank him for arranging the delivery of our electric bikes at our hotel for the test drive and also order our very own electric bikes.

Drogheda is one of the oldest towns in Ireland. It is positioned on the Dublin–Belfast corridor on the east coast of Ireland. The Drogheda Museum Millmount, the Mellifont Abbey and the St Peter’s Church are really worth seeing if you have the time.

Unfortunately for us this was our last cycle ride with the electric bikes for the day and for the whole holiday as we had to hand them back to Greenelectricscooters.ie.

Within a week of getting back to the UK, the courier delivered our electrics bikes and within a few hours we were able to take them out for our first ride. By far the best purchase that we have made this year.

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