It was ideal weather for a World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR). This year, 2025, was set to be the fifteenth time I would take part in WNBR London. I made sure my panniers were loaded with essentials: a bicycle repair kit, a tyre pump, a camera and a whistle. Most importantly, I left plenty of room for my soon-to-be stripped-off clothes.
World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR)
WNBR is a worldwide campaign that demonstrates the vulnerability of cyclists and protests against car culture. Its linked objectives are to:
- protest against the global dependency on oil
- curb car culture
- obtain real rights for cyclists
- demonstrate the vulnerability of cyclists on city streets
- celebrate body freedom
There was a choice of eight locations where the ride would start before converging to become a single mass. In the early years I started at Hyde Park (the only option back then). Subsequently I had a run of starting from Tower Hill. More recently I have been varying my start points, trying out Croydon and Regents Park.
For several years I’d had it mind to join the Deptford start. Deptford was first added to the list of meeting points in 2019. When it disappeared as an option in 2024 I thought I’d missed my chance. But, no! Deptford was restored for 2025, so Deptford would be where I undressed, saddled-up and, for the fifteenth time, hit the capital’s streets.
Deptford to Tower Bridge
To get to the start, I took the London Overground (Windrush line) to New Cross, from where it takes less than 10 minutes walking or cycling to reach Piehouse Co-op in an access road off Edward Street. I knew I’d found the right place as naked people were already there – about 40 in total. We set off at 2pm, initially on mundane city streets.
🚲 … Edward Street
🚲 … Wotton Road
🚲 … Clyde Street
🚲 … Staunton Street
🚲 … Abinger Grove
🚲 … Evelyn Street
🚲 … Bestwood Street
🚲 … Bush Road
🚲 … Rotherhithe New Road
🚲 … Rotherhithe Old Road
🚲 … Lower Road
🚲 … Jamaica Road
🚲 … Tooley Street
2:00pm off Edward Street: in our access road, soon to start…
2:01pm onto Edward Street: …and away we go
2:04pm onto Staunton Street: rejoining the roads
2:12pm on Evelyn Street: left turn to Bestwood Street
2:13pm on Bush Road: left turn to Rotherhithe New Road
2:15pm on Rotherhithe Old Road: Surrey Quays station on our right
2:22pm on Jamaica Road: yep, this is perfectly legal
Tower Bridge to Trinity Square
The naked bike ride route from Deptford is basically the same as that from Tower Hill but with an extra 45 minutes preceding through southeast London. The extraordinary stand-out moment, making this an essential way to begin the ride, is cycling in all our glory across Tower Bridge and past the Tower of London to join the Tower Hill group.
🚲 … Tower Bridge Road
🚲 … Tower Bridge
🚲 … Tower Bridge Approach
🚲 … Tower Hill
🚲 … Trinity Square Gardens
🚲 … Trinity Square
2:32pm on Tower Bridge Road: about to cross
2:34pm on Tower Bridge: a very satisfying moment
2:36pm on Tower Bridge Road: passing the Tower of London
2:38pm on Tower Bridge Approach: yay! WNBR London’s best bridge yet!
2:40pm on Tower Hill: about to join the Tower Hill riders
2:45pm on Trinity Square: lining-up at the Tower Hill start…
Trinity Square to Embankment
We reached Trinity Square – where Tower Hill starters depart – with perfect timing. In less than 5 minutes we were underway for a second time. Whilst on a brief loop back to south London, at least one passing traveller (of many) with pony-and-trap whipped some of our cyclists. 😡 I missed the incident, but it has been reported to the police.
🚲 … Byward Street
🚲 … Lower Thames Street
🚲 … Upper Thames Street
🚲 … Queen Street Place
🚲 … Southwark Bridge
🚲 … Southwark Bridge Road
🚲 … Southwark Street
🚲 … Blackfriars Road
🚲 … Blackfriars Bridge
2:47pm on Byward Street: …and away we go, Tower Hill-style
2:53pm on Upper Thames Street: window selfie!
2:57pm on Upper Thames Street: left turn to Southwark Bridge
3:02pm on Southwark Street: right turn to Blackfriars Bridge
3:04pm on Southwark Street: a traveller brandishes his whip – © ..Moth..
3:05pm on Blackfriars Bridge: meanwhile, at the north end
3:07pm on Blackfriars Bridge: waiting to turn left – © David P
Embankment to Forum Magnum Square
Back on the north side of the Thames, after the usual slow process of decanting from Blackfriars Bridge we commenced the long ride along Victoria Embankment. This leg fell into slight disarray as umpteen riders dismounted for selfies in front of the London Eye. Eventually we crossed Westminster Bridge to reach Forum Magnum Square.
🚲 … Embankment
🚲 … Westminster Bridge
🚲 … Westminster Bridge Road
🚲 … York Road
3:14pm on Embankment: down the Blackfriars Bridge slip road
3:26pm on Embankment: with the London Eye selfie brigade
3:29pm on Embankment: spot the red head-band – © Ben
3:30pm on Embankment: bearing (baring?) down on Parliament
3:32pm on Westminster Bridge: a rat-run of photographers
3:34pm on Westminster Bridge Road: left turn to York Road
Forum Magnum Square
Since the advent of multiple start points, Forum Magnum Square has been where the tributary rides converge before resuming as one huge river of nakedness. A little over half an hour passed between my arrival and the mass departure. Apparently Croydon riders set-off 30 minutes later than planned, which I guess contributed to our wait.
🚲 … Forum Magnum Square
3:35pm on York Road: entering Forum Magnum Square
3:52pm at Forum Magnum Square: annual catch-up with my mate Natansky
3:56pm at Forum Magnum Square: Thomas & Muse filming again
4:07pm at Forum Magnum Square: getting ready to resume
4:12pm on York Road: marshalling us out of the square
Forum Magnum Square to Lincoln’s Inn Fields
As usual we returned north via Waterloo Bridge. Whilst on the bridge, sheer numbers of buses squeezed us almost to single file. Traffic lights at Strand then clipped us into small groups, some of which didn’t know where to go next. Enough riders missed our Chancery Lane turn that by the time I reached Carey Street, I was utterly alone…
🚲 … York Road
🚲 … Waterloo Bridge
🚲 … Lancaster Place
🚲 … Strand
🚲 … Aldwych
🚲 … Strand
🚲 … Fleet Street
🚲 … Chancery Lane
🚲 … Carey Street
🚲 … Serle Street
🚲 … Lincoln’s Inn Fields
4:19pm on Waterloo Bridge: hey, it’s me! – © Chris Hutchinson
4:26pm on Lancaster Place: squeezed by buses
4:27pm on Aldwych: starting to thin out…
4:30pm on Strand: …getting thinner at the Royal Courts of Justice…
4:32pm on Carey Street: …till finally I was alone
4:33pm on Carey Street: ahh, the welcome sight of a marshal…
4:35pm at Lincoln’s Inn Fields: …and others who’d made it this far
Lincoln’s Inn Fields to Trafalgar Square
The gathering of riders at Lincoln’s Inn Fields – our second official stop – looked a lot smaller than the crowd at Forum Magnum Square. Even so, within five minutes of my arrival the call came for us to set off again. There was a long pause before we turned onto Sardinia Street, but from there we were steady to Trafalgar Square and beyond.
🚲 … Lincoln’s Inn Fields
🚲 … Sardinia Street
🚲 … Kingsway
🚲 … Aldwych
🚲 … Strand
🚲 … Trafalgar Square
4:39pm at Lincoln’s Inn Fields: soon on the move again
4:53pm on Kingsway: Bush House on Aldwych ahead
4:56pm on Strand: right turn from Aldwych
5:01pm on Strand: naked bike riders regrouped
5:02pm on Strand: Nelson’s Column in view
5:02pm on Trafalgar Square: tailgating a bubble machine
Trafalgar Square to Wellington Arch
Alas, at this point just quarter of an hour remained of our ride, but it was time enough for four more iconic moments: pedalling majestically up The Mall; a naked fly-past for Buckingham Palace; the serene dappled light of our home straight along Constitution Hill; and crossing the finish line beneath Wellington Arch. Euphoria and exhaustion.
🚲 … Cockspur Street
🚲 … Pall Mall
🚲 … Marlborough Road
🚲 … The Mall
🚲 … Constitution Hill
🚲 … Wellington Arch
5:05pm on Pall Mall: flags on Pall Mall
5:11pm on Pall Mall: left turn to Marlborough Road
5:13pm on The Mall: more flags on The Mall
5:14pm on Constitution Hill: God Save the WNBR
5:15pm on Constitution Hill: the home straight
5:18pm on Constitution Hill: the finishing line
5:20pm at Wellington Arch: done!
Epilogue
I was at large for a full three hours and twenty minutes; from 2pm to 5:20pm. For me, the highlights were my first naked jaunt across Tower Bridge, plus what was probably the perfect weather for a WNBR: warm with just a wisp of breeze and sufficient cloud to temper a burning sun. Lowlights? They seemed only to befall others. Lucky me. 🙂
Our route from Deptford to Wellington Arch
Bygone blogs
Previously on the London Naked Bike Ride:
- London Naked Bike Ride 2024 – A Few Tweaks
- London Naked Bike Ride 2023 – Short Circuit
- London Naked Bike Ride 2022 – Back in the Pack
- London Naked Bike Ride 2021 – Safety first
- London Naked Bike Ride 2019 – Back to Bare
- London Naked Bike Ride 2018 – Peaceful Protest
- London Naked Bike Ride 2017 – New Bridges
- London Naked Bike Ride 2016 – A Silver Lining
- London Naked Bike Ride 2015 – Feel Good Painted
- London Naked Bike Ride 2014 – A Fresh Start
- London Naked Bike Ride 2013 – Arch to Arch
- London Naked Bike Ride 2012 – Into the Light
- London Naked Bike Ride 2011 – Re-wrapped
- London Naked Bike Ride 2009 – First Time
This Tuesday session at Westminster Quaker Meeting House completed a six-day hat-trick of bookings with London Drawing (see also Thursday and Saturday). The format was familiar – a warm-up and short poses extending to medium poses before ending with a single long pose – but this one literally started on the wrong foot.
I got the opening 10-minute pose badly wrong. I’d planned to stand with my right foot on a low folding step, but made a mistake in moving the step back a few extra inches so it wouldn’t obscure my standing foot. This tilted my weight towards the raised foot, which was already on its toes and now over-balanced…
Within seconds my sole focus was pain-management. Somehow I made it to the end but when tutor Anne asked if I could “hold it for another minute” the answer had to be “no“. Unfortunately in modelling, troubles don’t end when the initial discomfort ends; I had weakened myself and would suffer for it throughout the rest of the first half.
For the long pose, I asked Anne if there was any particular alignment or arrangement she would prefer. She duly showed me a kind of comfortable side-saddle slouch on a chair – perfectly reasonable – but was rather hesitant in doing so. Apparently another (unnamed) model had recently instructed her: “don’t tell me how to pose!”
I guess it’s a question of tone and context. Personally I imagine there to be an infinite variety of poses, I can’t possibly conceive of them all, and I don’t have the advantage of being able to observe my work from artists’ perspectives in the specific setting and lighting. Hence, I’m always happy for others to suggest poses.
Of course, it then has to be 100% within my own agency to determine how any given suggestion might be realised through my individual physicality. But I like the idea of a negotiated pose where both parties make their proposals and the ultimate settlement is an outcome satisfactory to all. Figurative art works best as a conversation.
Pose minutes, 7pm-9pm
Part 1 : 10, 5, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 10, 10, 10.
— break —
Part 2 : 30.
Artworks
With apologies to artists I’m unable to credit.
Having completed part 1 of my Saturday booking with London Drawing at Waterloo Action Centre half an hour earlier, it was time for part 2. Both parts run for two hours and begin with lots of short-length poses but whereas part 1 closes with two poses of 20 minutes, part 2 has a 40-minute pose. Duly it’s branded the “long pose session”.
My part 1 exertions in the context of outside temperatures around 32°C / 33°C hadn’t taken too much of a toll, so I was able to pour as much energy into my shape-making for part 2. Tutor Andrea Voisey certainly sustained her own impressive energy levels as she offered demos for newcomers and one-to-one advice throughout.
During a 25-minute sitting pose at the end of our part-2 first half, a combination of the heat, my efforts and lack of sleep the night before began catching up with me as I felt increasingly drowsy. For the long pose, therefore, I decided to stand. I find it easier to stay awake on my feet – with little extra energy expenditure if my balance is good.
Pose minutes, 4pm-6pm
Part 1 : 10, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 25.
— break —
Part 2 : 40.
Artworks
With apologies to artists I’m unable to credit.
Artwork by Andrea Voisey.
Artwork by Sue T.
Artwork by Sue T.
When I modelled with London Drawing on Thursday evening, the temperature was warm. When I returned to model with them for this, the first half of a two-part daytime session, it was hot – around 32°C / 33°C. I was grateful that two or three full-strength fans were set-up to create a constant cooling breeze and keep the air circulating.
Whereas on Thursday we’d been in north London, near Euston station, now we were south of the Thames at Waterloo Action Centre. The hottest day of the year was no match for the energy of tutor Andrea Voisey. After the ironic ‘warm-up’ she zipped us through no fewer than sixteen first-half poses, ranging from 1 minute to 10 minutes.
We slowed down after our half-time break, concluding this ‘part 1’ with two 20-minute poses. I felt strong throughout and stood for most poses, including the longer pair. I’d feared I might regret spending two hours walking round the National Gallery’s ‘Siena‘ exhibition before more walking to this job, but my spindly legs coped. Next, part 2…
Pose minutes, 1:30pm-3:30pm
Part 1 : 8, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 5, 5, 10.
— break —
Part 2 : 20, 20.
Artworks
With apologies to artists I’m unable to credit.
Artwork by Andrea Voisey.
At the onset of this summer’s first significant heatwave the last thing I thought I would require is a heater. Nevertheless, a heater awaited me at St Pancras Church House when I arrived for this London Drawing session. Organiser Anne explained: it wasn’t intended to heat me up, it was for the fan setting to me cool down.
With nine successive 2-minute poses requested for the initial “warm-up” phase of the evening, anything with a cooling effect was welcome. These were conditions in which sweat would seep in every crooked elbow, flood every belly fold, lubricate every palm placed on a slippery hip or torso.
I wasn’t the only one feeling the heat. Quite early in our work, an artist had to give up standing at an easel and instead be seated to draw. After our warm-ups, Anne asked me to be seated as well. I gladly complied, and was encouraged to remain seated for all the remaining poses. I could have comfortably stood… but why be a martyr? 🙂
Pose minutes, 7pm-9pm
Part 1 : 10, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 10, 10, 10.
— break —
Part 2 : 30.
Artworks
With apologies to artists I’m unable to credit.
West Hampstead Community Centre runs life drawing classes and portrait drawing classes. On this my first visit, I would be sitting (clothed) for portrait artists. As with all debut sessions, I allowed plenty of time to arrive. This is partly in case of unexpected transport delays, partly in case I have trouble finding the place, but mainly to give the tutor – Andrea Morreau – confidence I wouldn’t let her down.
Only a handful of artists joined us, fewer than expected, but then we are entering that time of year when all groups tend to see their numbers dip. The pose plan was a new one for me at a portrait class, but was eminently sensible: three 15-minute warm-ups, seated in a corner of the room, turning 45 degrees after each pose so every artist got a face-on view, a three-quarter view and a profile view; then finally a 1-hour pose.
By the second warm-up, artists were evidently hitting their stride as it was agreed we should lengthen to half an hour. After this isolated aberration, we reverted to our plan for the remainder of what was a serene session. Inexplicably, I managed a mere four hours’ sleep the night before and had been awake since 3:30am so I struggled not to nod off during the last two warm-ups. I stayed alert thereafter. A mug of tea helped!
Pose minutes, 2pm-4:30pm
Part 1 : 15, 30, 15.
— break —
Part 2 : 60.
Artworks
With apologies to artists I’m unable to credit.
Venue: West Hampstead Community Centre, 17 Dornfell Street, London, NW6 1QN.
Artwork by Andrea Morreau.
Remarkably, this, my fifth Sunday life drawing session for Art in the Village, was at a fourth different venue. Having started in a chilly church hall, we first migrated to a pub function room, then found what felt like a natural home at Jacksons Lane arts centre. Whereas initially we occupied the centre’s cavernous Studio 1, however, this time we were temporarily displaced to the smaller yet still charming Studio 2.
As is customary, group organiser Cleo got us underway with warm-up exercises. Our 5-minute ‘blind drawing’ opener was curtailed at 3 minutes as artists agreed they had taken it as far as they could. Our final two challenges both went the distance, though. For the last, artists captured my form using a continually looping line – or ‘Slinky‘, as Cleo called it for those of us old enough to remember.
For the long pose, I was to be seated in such a way as to engage artists’ observation of foreshortening. My instinctive interpretation of the requirement was to slouch down and extend both legs, with an option to cross at the ankle. This was politely declined, however. Instead I was asked to spread more like a king on a throne with knees bent and one hand on each. No problem! Change is natural; we evolve together. 🙂
Pose minutes, 10:30am-12:30pm
Part 1 : 3, 5, 5.
— break —
Part 2 : 70.
Artworks
With apologies to artists I’m unable to credit.
steve ritter 