CyclePig

Sustrans are a United Kingdom based charity responsible for creating and maintaining the National Cycle Network. The cycle network is a great way to find local recreational rides as well as more adventurous country trips and tours. The network is continually being extended and currently exists of 10,000 miles of cycle friendly routes right across the UK. Here is a pdf map of the whole network.

Photo by Placid Casual

I have cycled various parts of the network in England & Wales and the routes are all very well sign-posted and maintained. In fact my very first multi-day trip, back in 2002, consisted of 2 days riding along the Thames river valley from London to Oxford (National Cycle Network Route Number 4).

The majority of the routes are family-friendly and stick to traffic free paths or lightly trafficked roads. If you are planning your first bicycle tour in the United Kingdom I highly recommend starting on one of the routes of the National Cycle Network.

Sustrans also have useful maps for the many cycle routes. These are invaluable in making your trip go smoothly as they mark out exactly where you need to go. They are also made with waterproof paper which is a nice feature - as being in the United Kingdom, rain is often just around the corner.

If you are a more experienced cyclist I suggest using the routes as a guide rather than following them explicitly as the focus on traffic free and family friendly, which are great features, means the routes can occasionally be a little fiddly rather than direct.