Rain-soaked charity ride reaches Waltham Cross

By the AtheneNet newsroom

Thirty-four cyclists arrived in Waltham Cross after battling some of the wettest conditions recorded by the Queen Eleanor Cycle Ride, bringing a journey of about 220 miles to one of England’s three surviving Eleanor Crosses.

The annual sponsored ride, supported by a five-person crew, raised close to £30,000 for The Connection at St Martin-in-the-Fields, a charity working to end rough sleeping in London. Riders visited Waltham Cross on Monday, 31 August 2026, during the August Bank Holiday weekend.

A historic landmark on the route to Westminster

Waltham Cross provides more than a rest point on the journey. Its Eleanor Cross is one of only three surviving monuments from the original group of 12 commissioned by Edward I in memory of his wife, Eleanor of Castile.

Eleanor died in Harby, Lincolnshire, in 1290. The cycle ride traces the commemorative route from Harby to Westminster Abbey in London, connecting the places associated with the medieval crosses.

That history gives the local stop a direct link to the purpose and geography of the ride. The monument in Waltham Cross remains a visible part of the story that cyclists follow south towards Westminster.

Riders exceed the event’s headline distance

Although the Queen Eleanor Cycle Ride is described as a 200-mile event, this year’s participants completed approximately 220 miles. The supplied account does not explain the additional distance, but records exceptionally wet conditions across the weekend.

The combination of 34 riders and five support crew produced a fundraising total approaching £30,000. The money will support The Connection at St Martin-in-the-Fields and its work with people experiencing rough sleeping in London.

Broxbourne Borough Council published its account of the completed visit on 7 September 2026. The Queen Eleanor Cycle Ride is held each August Bank Holiday weekend.

Source: Borough of Broxbourne Council News