Cycling plays a major part in this year’s London Festival of Architecture (LFA), which runs from19 June to 4 July, encouraging people to jump on their bikes and explore the city with a variety of organised cycle tours.

The tours, sponsored by Sky as part of Sky Ride 2010, are tempting the public to explore the nooks and crannies of the city from the seat of a bicycle with led cycle rides planned around London’s architectural treasures.

Organised in partnership with Feilden Clegg Bradley architects, there will be over 20 organised LFA Sky Rides guided by the country’s leading architects and cultural commentators.

Highlights of the LFA Sky Rides include a gastronomically themed tour, ‘The Best of France in London’, incorporating food, drink and architecture led by cultural critic Stephen Bayley; an exploration of remodelled housing estates led by designer Wayne Hemingway, a sketching tour of 17th century buildings with historian Benedict O’Looney and a tour of London sporting venues with architectural historian and football fan Simon Inglis.

Ride Listings:

The HTC Smithfield Nocturne :

The HTC Smithfield Nocturne returns to the City of London on 19th June, providing an exciting evening of bike racing and entertainment in the heart of the capital.

A special afternoon programme has also been created in partnership with the London Festival of Architecture. Attractions will include the St Bartholomew’s Fair with food stalls from top city restaurants, an LFA Sky Ride closed circuit for families between 3pm – 4.15pm, Rollapaluza Roller Racing, the Red Bull Stand Off competition and children’s bicycle workshops organised by the Danish Cycling Federation. The event is free and open to the public. For more information go to http://www.nocturneseries.com/smithfield/

The Great School Run, 23rd June 3.30pm – North, West and South London:

The Great School Run consists of three simultaneous rides around North, West and South London, starting at 3.30pm.  These after school rides aim to get families onto their bicycles by touring some of the capital’s most inspirational and newly built schools, and featuring short talks from the designers and architects of the buildings themselves: The North Run will trail five unique schools around Hackney and Islington; the South Run will visit seven schools in Southwark, Lambeth and Walworth and the West Run stops off at schools in Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea.

The Best of France in London, 26th June 2pm:

Famed culture critic Stephen Bayley hosts a tour of all things French in London, taking in the best of French food, architecture and art. Stephen will be leading riders from the striking Michelin Building to Westminster Abbey to see the influence of Reims, Amiens and Chartres, exploring French furniture and art at the Wallace Collection and Jean Cocteau’s murals in the Notre Dame de France in Leicester Place, discovering the Hugenot Church in Soho and finishing with champagne at the new Jean Nouvel creation ‘One New Change’.

17th Century Cycling & Sketching Tour, 26th June 10am:

Historian Benedict O’Looney takes riders on an artistic tour of London’s finest 17th Century baroque architecture. Starting in Bloomsbury, moving through The City and along the Thames, this ride is a fantastic opportunity to jump off your bike, soak up the scenery and sketch the buildings. Sketching locations include Trafalgar Square and St Pauls Cathedral.

Remodelling of Old Housing Estates, 28th June 6pm:

Top British designer Wayne Hemingway takes you on a tour of some of North London’s iconic housing estates and explores how they have been remodelled and updated in the last 100 years. Featuring additional talks from the architects responsible for the regeneration projects, the tour starts in Bloomsbury, before moving north through Islington, Camden and Kentish Town.

Velo2Velo: 27th June, 11am:

The Velo2Velo rides links London’s two Olympic cycling venues. A chance to see the historic Herne Hill Velodrome used for the 1948 Olympics before long-awaited plans to redevelop the venue are finally put into action. The ride then heads north through quiet roads and bike trails towards the start of the Olympic High Street at Whitechapel. Here you’ll get the chance to join in LFA activities celebrating this unique part of London, before finishing at the 2012 Olympic site in Stratford for a close-up view of the Zaha Hadid’s aquatic centre, the Olympic stadium and, of course, the 2012 Velodrome designed by Hopkins architects.

Played in West London, 4th July 10am:

Simon Inglis, author and architectural historian, will host a sporting ride through the capital exploring the architectural style and variety of sports venues around West London. From 19th Century running tracks to premiership football stadiums, from Edwardian swimming baths toexclusive members only sports clubs, this ride is must for all sports fans.

For full listings of all the LFA Sky Rides and to sign up for a ride, visit www.lfa2010.org