Budding photographers share inspiring images of Santander Cycles to celebrate 15 years of cycle hire in the capital

Captivating images that showcase London's natural landscapes, landmarks and hidden gems have been revealed by TfL and Santander to celebrate the 15^th anniversary of cycle hire in the capital.

TfL launched London's flagship cycle hire scheme on 30 July 2010 with 315 docking stations across eight London boroughs. There are now more than 12,000 Santander Cycles available from more than 800 docking stations, including more than 2,000 electric cycles. To celebrate this anniversary, TfL and Santander launched a competition in July to find 15 iconic photographs showcasing beautiful sights that define cycling in the capital.

More than 100 budding photographers shared images of Santander Cycles, which judges from the Natural History Museum and TfL selected the 15 best photographs from. Each of the 15 winners received free annual Santander Cycles membership, worth £120, and a pair of tickets to the coveted Wildlife Photographer of the Year at the Natural History Museum.

The judges chose one overall winner who also received five tickets to a breakfast reception at the museum on 6 November and a chance to explore the museum before it opens to the public. The winning photograph was taken by Nicolas Moura and shows Santander Cycles being part of his wedding day celebrations at Chelsea Old Town Hall in 2024.

Nicolas Moura, who was selected as the overall winner for his photograph of Santander Cycles being part of his wedding day, said: “I’ve been a Santander Cycles user since the scheme first launched, and it’s become an essential part of my daily life as a Londoner. I started out as a student, commuting to university and saving on transport costs, and I’ve carried on ever since, hooked on the freedom and ease of cycling through the city. Today, I use Santander Cycles every single day — whether it’s getting to work, heading to football, or meeting friends and family. I even push myself on longer rides, recently completing my first 100km day on a Santander Cycle. For me, it’s the fastest, cheapest, and healthiest way to get around London — and I truly believe it’s one of the best things our city has seen in the past 15 years."

The other winning images show people using Santander Cycles to explore London's beautiful natural landscapes, landmarks, and hidden gems. Amongst them was a beautiful image of a Santander Cycle at sunrise in Regent’s Park surrounded by trees and autumn leaves, and a captivating shot of a Santander Cycle in Richmond Park with a dramatic sky. Many of the photographs submitted highlighted London’s hidden gems, including Lloyd England’s photograph of a Santander Cycle along Regent’s Canal with the two iconic Victorian-era gasholders in Bethnal Green in the distance – a romantic fixture in the east London skyline for years.

David Eddington, Head of Cycle Hire at TfL, said: “We were impressed by the quality and number of photographs we received that showcase cycling in London and all there is to see and explore. We would like to thank all those who got involved and especially Nicolas for sharing his special wedding day picture. We hope that Santander Cycles will continue be part of the way people enjoy our beautiful capital city for many more years to come, and that these photographs inspire even more people to take up cycling and see all London has to offer.”

Will Norman, City Hall’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, said: "It’s brilliant to see these photographs showcasing the beauty of cycling in London, which is one of the best ways to explore our great city. Cycling can be for everyone, and the continued popularity of Santander Cycles across London really underlines the success of the scheme as an integral part of our transport network. The Mayor and I will continue to champion cycling as we build a heathier, greener and more accessible London for everyone."

Santander recently announced the renewal of its sponsorship of London’s cycle hire scheme until 2032, which is the largest public sector sponsorship globally and the largest non-sport sponsorship in Europe. TfL and Santander are continuing to make significant improvements to the Santander Cycles scheme, earlier this year doubling the day pass ride time to one hour and reducing the price of hiring an e-bike. Customers can now make unlimited journeys under 60 minutes in a 24-hour period for just £3.50. The changes are helping to make cycling more accessible to Londoners and tourists and providing them with affordable and green methods of travelling across the capital.

Melissa Noakes, Head of Sponsorships and Events at Santander UK, said: "As proud sponsors of London’s cycle hire scheme, what better way to celebrate 15 years of Santander Cycles and the creativity and passion of our riders than through this photography competition. The 15 winning photographs beautifully capture both the hidden gems and natural landscapes that make cycling in the city so special and how, over time, Santander Cycles have become part of the fabric of Londoners’ lives – and even weddings, according to our competition winners! With our sponsorship of Santander Cycles now renewed until 2032, we look forward to continuing to work with TfL and inspiring Londoners to explore all that the city has to offer by bike."

Santander Cycles also recently launched 'Side Quest' cycling routes, which encourage users to discover hidden gems and unique experiences beyond typical tourist hotspots. The routes are themed - offering diverse experiences like "Thrift Store Tour," "Park Life" and "The Brutalist" - with the goal of making cycling a fun and integral part of exploring London. These routes are accessible through a dedicated website and QR codes on Santander Cycles.