Thirty-three cyclists to visit Northampton on epic 219-mile ride retracing Queen Eleanor's final journey
Cyclists taking on a 219-mile charity ride following the historic route of Queen Eleanor of Castile's funeral procession will stop in Northampton later this month.
The annual Queen Eleanor Cycle Ride will take place over the August Bank Holiday weekend, from Friday, August 28 to Monday, August 31, raising money for homelessness charity The Connection at St Martin-in-the-Fields.
The ride, which has taken place every year since 2008, follows the route taken by the body of Eleanor of Castile, wife of King Edward I, following her death in 1290.
Her body was transported from Harby, near Lincoln, to Westminster, with the procession stopping at 12 locations along the way.
Edward I subsequently commissioned an Eleanor Cross at each of the stopping places – but only three of the original monuments remain standing today, including the historic Eleanor Cross in Northampton.
The other surviving crosses are at Geddington, near Kettering, and Waltham Cross.
This year's cyclists will begin their journey by visiting Lincoln and Grantham on Friday before travelling through Stamford and Geddington on Saturday.
They will reach Northampton on Sunday before continuing through Stony Stratford, Woburn and Dunstable. Monday's final leg will take riders through St Albans, Waltham Cross and Cheapside before finishing at Trafalgar Square in London.
Organisers say 33 cyclists have signed up to complete the entire 219-mile route, with another three taking part for one day.
They believe renewed interest in Eleanor's story following the publication of historian Alice Loxton's book Eleanor in 2025 has also helped generate interest in the event.
Money raised will support The Connection, which works with people sleeping rough in London and helps them move away from life on the streets.
People in Northampton are being encouraged to look out for the cyclists as they pass through the area on Sunday, August 30.