Getting around London can be a pain in the neck - and the wallet. Traffic jams on the streets, crowded tube trains and sky high taxi prices are enough to make you dream of something different - something fast, dynamic and fun. If only someone had put together a guide to quad biking experiences for all Londoners and visitors to the capital which would get you out of the urban sprawl and into wide open spaces for an adrenaline thrilled off-road adventure! Hang on a second - they have. And you’re reading it!

A quad bike is an all terrain vehicle that was developed from the basic structure of an off-road dirt bike. Dirt bikes, while fast on the right terrain, have the disadvantage of instability on uneven ground at slow speeds.The four wheels of a quad bike are the ideal solution to this problem, ensuring stable ride at all speeds and on every kind of terrain. It also makes them a safe and easy option for children to get a taste of motorsports, or adults who have only ever driven on roads as the risks of rolling are low without compromising on the intuitive driving style of a bike. If you’ve got an itch to get out of the city and get your pulse racing, exchange the concrete jungle of London for a muddy track and let rip on a quad bike!

Where are the best places to go quad biking near London?

• Northolt: for everything all terrain, come to Northolt in West of the capital. This is where professionals - emergency first responders, search and rescue teams, etc. - come to hone their driving skills in the toughest conditions. But you don’t have to have a serious purpose to enjoy their facilities, a need for speed and thirst for adventure are enough! The fun is guaranteed on the quad bike circuit in Northolt. Before you’re let loose on the track, you’ll have a safety briefing and the chance to get a feel for the machine, before opening it up and taking it for a spin. The quad bike trek will take you through woodland and open air stretches with hills, obstacles and mud pools to avoid - or plough straight through if you prefer. Northolt is in the London Borough of Ealing, just 10 miles from the city centre, so your epic escape is closer than you think!

• Salfords: just outside the M25, Salfords is next to Redhill - just over half an hour’s train journey from London Victoria. A mecca for off-road enthusiasts, there are vehicles of all kinds available here - but we recommend the quad bikes, which have a specially designed track. You’ll enjoy 5 miles of mud, earth and gravel which really put the machine and your nerves to the test. Taking you through forest, across moors and under the open sky this is the perfect remedy to those urban blues and is sure to leave you with a smile on your face, as well as a couple of flecks of mud! You can combine a quad bike ride with a dune buggy or mud kart experience to really indulge your inner petrol head, or with the more traditional sport of archery to focus your mind after losing it on the quad track.

Requirements to do this activity

This is one of the most diverse cities on the planet, with people of all ages, ethnicities and personalities. Add to that the 60 million tourists who visit the city every year and you’ve got a whole world in miniature. But one thing that can be enjoyed by people from all walks of life is quad biking. It’s easy to learn how to ride one, guaranteed to be fun, and offer a variety of experiences from speed to splashes to keep you coming back for more.

If you’re 12 years old or more you can be baptised into the all terrain vehicle club, which means you don’t have to wait until you turn 17 to get your first petrol powered thrills. Even if you’re over 17 you don’t need a driving licence to take a quad bike around an off-road course. Apart from age, the only things that can prevent you from getting involved are pregnancy, or irresponsibility - we’re talking about drugs and alcohol (both of which are strictly prohibited, before and during the ride).

How long does the experience last?

You can choose the length of your ATV experience. We know that the routine of the capital life can leave little time for leisure activities, but don’t worry because you can book an experience for just 30 minutes to blow off some steam. Or get more stuck in for a full 1 hour ride. You should allow a bit more time at the venue, as your session will start with a safety briefing and explanation of the vehicle’s controls before you get onto the bike.

What should you bring the day of the activity?

As well as the bike, you’ll be given a safety helmet. Waterproof overalls are also available if you want to keep the dirt off your clothes. Whether you choose to use these or not, we recommend that you don’t wear your best outfit from Savile Row, Oxford Street, or another of the fashionable shopping boulevards - some old, comfortable clothes are the best choice. There are changing facilities on site so you can bring a complete set of clean dry clothes to put on after, which is an especially good idea if it’s been raining!

You’ll need some good closed toe shoes, sporty trainers or walking boots are perfect, and finally anything that you think might be appropriate for the time of year - gloves, sunscreen, a scarf, we recommend that you bring them with you, it’s better to have it and not need it than vice versa.

So what are you waiting for? We know that you need a break from the urban lifestyle, and these offroad vehicles are the perfect option!