Christmas Morning. There stirs nothing, not even a mouse. Until a twitch of a toe and the thought of slipping into a brand new pair of carbon plates awakens the runner in the household. The shake of a bottle full of Maurten and the beeping of a Coros watch announces the alarm for the rest of the house to get up.  “But do we have to go?” complain the children. “Yes - it’s Parkrun time.” 

This is how most Christmases start in our houses at Runlimited; a chance to show the family what this running lark is all about and establish bragging rights by beating the rest of your siblings, cousins, kids and adults and storm around for one last chance at a PB for the year. 

“But Parkrun isn’t a race!” you tell me? Yes, but between me and my brother, it is. And I, sure as sin, would never roll over and let myself be beaten without a fight. 

Looking for your own Christmas Parkrun? We’ve crowdsourced the team’s favourites, whether to tackle a PB, test your brand new trainers at, or simply share in some community fun on Christmas Day.

Wanstead Flats 

Starting all the way out East, Wanstead Flats Parkrun is the local haunt of Erin, and as the name suggests, is… flat. But don’t let that fool you into the fallacy of flat = fast, oh no no you wouldn’t be so silly. Probably best to don the trail shoes for, since the mud is mostly unavoidable at this time of year.

Toilets nearby on site.

Run on Christmas and New Year’s Day

Bushy Park 

The OG Parkrun makes every list complete and we’d be remiss to leave it off of ours as Raif and Dan’s local. However we have strongly suggested they give it a skip and relax for the morning since they both seem to race themselves into the ground. Bushy Parkrun started way back in 2004, kicking off the entire Parkrun movement and shows no slowing down. Nearly 3000 runners (2973 to be exact) tramped around on Christmas day 2024! Fancy a crack at the CR? Best get the super shoes on, Andy Baddeley, 2008 Olympian, set the best lap at 13:48, whilst Justina Heslop has the Women’s record of 15:58.

Toilets and Cafe on site

Run on Christmas and New Year’s Day

Finsbury Park

“The Greatest Park In The World” according to Anthony, and who’s to argue with a man that has probably completed well over 2000 laps of the place? The Parkrun offers unbeatable convenience for transit links and a nice crowd out there on the holidays, even if the hills make for a tough course. 

Toilets and Cafe on site

Run on Christmas and New Year’s Day

Hackney Marshes

Fancy a little more mud and puddles to get the appetite for Christmas dinner firing? Hackney Marshes will be your place if you’re out East. Jonty’s local parkrun is run mainly on the marshes, making for a pretty mucky 5k that would be best suited to trail shoes. In the summer, it could be a great shout for a PB course, but come the rains of autumn, the course becomes more akin to a Cross Country race than anything. 

Toilets and Cafe on site

Run on Christmas Day, no New Year’s Day run

Dulwich Park

Last but not least is - arguably - London’s fastest Parkrun around the famous South London haunt of Dulwich Park. Molly and Kurt will likely be found out there this Christmas, tackling the three-lap course. Last year Dulwich had a huge turnout over Christmas and New Year, meaning the course was buzzing with energy, but perhaps a little crowded for a PB. Bonus points for Dulwich Park being one of London’s most scenic and quaint open spaces.

Toilets and Cafe on site.

Run on Christmas and New Year’s Day.

By Liam Dee