Every Saturday at 9am, several hundred people run 5km together across Hampstead Heath for free. Here is what you need to know before joining them.
Every Saturday morning at precisely 9am, regardless of weather, a group of anywhere between 150 and 400 people gather at the Parliament Hill Athletics Track on Hampstead Heath and run 5 kilometres together. Some of them are racing — chasing personal bests, comparing times, training for marathons. Most are not. They are there for the fresh air, the company, the ritual, and the remarkable fact that one of London's most scenic 5km runs costs absolutely nothing.
This is Hampstead Heath parkrun, and if you have not yet experienced it, this guide will tell you everything you need before your first visit.
What is Parkrun?
Parkrun is a global, free, weekly 5km timed run that takes place in parks across more than 20 countries. Founded in Bushy Park, London in 2004 by Paul Sinton-Hewitt, it has grown to include over 2,000 events worldwide. The core principles have never changed: free to participate, inclusive of all abilities, community-organised by volunteers, and available to anyone who registers at parkrun.org.uk.
Registration is a one-time process. You enter your name and email address, download and print a personal barcode, and bring that barcode to any parkrun event anywhere in the world. Your time is automatically recorded, linked to your barcode, and added to your permanent online results history. Many parkrunners accumulate hundreds of runs over years; the "100 Club" (runners who have completed 100 parkruns) is a recognised milestone.
The Hampstead Heath Parkrun Course
The course starts at the Parliament Hill Athletics Track and covers approximately 5km of varied Hampstead Heath terrain. The exact course changes seasonally to account for ground conditions — wet winters can make some grass sections too churned up to use safely — but the general route explores the eastern and southern sections of the Heath, taking in some of its most scenic and accessible areas.
Expect a mix of surfaces: compacted gravel paths, mown grass, and some natural earth sections. The course includes a genuine hill — the slope near Parliament Hill Fields — which most runners encounter early in the route. The elevation profile is not extreme by trail running standards, but it is enough to make the Hampstead Heath parkrun noticeably more challenging than a flat road 5km.
The course is marked with direction signs and marshalled by volunteers at key junctions. If in doubt at any point, follow the runner in front of you or ask a marshal. First-time runners are asked to hang back at the start briefing — held about 5 minutes before 9am — where volunteers will explain the course and answer questions.
Timings and Times
Hampstead Heath parkrun takes place every Saturday at 9:00am from Parliament Hill Athletics Track (accessible from Gordon House Road, NW5). There are no exceptions for bank holidays — the Saturday nearest Christmas, for instance, usually sees a smaller but committed field braving whatever December throws at them.
The majority of runners finish in 22 to 40 minutes. The course record (course-dependent, as routes change) is held by runners completing the route in under 16 minutes. Walkers are fully welcome and regularly participate; the tail walker — a volunteer who is always last, ensuring no runner is ever alone at the back — maintains the event's inclusive character. No one finishes after the tail walker.
How to Join
Registration is free and takes about three minutes at parkrun.org.uk/register. Once registered, you will receive a personal barcode by email. Print it on paper (or store it in an app like the official parkrun app) and bring it to the event. Without your barcode, your time will not be recorded — you can still run, but you will be listed as "unknown" in the results.
There is no need to pre-register for a specific event. Simply turn up at Parliament Hill Fields by 8:50am on any Saturday. Wear comfortable running or walking shoes appropriate for mixed terrain, and bring a layer — the Heath can be chilly even in summer when the wind picks up.
Volunteering at Hampstead Heath Parkrun
Parkrun runs entirely on volunteers. At each event, 10–20 volunteers take on roles including marshal, barcode scanner, finish funnel assistant, and tail walker. Volunteering counts toward your personal total in the same way a run does — a fact that allows injured runners, very new walkers, and experienced veterans who fancy a break from running to stay connected with the event. To volunteer, sign up via the event page at parkrun.org.uk/hampsteadheath.
After Parkrun: The Café Culture
One of parkrun's genuine pleasures is the post-run social gathering. At Hampstead Heath, runners typically gather at the Parliament Hill Café (directly adjacent to the Athletics Track) or at cafés in South End Green after the event. This is where race results are checked on phones, personal bests are celebrated, and regulars catch up with each other. It is entirely optional, and entirely charming — a tradition that reflects parkrun's roots as a community event rather than a competitive race.
Getting to Hampstead Heath Parkrun
The Parliament Hill Athletics Track is best reached via Hampstead Heath Overground station (15-minute walk through the Heath) or Kentish Town Overground station (10 minutes via Gordon House Road). Buses 214 and C11 stop on Parliament Hill. Parking on surrounding streets is limited on Saturday mornings — public transport is strongly recommended. The closest postcode for navigation purposes is NW5 1LP (Gordon House Road).
Is Hampstead Heath Parkrun Suitable for Beginners?
Absolutely. The event includes walkers, very slow joggers, and people doing their first-ever timed run alongside seasoned marathon runners. The tail walker ensures no one is ever last. Many people use parkrun as a training tool alongside programmes like Couch to 5K (NHS), where it serves as the weekly "long run" that tracks progress. The friendly, non-competitive atmosphere makes it one of the least intimidating ways to start running.
More on the Heath: Full running routes guide for all abilities · Best coffee in Hampstead post-run · Arrive early — the Heath at dawn
