Canons park parkrun

Updated: Apr 23, 2023

For my 55th parkrun I decided to go and bag another 'C' towards my 'Pirates' challenge and headed off to Canons park in London. It was very straightforward to get to from MK, straight down the M1 and then not that far from junction 4, and it is a very pretty Grade II listed park in the borough of Harrow. It's a straightforward but scenic three lap anti-clockwise course around the parameter of the park, and it has a good running surface (half tarmac and half wooded trail path) so you'll be fine in road shoes unless there has ben a lot of rain, it's also fairly flat and fairly fast. They were on event 268 on the morning of our visit. [I first visited this parkrun on 4th March 2023]

Bit of History

Canons park, takes its name from the canons or monks of the Augustinian priory of St Bartholomew in Smithfield, London. In mediaeval times the site was owned by the Priory of St Bartholomew's which operated St Bartholomew's Hospital in London. Following the dissolution of the monasteries the land was sold into private ownership and a large house was built there during the 16th and 17th centuries which was at one time owned by Thomas Lake, James I's Chancellor of the Exchequer. Canons Park is largely located on the site of the early 18th-century country house 'Cannons' which was built between 1713 and 1725 by James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos. Features surviving today from the ducal park include two lakes (the Basin Lake and the Seven Acre Lake) as well as more recent features. The park contains several listed buildings, including the King George V Memorial Garden, which is a walled garden in the park (close to the start and finish area of the parkrun). This area was originally part of the duke's kitchen gardens and was re-designed in the 1930s, after the park became public. The garden has a 1930s theme, with a structure of evergreens highlighted by seasonal displays. It also features a central square pool surrounded by a raised terrace with steps, formal flower beds and a pavilion. The garden and the park were restored with support of a Heritage Lottery Fund in 2006/2007.

Briefings

Both briefings take place at 'The Temple' a folly near to the walled Garden at the top of the park, and very close to the finish area. The briefings both include a good description of the three lap course, a reminder to keep left on the narrow sections to allow faster runners to pass as well as the usual instructions for first timers and general parkrun guidelines. The main brief also included call outs to one of the local volunteers who was running her 200th parkrun this morning, and to tourists from Surrey and Ireland. I have included a video below containing both briefings from the morning of my visit. The start is a short walk south from the folly.

'The Temple' assemble here for the briefing. Also note there were pacers this morning.

The Course

Found this useful map of the park on my way to the start

The course starts a short walk away from the Folly and is basically three anti-clockwise laps around the circumference of the park. From the start you head south and very slightly downhill along a footpath, the first turn is a slight left and then a slight right, and you are now heading towards a church at the bottom of the park. At the bottom of the park you turn left and then left again past the church and heading back up the park. After the church you are directed right into the woodland section of the course, this is a slightly uphill soft trail path (which fortunately wasn't too muddy on the morning of our visit and was quite runnable). The slight uphill section although nothing major is slightly draining especially by the time you get to lap 3. The woodland section takes you all the way back to the top of the park, where you take a left turn to head out of the woods, then you take a left turn at the walled garden, and then you follow the walled garden which takes you back to the start straight... complete two more laps and then on the final lap, you take a right at the end of the walled garden which takes you back towards the folly and the finish.

Difficulty

Simple course, good running surface and only a slight incline so I'm going to give it 1.5 out of 5. The extra 1/2 point for the slight uphill trail through the wooded section. But it's an easy course on the whole and quite interesting so it doesn't feel like a 3 lapper.

Finish is on grass, but this is the only grass section of the course.

Elevation

My Garmin says there is 26m of total elevation, it is basically the incline up through the woods which you do three times. You will feel it especially by the time you get to Lap 3. It's not steep by any means but it is on a woodland trail and it probably rules out any super quick times here.

Parking, Facilities and Coffee

Parking is in the Canons park station car park, but there is no parking meter so payment is by app only, alternatively park in one of the local streets surrounding the park. Parking was £6 at the station, and the car park was almost empty. No toilet at this parkrun at the moment, but there are toilets at the tube station if you are desperate to go. Also this was I think the first parkrun I have ever been to where the parkrun has laid on free tea and coffee after the run at the folly, this is a really nice gesture, not sure if they do this every week but it was very much appreciated nonetheless. There was also cake to celebrate one of the regular volunteer's 200th parkrun.

Other Points of Interest

There is a really weird large rock quite close to the playground and basketball hoop so I guess children can climb it. Also I didn't visit it, but the church of St Lawrence on the south side of the park is described as having a highly decorated interior, and unusual for being Continental in style rather than English, so it sounds like it is worth a visit if you have time after the parkrun.

Summary

This was a lovely parkrun to visit, easy to get to from Milton Keynes, parking was straightforward and it was an enjoyable course, with a friendly core team and the bonus of free Tea and Coffee. Due to the sheer number of parkruns in the North of London, it wasn't too busy either which means that is doesn't have the problem of a congested course that some of the larger parkruns have to deal with. We also got chatting to another tourist from Stevenage who had done a lot of the same courses that we had done, so it was good to get his view on the different courses in the area. I would thoroughly recommend a visit to Canons park parkrun it is well worth a visit, especially if you are collecting 'C's for your Pirates challenge.