Going ahead this Saturday
No cancellation listed for Saturday 31 October.
Parkrun
Swanley parkrun
A free, fun, and friendly weekly 5k community event. Walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate – it's up to you! Nearby Sunday 2k junior parkrun events for 4 to 14 year olds and their families can be found here.
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United Kingdom
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England
- 5 kilometres
- Swanley Park
Meeting point: 51.40418, 0.17519. The interactive map loads with JavaScript. Open the same point in OpenStreetMap.
Coordinates 51.40418, 0.17519.
The course
Course description
The course starts on a tree-lined tarmac path by the top car park heading downhill before turning left and along the out and back section towards the old rugby pitches and then returning back along the same track (keeping left) and carrying on until the miniature train level crossing, at which point turning sharp left for an inner loop inside the field enclosed by the mini railway. As participants complete this loop they head back out over the level crossing (keeping left) and then slightly right into the field behind the children’s playground before bearing left and then going straight across to the far side of the boating lake and picking up the boundary path which runs back up hill towards the top car park. By the top car park they turn right back down the hill (parallel with the start/finish path) and then left at the bottom to start a second lap headed back out towards the rugby pitches again.
The second lap is identical with the exception that after completing the circuit of the field by the playground/lake, past the top car park and coming down the hill,participants will turn sharply left back up the paved start/finish straight to the finish.
We would advise trail shoes in the winter months.
On the course
The course is 5k long. The course is at Swanley Park, Swanley. The course is run on a combination of grass, permanent paths and trail paths. Some sections of the course may accumulate mud, leaves and puddles after rain. Dependent on availability, marshals will be at key sections of the course, or signs will be in place.
Please remember that the parkrun uses shared paths. For the continued success of the event, please give way to other park users. This won't hurt your time, it won't stop you from getting a PB and it will make sure everyone continues to enjoy the event.
Please, wherever possible walk, jog, cycle or use public transport when attending the event. If you do have to drive, please consider car-sharing to reduce our impact on both the environment and other park users. Please also watch out for other park users when arriving and leaving. Parking may be limited so try to arrive early.
Facilities
Within the park there are toilets (by the cafe), a children’s adventure playground, paddling pool and miniature railway that open seasonally.
More details
Public transport
Bus: Bus routes 233 and 477 serve the park.
Train: The nearest train station is Swanley which is approx 1.4 miles from the park.
On foot
There are multiple entrances points to the park from surrounding roads. Please check the map to find the most convenient to your starting point.
By road
For the main car park use SATNAV postcode BR8 7PW.
From Swanley town centre follow Swanley Lane towards Hextable before turning left in the New Barn Road. The entrance to the car park is approx 1mile on the left.
Parking: There are two car parks available at the park - the main 'bottom' car park is accessed from New Barn Road and the smaller second one is accessed from The Birches - both offer 2 HOURS FREE PARKING.
If you plan to stay longer to enjoy the park please refer to the signage in the car parks for payment tariffs which accept app payments only.
Coffee
Every week we grab a post-parkrun coffee: Swanley Park Café which is located alongside the boating lake. Please come and join us!
We're friendly
Every week we grab a post parkrun coffee at Swanley Park Café which is located alongside the boating lake - please come and join us!
Course safety
Swanley parkrun is a fun, free event organised by volunteers for the benefit of everyone. We wish to make the event as safe as possible, so participants, spectators and helpers are asked to take care about the following:
- Please be considerate to the park and other park users at all times.
- Children under the age of eleven must be accompanied (within arm's reach) throughout the event by a parent, guardian or appropriate adult of the parent's choice.
- Please arrive by foot, by pedal-power or by public transport if you can - your efforts help to reduce our impact on the park and the planet.
- We invite everyone to consider volunteering at parkrun. Your support helps your parkrun events remain sustainable and free for all in your community, and it’s also a wonderful way to improve your own health and happiness. Please visit the volunteer page for more information.
- Take care near roads and car parks – some vehicles drive very quickly. Please congregate away from the cars and be careful in particular if you have children. If you’re driving to the event, please drive carefully.
- Take care on uneven surfaces – whether on grass or on tarmac. Watch out for cyclists, other participants, pedestrians, children, dogs, wildlife, park animals, vehicles, park maintenance work, falling branches, bollards, posts and other obstacles around the course.
- Please ensure that you are fit enough to walk, jog, run 5k (3.1 miles) with us.
- If you see someone with a serious problem, please stop to help them out and get help as soon as possible.
- If you’re watching, keep clear of participants on the course, and look after any children and dogs you may have with you.
- It is not permitted to run with a pushchair and a dog at the same time.
- Lyme Disease is a bacterial infection spread to humans by infected ticks. Consider protecting yourself by wearing repellent when at parkrun events in grassy or wooded areas. See lymediseaseuk.com for further details.
- You are welcome to take part with one dog by your side, within reach at all times, on a short, handheld, non-extendable lead. The use of waist harnesses is prohibited. Please also see this Support Site entry for further details about parkrunning with dogs.
- parkrunners pushing buggies are welcome, but please take care of others around you and do your best to start at an appropriate place in the field for your pace.
We hope these tips help to ensure that Swanley parkrun is fun and safe for everyone.
Age grading
All parkrun events use Age Grading to help parkrunners compare results.
parkrun events use Age Grading to help parkrunners see progress and compare results.
For more information, please see our Support page.
Volunteering
All parkrun events are organised by volunteers - email swanley@parkrun.com to help.
Safeguarding
parkrun is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk. For our full safeguarding processes and policies please see our Safeguarding Hub.
To report a safeguarding concern please email safeguarding@parkrun.com.
Event stats
- 238
- Events
- 6,214
- Finishers
- 16,510
- Finishes
- 516
- Volunteers
- 2,226
- Personal bests
- 551
- Groups
- 00:32:33
- Average finish time
Nearby parkruns
- Dartford Heath parkrun Heath Lane · 3.7 km
- Foots Cray Meadows parkrun Foots Cray Meadows · 3.8 km
- Dartford parkrun Central Park · 5.0 km
- Dartford junior parkrun Central Park · 5.1 km
- Hoblingwell junior parkrun Hoblingwell Wood Recreation Ground · 5.3 km
- Hoblingwell parkrun Hoblingwell Wood Recreation Ground · 5.3 km
- Lullingstone parkrun Lullingstone Country Park · 5.7 km
- Orpington parkrun Goddington Park · 5.9 km
Challenges this parkrun helps with
- Alphabeteer Challenge Starts with S
- UK Postcode Areas Postcode area BR
- Periodic Table Matches symbols: S, Se, Sr, Sn
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High quality prints
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Available in both A4 and A3 sizes, perfect for framing and displaying your running accomplishments. Every print is crafted with precision to showcase your milestones, challenges, and legends in the finest quality.
Check out our awardsPark5K is not affiliated with parkrun. - last updated 26 October 2026