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The Course

The course is 5000m (5K) long. This has been accurately measured by us with a professional measuring wheel. The course is in Norman Park off Hayes Lane. The course is round an open green space which is flat, fast and on tarmac paths and well defined grassy gravel paths passing the River Ravensbourne. The grass and gravel paths might be slippery when wet and could be muddy a times. Dependent on availability, marshals will be at key sections of the course, or temporary signs 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. There is plenty of parking space in the car parks and on the neighboring streets. There are limited toilet facilities but no changing facilities.

Course Safety

The Bromley parkrun is a fun, free event organised by volunteers for the benefit of everyone. We wish to make the run as safe as possible, so runners, spectators and helpers are asked to take care about the following:

  • Please be considerate to the park and other park users at all times.
  • 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.
  • Please consider volunteering to help occasionally - this event survives only because of your generosity - please vist 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 run, please drive carefully even if you’re late!
  • When running, take care on uneven surfaces - whether on grass or on tarmac. Watch out for cyclists, other runners, pedestrians, children, deer, dogs, vehicles, park maintenance work, falling branches, bollards, posts and other obstacles around the course.
  • Runners with dogs are welcome, but please keep dogs on a short lead or harness and under control throughout the event.
  • Runners pushing buggies are also welcome, but please take extreme care of other runners around you. If possible start from the back of the field and try to keep to one side of the main body of runners.
  • Please make sure you’re fit enough to run 5k (3.1 miles) – if you’re in any doubt, please consult your doctor.
  • Remember to warm up before the run.
  • If you see a runner with a serious problem, please stop to help them out and get help as soon as possible.
  • If you’re watching, keep clear of runners on the course, and look after any children and dogs you may have with you.
  • While rare, Lyme Disease is present in areas where deer live, and occasionally passed to human’s through infected ticks. See NHS Choices website for more about Lyme Disease, and how to deal with ticks.
  • This is a free training event, so all run and attend at their own risk.

We hope these tips help to ensure that Bromley parkrun is fun and safe for everyone.

Age Grading

All parkrun events use Age Grading to help athletes compare results.

Age Grading takes your time and uses the world record time for your sex and age group to produce a score (a percentage). This score allows you to compare your personal performance against other people's performances even though they might be a different age and a different sex to you - the higher the score the better the performance. The scores can also be compared across different run distances - to allow you to, for example, compare a 5km time against a marathon.

For more information, please see the Running For Fitness website.

Course Map


View Bromley parkrun in a larger map

Getting There

On Foot

Norman Park Athletics Track is about a 29 minute walk from Bromley South station.

By Bus

The 119 (Bromley to Croydon), 146 (Bromley to Downe) and the 314 (Eltham to New Addington) all go past the Park.

By Train

The nearest station to the ground is Bromley South which is serviced by trains from London Victoria. There are also two services an hour from London Blackfriars. If your train from London goes via East Croydon it may be easier to get off there and catch the 119 bus to the ground (approximate journey time: 40 minutes).

By car

From the M25 Motorway

Exit the M25 at Junction 4, follow the A21 to Bromley and London (approx 4miles) and then fork left onto the A232 (signposted Croydon/Sutton), turn right at the second set of traffic lights onto Baston Road (B265), continue (approx 2miles) along Hayes Street/Hayes Lane and Norman Park is on the right hand side at the junction of a mini roundabout.

Not using the M25 Motorway

Hayes Lane is situated between the A21 London to Hastings Road and the A232 Croydon to Orpington Road. You are advised to avoid heavy congestion in Bromley Town Centre. However, there is a 7ft width barrier from the A21 road in Hayes Lane so large vehicles/coaches should not approach from this direction.