A new parkrun in new London - regaining LonDone - Greenwich Peninsula parkrun #3 - 13/12/25
- aqasanu
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
The home of this parkrun, aptly named Greenwich Peninsula, juts into the River Thames. It was marshland before being drained by Dutch engineers in the 16th Century. Previously known as Bugsby Marshes, it had been a place where whale oil was produced. There used to be a gas and coke works and an armaments works here. The area was a significant brownfield site until it was identified for regeneration in the 1990’s, with the Millennium Dome (now the O2 centre) being one of the National projects planned to welcome in the 21st Century.
The area, now managed by the developer Knight Dragon, is an evolving place of housing and commercial projects. There’s a cable car which will take you across the River Thames to Victoria Docks, home to Victoria Docks parkrun, which I completed back in May 2018. But today was all about completing Greenwich Peninsula parkrun, which started in November 2025, making it the 83rd parkrun in London, needed by me and friends to retain our LonDone status for the year.
Taking the train from London Bridge station, we departed at North Greenwich station, part of the Jubilee Line extension, and walked over to Tide Square, home to the Head in Wind sculpture, one of many sculptures dotted around the Peninsula, where the event both starts and finishes.
Amir was our Run Director today and addressed us from a viewing platform at Tide Square. Although this is only their third event, 589 participants had turned out, many of whom looked like seasoned parkrunners in their milestone shirts and parkrun merch, excitement buzzed through the air on a beautiful blue sky day. Amir informed us that the course goes through the Meridian Line, meaning we would be running in both the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.
The event course starts at the North Greenwich boat pier, with a short out along the lower path before you do a 180-degree turn and come back past where we started, following the wonderfully flat Peninsula path. You curve around to the top of the Peninsula, making you parallel with the iconic Canary Wharf towers before reaching another turnaround point and coming back past Tide Square. The sun was low and radiant. With cable cars like spaceships in the sky, this was an incredible place to run.
Due to the course having turnaround points, there are opportunities to cheer and high-five other runners. This contributed to the celebratory nature of the day. I had treated myself to a reflexology treatment for my feet on Friday; this, combined with wearing my super shoes, meant I was absolutely flying. The course takes you down to the Yacht Club, where there’s the final turnaround and then back to Tide Square, the finish funnel, loads of volunteers and for me, absolute glory; my fastest 5k this year!
I was able to cheer in friends, take pictures, chat with others, do some good ol’ parkrun fathing, before we headed to the All Bar One in the O2 centre, LonDone status regained, for a celebratory brunch.
The volunteer team had been absolutely marvellous, clearly seasoned professionals, having processed 986 participants at their inaugural event!
Greenwich Peninsula is referred to as New London, with the development spanning 150 acres of land wrapped by 1.5 miles of the River Thames. Here at the newest parkrun in London, you’ll find community and lots of heart.
Stay well and happy running, walking or volunteering.
You can read about how parkrun was created by the founder, Paul Sinton-Hewitt, a care leaver, in his book ‘One Small Step’ The Definitive Account of how a run became a Global Movement by clicking here.
You can learn more about Greenwich Penisula by watching ‘A Walk around Greenwich Peninsula by John Rogers, it’s fantastic.
You can book a reflexology treatment at Bellenden Therapies which is based in South London. They also offer a wide range of therapies, traditional and modern, and have a wealth of experience in helping people to find solutions to their health problems, both physical and emotional. Contact: bellendentherapies@yahoo.co.uk / 07958 482 089
Congratulations on your fastest run of the year.
An interesting area of London to explore.
I love it around there. There’s so much space. Much of London feels tight and cramped, but around the peninsula you can see a wide horizon.
Congrats on the fast time.