10km London Royal Parks Run

A lovely 10km route in the Royal Parks visiting Green Park, St James’ Park and Hyde Park. All paths are good quality and lit at night (some very short sections in the parks are not lit, but there is pavement running adjacent to them which is lit).

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Route Overview

First Part of London Parks Run from Big Ben

First Part of Route

King Henry VIII purchased this land from Eton College in 1532 and enclosed it for deer hunting, along with St. James Palace, which served as his hunting lodge. Upon the accession of James I in 1603, the park was ordered to be drained and landscaped to keep exotic animals such as camels, crocodiles, elephants, and exotic birds to be kept in aviaries.

Second Part of London Parks Run past St. James's Park

Second Part of Route

Third Part of London Parks Run through Green Park

Third Part of Route

Forth Part of London Parks Run through Hyde Park

Forth Part of Route

Fifth Part of London Parks Run through Hyde Park

Fifth Part of Route

The Central Royal Parks Nursery or Hyde Park Nursery takes care and grows the 450 000 plants used for the stunning displays in each of the Royal Parks. For the summer displays, roughly 900 different varieties are grown, each thoughtfully chosen, such as the red pelargoniums, which mimic the colour of the tunics of The King’s Guard. For the winter displays, roughly 300 different varieties are cultivated, such as the yellow wallflowers. As a precaution, every year, surplus flowers are grown in case flowers die. If these flowers are not used, they are kindly donated to local communities to add a touch of colour to their space.

Sixth Part of London Parks Run through Hyde Park

Sixth Part of Route

The Italian gardens were created in the late 1800s and display various kinds of marble in the form of rosettes and the Tazza Fountain. You will also see stone statues and urns with various designs, including a swan’s breast, a woman’s head, a dolphin, a ram’s head, and an oval. Prince Albert thoroughly enjoyed gardening; hence his role in adding the urns, raised terraces, fountains, and geometric flower beds at Osborne House. The layout of this garden resembles that at Osbourne House on the Isle of Wight, where the royal family spent their holidays. In 2011, an extensive restoration was done on these gardens, including the use of freshwater, on-site stone carving, and cleaning to restore the gardens to their Victorian glory.