parkrun is a free, weekly, timed 5km run held every Saturday morning at locations across the UK and worldwide. It is open to everyone regardless of age, ability or fitness level. You do not need to be a runner to take part.

How do I register for parkrun?

Go to parkrun.org.uk and click Register. Fill in your details, then print or save your personal barcode. You need your barcode to get a time at the finish. Registration is free and takes about two minutes.

What time does parkrun start?

parkrun starts at 9am every Saturday morning. You should aim to arrive at least 10 minutes before the start, particularly if it is your first time at that location.

Can I take my dog to parkrun?

Most parkrun events welcome well-behaved dogs on leads. Check the specific event page on parkrun.org.uk before you go as individual events have their own policies. Dogs must be kept on a short lead throughout.

What happens if my local parkrun is cancelled?

Cancellations are announced on each event's Facebook page and on the parkrun app. SaturdayOff tracks UK cancellations and offers free email alerts so you know before Saturday morning without needing to check Facebook.

What is parkrun? Everything You Need to Know

Q: Is parkrun really free?

Yes. parkrun is completely free to participate in. There is no entry fee, no subscription and no catch. You register once on the parkrun website and your registration is valid at every parkrun event in the world.

Q: Do I have to run? Can I walk?

You can walk, jog, run or a combination of all three. parkrun is entirely non-competitive and welcomes participants of all abilities. Many people walk the full 5km every week and are a valued part of the community.

The short answer

parkrun is a free, weekly, timed 5km event held every Saturday morning at hundreds of locations across the UK and thousands worldwide. It is not a race. It is not a club. It is open to absolutely everyone, regardless of age, fitness level or how fast you think you are.

You register once on the parkrun website, get a personal barcode, and that barcode is valid at every parkrun event in the world for life. You turn up on a Saturday morning, run, jog or walk 5km, scan your barcode at the finish, and your time appears on the parkrun website that afternoon.

It costs nothing. There are no subscriptions, no entry fees and no adverts. parkrun is funded by sponsorship and run almost entirely by volunteers.

How it works

1
Register at parkrun.org.uk
Free registration takes about two minutes. You will need a name, email address and date of birth. No payment details required.
2
Print or save your barcode
After registering you will receive a confirmation email with your personal barcode. Print it, screenshot it, or use the parkrun app. Without it you will not receive a time.
3
Find your local event
Search for events near you on parkrun.org.uk. Most large towns and cities in the UK have at least one. Some have several.
4
Turn up on Saturday at 9am
Arrive 10 minutes early. There is a short briefing for first-timers before the main event brief. Tell a volunteer it is your first time and they will look after you.
5
Run, jog or walk
There is no minimum pace and no time limit. The tail walker is always the last finisher and makes sure nobody is left behind on the course.
6
Scan your barcode at the finish
At the finish line volunteers will hand you a finish token with your position. Then scan your barcode. Both scans together record your result. Miss either one and you will not get a time.
7
Check your results
Results are published on the parkrun website by mid-afternoon on Saturday. You will receive an email with your time, your position and your age grade percentage.

What to bring

Your barcode. Printed, on your phone screen or on a wristband. This is the only essential.
Appropriate shoes. Road shoes for tarmac courses, trail shoes for mixed or off-road courses. Check our course guides before you go.
Comfortable clothing. Whatever you would wear for any outdoor activity in the current weather. There is no dress code.
Water. There is no water station on most parkrun courses. Bring your own, particularly in warm weather.
A good attitude. parkrun communities are welcoming but the culture matters. Thank the volunteers, encourage other runners, and stay left on the course to let faster runners past.

You do not need a GPS watch, a heart rate monitor or any specialist running kit. Many regulars run in whatever they would wear for a walk in the park.

The rules

parkrun has very few formal rules. The main ones worth knowing before your first event:

You must be registered and have your own barcode. You cannot use someone else's.
Headphones are allowed at most events. Keep the volume low enough to hear marshals and other runners.
Dogs are welcome at most events on a short lead. Check the specific event page before bringing one.
Buggies and prams are welcome at most events. Some course layouts make this difficult , again, check the event page.
Junior parkrun (for 4 to 14 year olds) runs on Sunday mornings at 9am and is a separate 2km event.

Volunteering

parkrun only exists because of volunteers. Every event needs marshals, barcode scanners, timekeepers, a tail walker and a run director. You do not need any experience to volunteer , the role is explained when you sign up.

You can volunteer at your local event by logging into your parkrun account and clicking Volunteer. Most events need volunteers most weeks. If you have a milestone run coming up (your 50th, 100th, or 250th), it is tradition to volunteer for one run in between.

What is a parkrun tourism?

Because your single registration works at every parkrun in the world, many runners make a point of visiting as many different events as possible. This is called parkrun tourism. There are challenges built around it, including the Explorer challenge which rewards runners who complete events at a set number of different locations.

Course guides on SaturdayOff are specifically designed for parkrun tourists , honest, first-hand information about terrain, elevation, parking and what to wear so you know exactly what you are heading into before you travel.

What if my parkrun is cancelled?

Cancellations happen more often than most runners realise. Events get called off due to weather, venue issues, a lack of volunteers or other circumstances. Announcements are typically made on the event's Facebook page, on the parkrun app, or via email to local registered runners.

If you do not have a Facebook account, or you do not check the app on Friday night, you can miss a cancellation entirely and turn up to a closed gate. SaturdayOff exists specifically to solve this. Sign up for free email alerts for your local event and you will be notified before Saturday morning without having to check anything.

Check this weekend's cancellations or sign up for alerts at saturdayoff.co.uk

Frequently asked questions

Is parkrun really free?

Yes. Completely free. No entry fee, no subscription, no catch. You register once and that registration is valid at every parkrun event in the world for life.

Do I have to run? Can I walk?

You can walk the whole thing. Many people do every week. There is a tail walker at the back of every event to make sure nobody finishes alone. There is no time limit and no minimum pace.

What if I forget my barcode?

You can still run but you will not receive an official time. You can ask a volunteer to note down that you forgot your barcode and they may be able to help, but there is no guarantee. The simplest solution is to screenshot your barcode and keep it in your phone's camera roll.

Can children take part?

Children aged 11 and over can take part in parkrun unaccompanied. Under-11s must be accompanied by a participating adult. Children aged 4 to 14 can also take part in Junior parkrun, a separate 2km event held on Sunday mornings.

How do I know if my local parkrun has been cancelled?

Cancellations are announced on each event's Facebook page and on the parkrun app. SaturdayOff tracks UK cancellations and sends free email alerts so you know in advance without needing to check Facebook.

Is there a parkrun near me?

Almost certainly. There are over 750 parkrun events in the UK alone. Search for your postcode on parkrun.org.uk to find the nearest event.

What is a parkrun PB?

PB stands for personal best. Your parkrun PB is your fastest ever time at any parkrun event. Many runners use specific flat, fast courses to chase a PB. Our course guides include a PB potential rating for every course reviewed.

Written by Azeem Ahmad, parkrunner and founder of SaturdayOff. Last updated June 2026.