Preston Park is the second-most popular parkrun in Brighton & Hove, regularly pulling in over 650+ runners each week. Held each Saturday in one of the city’s most treasured green spaces, this parkrun attracts everyone from first-timers to experienced club athletes chasing PBs. Its wide paths, welcoming atmosphere and convenient location have helped it establish itself as one of the UK’s most established parkruns, hosting well over 900 events.
But is Preston Park parkrun actually worth visiting yourself? In this review, I’ll take you through the course itself, including the terrain, elevation, facilities, parking, and overall vibe. Whether you’re a local runner comparing events or a parkrun tourist planning to visit Brighton, this guide will help you choose whether Preston Park deserves a place on your Saturday morning running schedule.
Verdict
4.5/5
Preston Park is a really solid parkrun. The setting is positively picturesque with two local cafes and the funky London Road area just a short walking distance away from the start/finish line. The course is run entirely on tarmac paths and is mainly flat, save for a steady downward slope and a short uphill ascent.
With the long flat straight adjacent to Preston Road, there’s always plenty of fellow runners around you, though the wide paths always mean you have plenty of room to breathe.
The initial start is pretty congested, and the uphill ascent to the finish line can make chasing PBs a challenge, but otherwise, this is a really enjoyable parkrun course in one of the UK’s most popular tourist destinations.
Course Overview
| Feature | Details |
| Distance | 5k (5000m) |
| Surface | Tarmac |
| Elevation | Mostly flat |
| Number of Laps | 2 (with an L-shaped additional lap) |
| Terrain | Paved park paths |
| Difficulty | Easy |
Preston Park’s course is predominantly flat, though the uphill ascent at the end of each lap does make it tricky to chase a PB. The wide paths give plenty of room for runners on different laps, though the first 500m or so can be pretty congested at the start.
Course Highlights
- Second-most popular parkrun in Brighton & Hove
- Wide tarmac paths
- Pretty park surroundings
- Excellent travel options
Facilities
Toilets
Yes. Public toilets are available right by the start line.
Getting There
Excellent options for getting to Preston Park parkrun. Trains from Brighton (15-minute jog away), London Road (10-minute jog) and Preston Park (5-minute jog) are available.
Buses 5, 5A, and 5B all pass close to Preston Park. Alternatively, buses to the Open Market or Preston Circus are within a 10-minute jog.
By car, you can follow the A23 toward the centre of Brighton. After passing the Preston Park Hotel, turn left at the traffic lights into Preston Drove and then, after 250m, right immediately before the first road on the right through the gates into the park.
Cafe
There are two cafes available in Preston Park for your post-parkrun coffee!
Bag Drop
You can leave any bags outside the cafe by the start line.
Accessibility
The course is suitable for walkers, joggers, runners, pushchairs, junior runners, and dog walkers.
Atmosphere
Preston Park has one of those atmospheres of just knowing how to get it done. With so many events under its belt, this is a parkrun where everything runs like clockwork, with everyone from the marshals to the local runners all working together to create an environment that is friendly, welcoming and accessible.
Compared to other local parkruns such as Worthing Promenade, Lancing Beach Green, or Hove Promenade, Preston Park might not have the same PB potential, but what it does produce is a real feeling of satisfaction as you scale the final ascent and reach the finish line. It’s a really rewarding course that is a great go-to if you’re looking to view just how much progress you’re making as a runner.
My Experience
We arrived roughly 20 minutes before the start of the race and had plenty of room to get some warm-up stretches and the pre-run rituals out of the way. It wasn’t totally clear where the best spot to leave my backpack was, but we did find a spot near the cafe by the start line and had no problem picking it up again later on.
The race director was bang on time with the briefing, and by the time we were ready to set off, the start was decently hectic. The marshals had labelled projected times to help people work out where to stand, which was something I hadn’t seen before, but it didn’t stop the first 500m or so from being extremely congested.
Nevertheless, the course was nice and easy to follow, the volunteers were all excellent throughout, and there was no issue picking up my time at the end. There was a good, supportive atmosphere throughout, which only helped sell the feeling of accomplishment that comes with the Preston Park parkrun course even more.
Ratings
| Category | Rating |
| Beginner Friendliness | 4/5 |
| PB Potential | 2/5 |
| Scenery | 4/5 |
| Atmosphere | 4/5 |
| Facilities | 5/5 |
Wrap Up
With a congested start and a deceptively tricky final ascent to finish, Preston Park is a course that can be tough to get your timings right on. If you’re looking to break an overall PB, Hove Promenade would still be the way to go.
Nevertheless, the atmosphere of Preston Park, being nestled in the heart of one of the UK’s coolest cities alone, is reason enough to give it a go. I’m bigging this final ascent up more than I probably need to – there are bigger ascents you’ll face as a parkrun tourist, and even total beginners will have no problem scaling it.
The facilities around the course are all excellent, and with two spots in the park for a post-run coffee, there’s plenty at Preston Park to make your Saturday morning feel extremely fulfilling.
Loves Parkrun. Hates running uphill. After investing in his first pair of proper running shoes, James was inspired to found What We Running in 2026 with the aim of sharing his favourite tips, tricks, and motivational hacks needed to sustain a running journey.
