Danson Park Run, London (2.6 km)
A circular run through Danson Park in Bexley — 2.6 km along the lake shore and up past Danson House, climbing about 25 metres.
· 1 min read
Danson Park is a big council park between Welling and Bexleyheath in south-east London, and this 2.6 km run laps the park rather than the lake. The water is alongside you for about 500 metres, and then Danson Park climbs away from it towards Danson House. It is gentler than Crystal Palace Park and shorter than Greenwich Park, which makes it a fair run to build back up on.
The Danson Park loop
Danson Park runs in either direction; the track here goes anticlockwise from the western side.
Route
England - London - Danson Park
- Distance
- 2.6 km
- Ascent
- 25 m
- Max altitude
- 52 m
Works in Komoot, AllTrails, Garmin & most hiking apps.
- Start and finish: the western side of Danson Park
- Distance: About 2.6 km (1.6 miles)
- Ascent: Roughly 25 metres, in a single climb
- Terrain: Paved and gravel park paths, easy underfoot
The first kilometre drops gently to the lake and follows the shore round to the boathouse, where the council hires out rowing boats and pedalos and runs its sailing and kayaking sessions. Mute swans and great crested grebes both use the water, and the geese hold the bank.
Danson House
The climb starts at the boathouse and lasts most of a kilometre, gaining the eighteen metres between the lake and the high ground on the north side of Danson Park. Danson House stands near the crest: a Palladian villa built in the 1760s, Grade I listed, which came to the council with the park in 1924 and was reopened by the Queen in 2005. Danson Park opened to the public the year after that sale. Past the house the path keeps rising for another 400 metres, then drops back to the finish.
Running it
Danson Park suits repeats. One lap barely counts, three make a steady 8 km, and the climb lands in the same place each time, so it is easy to pace. Navigation asks nothing of you — the perimeter path closes itself.
Expect dog walkers and families on the paths, and boats out on the lake. Danson Park is short enough that the second lap costs about what the first one did.