I know that this is a rather old topic now, but here's my thoughts: I've run the Southampton Parkrun ten times now and it's fantastic. Very well-organised and a lovely course (round the Common). The organisers are always trying to improve things - the most recent example is ensuring that time-markers are used at the start (eg 20-25 mins; 25-30 mins). This helps to avoid everyone bunching up at the start.

I suspect that a few dog-owners and other early morning walkers do complain (or at least grumble to themselves!), but Southampton Parkrun does everything it can to cause as little disruption as possible. And hundreds of people running every week can't be wrong!

Ran the Bedfont Lakes parkrun in Middlesex, and very impressed. Two laps of dry trails, slightly undulating first half and flat second half of each lap. Twisty but with no very tight turns so pretty quick on a good day. Well organised and signed. Will do that one again, highly recommended. Didn't quite lap the girl pulling the tyre!

Fantastic! It's now in the race diary (another parkrun i missed!). i'm not suprised you get a load of visitors as its a wonderfully historic and beautiful  town. In fact, it's my Wifes' favourite place to visit in this country so highly recommened for eating, drinking and shopping. And its in a lovely area for running also.

The Harrogate parkrun started in January and we have had all sorts of weather to contend with and thankfully now having settled weather and less mud and wind. its flat but can be muddy. This week there were 186 happy smiling people all ages all abilities. I have gone from being a non runner to now looking forward to parkrun each week and glad its in my life. They are a very friendly bunch of people and we always have a lot of visiting people as they know Harrogate is such a lovely part of North Yorkshire and is run on the Stray which is protected grassland near the town centre.

Well there is lot of information, all positive, built up on this topic. I'll try and correlate it all and put out some sort of list of personal takes on each parkrun mentioned as its always better to have a personal report of someone who has actually run them. Its a bit of a moveable feast as there seems to be a new one each week, but i'll see what i can do. 

Meantime I've put on our race finder all the parkruns i can find especially those mentioned here. If you have a gps of the route it would be helpful to share it if not already shared or on the race page.

Special mentions have to go to recent posts where Eastbourne looks fun, thanks Martin, and York looks like potentially the fastest ever, like running round a racetrack...oh, see what i did there :)

Well, Andy, it would seem not a single bad experience of parkrun - all very positive comments... I can only assume that the Cannon Hill Park dog-walkers don't use this particular forum to vent their spleens;)

Since my early posts on this thread I've added these parkruns to my list:

Colwick (Nottingham), a lovely setting near Colwick Hall and the river Trent,

Elliðaárdalur (Reykjavik), another lovely setting within the city by a Salmon-fishing river,

York, not quite so picturesque (sorry Helen!), but potentially VERY quick, provided it's not windy, and

Walsall, would you believe another lovely setting? It'll be even nicer when the work in the arboretum is finished and the course changes.

oops dont know what happened there!

Dont know if thwe Oxford and Abingdon parkruns have had a mention yet, i havent got through all the posts yet!

Oxford is great they have 2 different routes depending on the time of year, the winter one does 3 reduced laps with a short rise and the summer one is 2 longer laps with the short rise turning into a much longer rise!

Abingdon is a fantastic route almost completely flat but you do have to watch out for the bit that gets extremely close to the river! its also a 2 lapper.

I have done both about 3 times each and for speed Abingdon is best but unfortunately Oxford is closer to me so i go there if/when i can.

Helen, I love you!

It's great that you're prepared to do this even though you're quite new to running. I presume parkrun's 'Man in The North', Tom Williams, is involved... if not I imagine he will be!

I had wondered if Rowntrees Park might work? (I even worked out a route a while ago, including Millenium Bridge, a three lapper).

Best of luck, anyway - I'll definitely be there the first time I'm up north after it starts!

If you're ever in the West Midlands give me a shout and I'll introduce you to the folks at Cannon Hill parkrun.

If I remember correctly there were several items of discarded clothing lying around when I left. I presume they were recovered later!

Just be thankful they don't run the other way round the course - up the side of Hill 60. I was at the XC Nationals last year, which went up the muddy bit.