I’m heading to London for a few days next week and staying in the Piccadilly (sp?) area. Does anyone know a good place to run around there?
Hyde Park or any of the royal parks would be good during daylight but exercise the same caution you would in any city park around the world if you are running on your own.
North up Regent Street to Oxford Circus.
Straight on at this crossroads and up Portland Place to the ‘horseshoe’, where bear to the right and cross Marylebone Road and go straight on into Regent’s Park.
Then either run around inside the Park (there’s a bit of a dirt trail where all the ‘serious’ runners run that hugs the inside of the exterior hedge, or you can do a 2.7mile TT round the outside).
Alternatively, run west down Picadilly to Hyde Park Corner and run round Hyde Park (a little over 4 miles round IRRC) and St James Park if you want.
Also contact Serpentine Runners (www.serpentine.org.uk) for more details.
thanks so much, this is great!
I’ve run a ton in London when my wife lived there. The Serpies have a great Sat morning run leaving from Speakers Corner in Hyde park. Goes through Green and James park. If you are running from Piccadilly run early as it gets crowded on the side walks quickly, especially this time of year. There are a couple of threads in the archives about running in London if you search, all with good ideas.
I used to do pre-marathon long runs from home (kingston) in to the office near Oxford Circus by running along the Thames to Hammersmith, then across the bridge and up Kensington High Street to Hyde Park, across the Park to HPC, up Picadilly to the Circus and then up Regent Street to the office.
No wonder I used to be a better runner!
North up Regent Street to Oxford Circus.
Straight on at this crossroads and up Portland Place to the ‘horseshoe’, where bear to the right and cross Marylebone Road and go straight on into Regent’s Park.
Then either run around inside the Park (there’s a bit of a dirt trail where all the ‘serious’ runners run that hugs the inside of the exterior hedge, or you can do a 2.7mile TT round the outside).
Alternatively, run west down Picadilly to Hyde Park Corner and run round Hyde Park (a little over 4 miles round IRRC) and St James Park if you want.
Also contact Serpentine Runners (www.serpentine.org.uk) for more details.
My favourite is a figure of eight around Hyde Park, Green Park and St James Park (7 point something miles I think). Serpentine actually have some maps of routes on their site - http://www.serpentine.org.uk/routes/
For the love of God, whatever you do watch out for those warewolves.
In addition to the other suggestions, if you are running around in Regents Park there is a nice canal on the north end that goes past the zoo and keeps heading on east to Camden that I have fond memories of running on. Lucky you. Enjoy.
And per Picasso_Bull’s suggestion, don’t forget to dine in Chinatown at Lee Ho Fook’s. 
Bull, that was an American Werewolf in London, so Liz would be the most likely candidate!
Bull, that was an American Werewolf in London, so Liz would be the most likely candidate!
No wonder you want to keep us bloody americans out of your country.
All I know is it’s not safe to go out at night in London. Plus, you people still haven’t caught that Jack-the-Ripper fellow. Isn’t he still at large?
Bull by name… 
Bull by name…
I’d take offense to that if I knew what the hell you meant.
Bul by name, Bull by nature. Get it now? I can spell it slowly if you wish
There seems to be some missinformation. If you are staying in/at Piccadilly, St James Park is right there, and in the NW corner, across Piccadilly again in Hyde Park and the Serpentine…for a good distance you will have to repeat some laps.
In addition you can run down The Haymarket to Northumberland Avenue and hit the Embankment, run either way, on eitherside of the Thames…