Is Hanley parkrun good for beginners?

Yes with some awareness. Hanley is deceptively hilly for a park course and will find out tired legs. The rolling terrain across two and a half laps can be harder than it looks on paper. That said the community is welcoming and the course is entirely on tarmac and gravel paths.

Is Hanley parkrun hilly?

Yes, deceptively so. Hanley has approximately 55 metres of elevation across two and a half laps of a Victorian park. There are no severe single climbs but the rolling nature means you never fully recover between rises. It will find you out on tired legs.

How do I get to Hanley parkrun by public transport?

Hanley Park is around 10 minutes walk from Stoke-on-Trent railway station. Turn left out of the station onto College Road and the park is a short walk along on your left. Bus services 21, 21A, 23, 23A, 25 and 101 also stop nearby.

Where do I park at Hanley parkrun?

Street parking on College Road and surrounding streets. There is no dedicated car park. The park is well connected by bus and train so public transport is often the easier option.

Hanley parkrun | Course Guide, Terrain and Tips

Photos

Photos by Shelley Huglin

Every photo on this page was taken by Shelley Huglin and kindly shared with permission. Thank you, Shelley.

The honest version

Hanley parkrun takes place in Hanley Park, a grade II listed Victorian heritage park close to Stoke-on-Trent city centre and railway station. The course is two and a half laps on tarmac and gravel paths. It sounds manageable on paper. In practice it is one of the hillier parkruns in Staffordshire and will find out tired legs quickly.

The park itself received a Heritage Lottery Fund restoration in 2015 and is well maintained with a lake, fountains, tennis courts and a pavilion. It is a genuinely attractive setting for a parkrun, even when the hills are making you regret your life choices.

The start

The start is in the park, just off Cleveland Road. The course runs two and a half laps, which means you finish at a different point to where you started. Pay attention at the briefing to understand where the finish is so you do not run past it on your final half lap.

The pavilion and clock tower in Hanley Park, with a volunteer giving the run briefing — The pavilion, where the briefing happens. Photo by Shelley Huglin.

Got a target time? Get your splits for Hanley, adjusted for this course.

Kilometre by kilometre

Km 1
First half lap, deceptively welcoming
The opening section gives little away. The park feels pleasant and the pace feels comfortable. Do not be lulled into going out too fast.
Km 2
The hills arrive
The course elevation becomes apparent here. There are no single brutal climbs but the rolling nature of the park means you never fully recover before the next rise. Almost entirely tarmac with some gravel sections.
Km 3
Second lap, the honest reckoning
The second lap covers the same ground again. By this point you know exactly where the hills are, which is both useful for pacing and psychologically challenging. This is where the course earns its reputation.
Km 4
Third half lap
The final half lap covers only part of the full loop to bring you to the finish. The hills on tired legs in the final kilometre are where Hanley separates itself from flatter courses nearby.
Km 5
Finish
The finish is at a different location to the start. Follow the marshals carefully in the final section to make sure you are heading to the correct finish funnel.

A wide tarmac path between open grass in Hanley Park — Wide tarmac paths through open parkland. Photo by Shelley Huglin.

Grassy banks and mature trees on a rise in Hanley Park — Those grassy rises are why the course feels hillier than it looks. Photo by Shelley Huglin.

Elevation profile: approximately 55m total gain

Course statistics

Average finish times, course records and full results are published and updated weekly by parkrun.

View on parkrun →

What to wear on your feet

Shoe recommendation by conditions

Dry

Road shoes throughout. The course is almost entirely tarmac and gravel paths with no significant trail sections. Road shoes will handle every condition the course throws at you in the dry.

Wet

Road shoes still work in the wet. Some gravel sections can get muddy after heavy rain but not enough to warrant trail shoes. Road shoes with a reasonable grip are fine year round.

The Caldon Canal and towpath running through Hanley Park — The Caldon Canal runs right through the park. Photo by Shelley Huglin.

Getting there and parking

Hanley Park is close to Stoke-on-Trent railway station, approximately 10 minutes walk. Turn left out of the station and take the first right onto College Road. The park is a few hundred metres along on your left. This is one of the best-connected parkruns in Staffordshire by public transport.

By bus, the 25 service runs between Newcastle and Hanley bus stations with stops on College Road near the park. The 23, 23A, 21, 21A and 101 also serve nearby stops. If driving, street parking is available on College Road and surrounding streets. There is no dedicated car park.

Practicalities

Stoke FC IT (Stoke Fit) regularly organise pacers and a café at the event. The pavilion café is open before and after the run on many Saturdays. Toilets are available in the park.

Hanley has one of the most reliable attendance records of any parkrun in the area, rarely cancelling. This is partly due to the strong volunteer community and the sheltered nature of the park course.

The lake in Hanley Park framed by willow trees on a sunny autumn morning — The lake on a crisp autumn morning. Photo by Shelley Huglin.

Visiting Hanley parkrun for the weekend

Stoke-on-Trent station is a short walk from Hanley Park, which makes this one of the easiest parkruns in Stoke to reach by train.

If you're travelling in, here's what else is worth your time nearby:

The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Hanley has a Spitfire and part of the Staffordshire Hoard, and it's free.
Emma Bridgewater's factory is in Hanley if you want to see pottery being made.
Stoke has plenty more parkruns. Trentham Gardens, The Wammy and Vale Park are all close.

Is it a good PB course?

It depends entirely on your legs. If you arrive fresh and are comfortable running on rolling terrain, Hanley can produce a decent time. The average finish time of around 29 minutes 36 seconds is one of the lowest in the county, suggesting the field is competitive and the course is not as slow as the hills might imply.

If you arrive on tired legs from other training or a long week, the hills will expose you quickly. Save Hanley for a day when you are feeling strong. On those days it can surprise you.

Know this course well?

If you run here regularly and want to share what you know, we would love to hear from you. Guides like this one are written by runners, for runners.

Submit a course guide

SaturdayOff verdict

Terrain

Tarmac and gravel

Elevation

55m, deceptively hilly

Difficulty

3 out of 5

PB potential

Good on fresh legs

Suitable for beginners

Yes, with awareness

Dogs welcome

Yes, on leads

Pushchair friendly

With effort

Nearest café

Pavilion café, most Saturdays

Guide written from personal experience at Hanley parkrun.

Written by Azeem Ahmad

Last updated June 2026.

Common questions

Is Hanley parkrun good for beginners?: Yes with some awareness. Hanley is deceptively hilly and will find out tired legs. That said the community is welcoming and the course is entirely on tarmac and gravel paths.
What shoes should I wear at Hanley parkrun?: Road shoes throughout. The course is almost entirely tarmac and gravel paths with no significant trail sections.
Is Hanley parkrun hilly?: Yes, deceptively so. Approximately 55 metres of elevation across two and a half laps of a Victorian park. Rolling terrain that never fully lets you recover.
How do I get to Hanley parkrun by public transport?: Around 10 minutes walk from Stoke-on-Trent railway station. Bus services 21, 21A, 23, 23A, 25 and 101 also stop nearby.
Where do I park at Hanley parkrun?: Street parking on College Road and surrounding streets. No dedicated car park. Public transport is often the easier option.

Hanley