parkrun venue review
My runner’s eye view of some of the parkruns I’ve visited, with some general information and event overview for any prospective first time visitors. All information correct at time of writing and is subject to local change.
Shrewsbury parkrun
The Quarry, Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Postcode: SY1 1JA
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Shrewsbury parkrun is one of my personal favourites, my hometown parkrun and although an ex-pat Salopian nowadays still feels like my home venue.
Taking place at the town’s centrepiece town park, ‘The Quarry, it’s a fantastic place to go for a run. Indeed, take a stroll along the wide riverside paths at any day during the week and you’ll often encounter runners incorporating some of the 29 acres of parkland into their route.
In the old town of Shrewsbury, The Quarry has been a recreational site since the 16th century. With the River Severn winding alongside the lower banks of the park, it’s a perfect location for walks, running, enjoying a picnic, fishing, and for the younger ones the opportunity to enjoy the sprawling play park and in the summer, a splash garden.
The park’s centrepiece is ‘The Dingle’ – a masterpiece floral garden that was cultivated by the renowned gardener Percy Thrower, who alongside his career as a famous TV gardener, also served as the Parks Superintendent for several decades.
For the parkrun, as the title may suggest it’s a fairly well established parkrun having taken the name of Shrewsbury, parkrun’s latter naming nomenclature being that a new parkrun should take the name of the immediate site where it is located. Alphabet hunters shouldn’t get too excited about any hypothetical renaming though, as with the site being named ‘The Quarry’ it would be a ‘T’ rather than a much rarer ‘Q’!
It’s a venue that is rewarding to run and beautiful all year round, although my personal favourite season here is summer, where the treelined paths and the surrounding woodland on the other side of the river are lush and green in colour.
Entirely on tarmac paths, it’s suitable for road shoes all year round and is mostly flat, although there is a short, sharp hill to be encountered on it’s 2.5 laps!
It’s a popular parkrun, and there’s always a healthy crowd to be found as you approach the muster point, the park bandstand located in the centre of the park next to The Dingle. Certainly no matter where you approach the venue from in it’s central town centre location, you’ll encounter plenty of people in running clothes walking or having a warm up jog to the start, adding to the anticipation.
First timers’ welcome and the briefings take place at the bandstand before participants take a short walk down to the bottom of the park and a wide path for the start. It’s worth bearing in mind that the start and finish area are located in separate areas of the Quarry, approximately 5 minute walk from each other. Depending on where you approach the parkrun may depend on where you choose to leave any jumpers or belongings, if you’re approaching from St.Julians Friars (popular car parking area) you’ll pass the finish en-route to the start, where there is some space to leave any belongings. Alternatively, the bandstand could be an option if going to/from the town centre, as you’ll need to go past the bandstand if you return back. There is sometimes a ‘tarpaulin of trust’ at the finish, but not always… and as with any parkrun venue it’s worth remembering that whilst there are plenty of volunteers around, any items left behind are done so at your own risk.
As a venue that regularly attracts over 600 participants, the start is quite a busy period, however with the wide paths the order soon settles down over the first couple of hundred metres before the first real feature of the course presents itself.
Following the first right hand corner, the central path of the Quarry presents itself, a long, gentle uphill leading towards the main entrance gates, the town war memorial standing in front of St. Chad’s church, which towers proudly over the central part of the park. It’s a wonderful sight, although the hill is enough to raise the heart rate a little as the pack settles into order!
Once the hill is crested, you join the main part of the course, running alongside the St.Chad’s church which is located just outside the park. The main layout itself takes in two and a half laps of the park perimeter, consisting of a smaller lap around the main park area, a full lap of the park, including a long, wide out and back section along the river, before a third half-lap going back along the tree-lined riverside section to the finish.
Although following the same basic route around the Quarry, the actual layout and start finish location has altered over the years as the years have gone by, the most recent being a couple of years ago, when the course was switched to run in a clockwise direction, helping to reduce bottlenecks as the finish.
The change of direction means that the course includes a fairly steep climb on each lap, staggering past the nearby swimming baths as you crest the hill! But this also has the benefit that the long, winding uphill that once started the lap is a now a gentle downhill section, that is the perfect opportunity to get some speed into the legs on the final kilometre towards the finish!
Shrewsbury parkrun is an ideal location to make a day visit and enjoy the fine medieval town, recently gaining praise in the national media for its wide array of independent shops and eateries.
Breakfast has plenty of options, there are two Wetherspoons pubs nearby for a standard cooked breakfast, whilst for something more exquisite, it’s worth wandering down to the nearby Market Hall and checking out ‘The Birds Nest’ café, with a good selection of cooked breakfast and coffee in a vibrant ‘street food’ setting. Although, be warned you may have to wait a few minutes for a table as it’s a popular choice!
The narrow medieval streets are a treasure trove for the visitor, whilst a little closer to the parkrun venue, the aforementioned St.Chad’s church has a rather unique headstone in the middle of the churchyard.
Back in 1984, Shrewsbury was used as the setting for Dickensian London, for the filming of the American CBS network’s release of the Dickens novel ‘A Christmas Carol’, widely regarded by critics as one of the best film adaptations released.
Many of the town’s streets feature throughout the film, and for the ‘Christmas Future’ scene, George C.Scott (who plays Ebenezer Scrooge) wipes away the snow on a headstone to reveal his own grave. This headstone, reconstituted from an ancient headstone in St.Chad’s churchyard, remains in place today and in its own way serves as a little reminder of Shrewsbury’s more modern history.
Amongst other sights, the Shrewsbury Castle is a scenic visiting point, whilst it’s also worth checking out School Gardens opposite, the site of the town library. Centuries ago this was the site of Shrewsbury School, where Charles Darwin was amongst the most famous alumni. And if you want something to eat or drink, the artisan pizza / pasta parlour ‘Dough & Oil’ is great for a sport of lunch, or the next door ‘Lucky Shot’ pub, with a great range of food available. If you’re in the Lucky Shot it’s well worth checking out the Boddingtons on draft, it’s the rare JW Lees version of the 90s cultural icon, very faithful to the original, and rarely available outside of it’s home in Manchester. I’m told people travel great distances to sample it!
Speaking of drinking establishments, I’d recommend ‘The Salopian’ on the edge of the town centre… for real ale enthusiasts it’s a CAMRA haunt, and along with sister pub ‘The Market Hall Tavern’ in the town centre, it’s one of the few places that have Rattler cider on tap outside of its native Cornwall!
For pub enthusiasts this is really scratching the surface as there’s a whole array of pubs around the town for different tastes including craft bars like Tap and Can, along with centuries old pubs like The Nag’s Head on Wyle Cop.
In summer, The Quarry comes alive with fairs and festivals, and it’s not uncommon to be sharing the park with some of these during the summer. The park was the venue for the ‘Shrewsbury Flower Show’ which took place in mid-August for over a century and at one stage was the nation’s biggest flower show outside of London. Sadly, economic pressures have led to its cancellation over the last two years, and at the time of writing (2026) it seems unclear if it will return. Whilst the Flower Show has wilted, the park still sees music and food festivals take place, along with a popular Oktoberfest. It’s worth bearing in mind that some of the larger festivals lead to the cancellation of the parkrun, although these dates will be known well in advance. Likewise, the venue’s proximity to the River Severn means that it can be prone to flooding after periods of heavy rainfall, which in extreme cases can render most of the course under several feet of water! But again, if the flooding is that severe, it will generally be known in advance if the event will be cancelled.
If you’re after a scenic, tarmac based parkrun and a starting point for a day of exploration, Shrewsbury is certainly one to consider!
VENUE INFO
Location: The Quarry, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY1 1JG
Surface: Tarmac paths, most flat but includes three climbs and two decents on the route
Shoes: Road
Dogs allowed: Yes
Buggies allowed: Yes
Parking: Closest is at St.Julian’s Friars (SY1 1XL). Very close to the finish, approx 5 minute walk to the start. Open 24 hrs, chargeable 8am-6pm at linear charge of £1.40 per hour (minimum charge 1 hour). Plentiful car parking in the town centre, although bear in mind this can be expensive. Frankwell car park (SY3 3HQ) is about the cheapest public car park for the town centre, on edge of the town centre, approx. 10 minute walk to parkrun start. 24 hour parking, linear charge of £1.20 per hour (8am – 6pm).
Free parking outside of the river loop is available in the Coleham district (1 hour) or Porthill district (2 hours). Both approx. 10 minute walk to parkrun start.
Toilets: Available at the Victoria Avenue entrance to the Quarry, next to the playpark, or near the main entrance gates opposite St.Chad’s Church, turning right as you enter towards the town swimming baths. If you’re planning to enter the park via St.Julians Friars, bear in mind these toilets are on the opposite side of the park and some distance away, although there’s a nearby Asda supermarket which could be visited en-route.
Public Transport: Shrewsbury bus station is approx. 15 minute walk to parkrun start. Park and Ride service available from the Harlescott and Oxon suburban districts. If using the bus, look to see if there are any stops by Claremont / Market Hall – this is very close to the Quarry.
Shrewsbury railway station is approximately 15-20 minute walk to parkrun start.
Food / Drink: Numerous in the town centre. Two Wetherspoon pubs near the quarry, ‘Stop’ coffee shop in St.Julians Friars is the organisers choice, several coffee shops in the nearby Coleham district.
Shrewsbury Market Hall has the highly recommended ‘Bird’s Nest Café’ whilst opposite the market entrance hall in Claremont, the ‘Ottolive Bakehouse’ is a popular bakery. Town Centre has numerous coffee shops and bakeries to discover, from independent to the popular chain choices.
Accommodation: Shrewsbury Hotel (Wetherspoons) is approx. 10 minutes from the parkrun start, Premier Inn on Smithfield Road isn’t much further. Travelodge branches on the outskirts of town at Battlefield and Bayston Hill (‘Dobbies Roundabout’). Several independent hotels / B&Bs in the town centre.
Chris Czora 
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