GYMWhich London parks have the least crime around them? 30 running spots ranked
Most of us pick a running route on habit. I pulled six months of police data for 30 of London's favourite running spots and counted everything recorded within a mile of each one. Richmond Park had 69 crimes in six months. South Bank (Thames Path) had 22,451.
The numbers, quietest first
| # | Running spot | All street crime, 6 months | Violent or robbery |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richmond Park | 69 | 32 |
| 2 | Bushy Park | 433 | 122 |
| 3 | Wimbledon Common | 745 | 274 |
| 4 | Dulwich Park | 1,734 | 472 |
| 5 | Hampstead Heath | 2,795 | 776 |
| 6 | Lee Valley (Springfield Park) | 3,413 | 1,024 |
| 7 | Crystal Palace Park | 3,547 | 1,190 |
| 8 | Greenwich Park | 3,708 | 1,124 |
| 9 | Alexandra Palace | 4,034 | 1,184 |
| 10 | Tooting Common | 4,269 | 1,314 |
| 11 | Walthamstow Wetlands | 4,550 | 1,344 |
| 12 | Wandsworth Common | 4,561 | 1,208 |
| 13 | Hackney Marshes | 4,819 | 1,388 |
| 14 | Peckham Rye Park | 4,841 | 1,254 |
| 15 | Southwark Park | 5,454 | 1,593 |
| 16 | Battersea Park | 5,710 | 1,430 |
| 17 | Ravenscourt Park | 6,720 | 1,815 |
| 18 | Brockwell Park | 6,751 | 1,843 |
| 19 | Clapham Common | 6,753 | 1,694 |
| 20 | Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park | 7,810 | 1,809 |
| 21 | Finsbury Park | 8,274 | 2,265 |
| 22 | Victoria Park | 8,642 | 2,573 |
| 23 | Kensington Gardens | 8,993 | 1,872 |
| 24 | Regent's Park | 9,834 | 2,256 |
| 25 | Highbury Fields | 10,223 | 2,669 |
| 26 | Burgess Park | 10,655 | 3,059 |
| 27 | Mile End Park | 10,727 | 3,159 |
| 28 | Hyde Park | 11,661 | 2,076 |
| 29 | Regent’s Canal, Islington | 12,868 | 3,107 |
| 30 | South Bank (Thames Path) | 22,451 | 4,486 |
All crime the police recorded within a mile of each spot, March 2026 to August 2026, and the part of it recorded as violent crime, robbery or possession of weapons. Source: data.police.uk. Counted on 2026-10-18.
How to read this
- A mile around a park is mostly streets, not the park. The South Bank and Hyde Park sit in the busiest part of the country, so their counts are huge. Richmond Park is surrounded by houses and golf courses.
- Busy is not the same as dangerous. Most of what is recorded in central London is shoplifting, theft from the person and antisocial behaviour. The violent and robbery column is the one to look at for a run after dark.
- Quiet can cut both ways. Fewer crimes also means fewer people around if something happens. Lit paths with other runners on them are the sweet spot.
- Only reported crime, over six months, within a mile. It is a guide to how aware to be, not a verdict on any park.
Running after dark in London
- Stick to lit paths and the roads with shops and buses on them. Cut-throughs and towpaths are where the problems happen.
- Run against the flow of people so you can see what is coming, and keep one earphone out.
- Tell someone your route and roughly when you are back, or share your live location with them.
- If an area feels off, it probably is. Turn round. A shorter run is still a run.
Let the app plan the route
GYM: Getting You Moving plans Safe Routes from this same police data. Type a postcode or pick a 3, 5 or 10 km loop and it steers you away from the worst streets and alleyways, prefers well lit roads and busy streets with shops after dark, and gives you a safety score for where you are standing with Check your area. One tap on the Emergency Beacon shares your live location with up to five friends.
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Common questions
Which London park has the least crime around it?
Of the 30 running spots counted here, Richmond Park had the least crime recorded within a mile over six months, followed by Bushy Park and Wimbledon Common. Outer London parks surrounded by housing come out quietest.
Is Hyde Park safe to run in at night?
Hyde Park sits in one of the busiest parts of the country, so a mile around it records a lot of crime, most of it theft and antisocial behaviour on the surrounding streets. Inside the park, stick to the lit paths near the Serpentine and the main roads, and run when other people are about.
Where does the data come from?
From data.police.uk, the official open feed of crime recorded by police forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The counts are all crimes within one mile of each spot over six months, with violent crime, robbery and possession of weapons shown separately.
How do Safe Routes in the app work?
You type a postcode or choose a 3, 5 or 10 km loop. The app plans a route using the same police data, avoiding the worst streets and alleyways and preferring lit, busy roads after dark. Check your area gives a safety score for where you are, and the Emergency Beacon shares your live location with up to five friends. It is in GYM: Getting You Moving on iPhone and Android.