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New data reveals the best cities for running based on events, trails, and more

Which cities have the most running trails, events, parks, and clubs?

By Steph Green Published February 24, 2025

man running marathon — Gesel / Pexels

Some cities have more options for runners compared to others when it comes to trails, events, and clubs. I can choose from plenty of picturesque and lengthy running trails in my area. My favorite trails are canopied with vibrant maple trees and large oak trees draping sun-speckled Spanish moss. I haven’t yet tried to join a running club, but a quick search showed me I have several options, including one in my local city that’s been active for decades. Recent data revealed more people are searching for ‘running clubs’ and training for marathons. The study also crowned the best cities for running.

The best cities for running in 2025

man running through trees on path wearing red jacket — Arek Adeoye / Unsplash

A new study by Compare The Market AU ranked 50 cities to determine the ‘best cities’ for running. The study involved a recent analysis of a number of factors, including:

Air quality
The number of running trails
The safety score
Average rainfall
Average annual hours of sun
The number of parks and running events

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Here are the interesting results and the top 10 cities for running based on the recent data:

London, U.K.
New York City, U.S.
Sydney, Australia
Melbourne, Australia
Los Angeles, U.S.
Perth, Australia,
Madrid, Spain
Valencia, Spain
Canberra, Australia
Stockholm, Sweden

London takes the lead

London, England — Benjamin Davies / Unsplash

Here are the details:

City	Running Events	Running Club SV	Running Trails	Air Quality	Safety Score	No. of Parks	Avg. Rainfall (mm)	Total Score (Max 100)
London, UK	58	22,340	630	8.4	45.02	230	58	57.30
New York City, US	246	17,380	91	11.6	49.12	351	95	55.74
Sydney, Australia	15	6,150	545	5	65.83	114	76	53.94
Melbourne, Australia	4	4,850	542	4.4	56.18	146	54	50.97
Los Angeles, US	74	7,860	117	9.5	46.45	125	30	47.90
Perth, Australia	7	4,160	223	5.7	58.39	114	49	47.69
Madrid, Spain	5	4,010	70	9	71.98	70	35	47.04
Valencia, Spain	4	1,570	180	8.7	67.32	23	36	46.04
Canberra, Australia	0	1,130	200	3.8	73.21	26	49	44.94
Stockholm, Sweden	13	1,470	513	5.4	54.03	32	52	43.33

London takes the lead with 230 parks, 630 running trails, and 58 annual running events, including the London Marathon. Growing up in Wales and England, I remember taking the train to London for days out, and I would always see people running and jogging in different parts of the city. We also have iconic, scenic places like Hyde Park.

New York New York

New York City — Davidvives90 / Pixabay

New York City came in second with 246 annual running events, which is more than any other city. The city that never sleeps also has 351 parks, 91 running trails to choose from, and landmarks like Central Park.

Steph Green (Steph Zee) is a singer-songwriter and professional writer with over 12 years of experience in healthcare and…

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