- The ballot for the 2025 Royal Parks Half Marathon has opened today (27 January).
- 16,000 expected to take part in ‘iconic’ half marathon on Sunday 12 October.
- This year’s ballot is expected to be more popular than ever after unprecedented demand for last year’s race.
- The 18th annual Royal Parks Half Marathon will start and end in Hyde Park, taking runners past London’s most famous landmarks.
- Since the race began in 2008, it’s helped to raise over £70 million for over 1,200 UK charities.
The ballot for the 18th annual Royal Parks Half Marathon officially opened today (27th January, 2025). With a record number of runners entering into the ballot for last year’s race, this year’s ballot is expected to be more popular than ever.
Taking place on Sunday 12th October, thousands of runners will have the chance to take part in ‘one of the UK’s most scenic running events’, which sees participants enjoy a 13.1-mile route through four of London’s beautiful Royal Parks: Hyde Park, The Green Park, St. James’s Park, and Kensington Gardens.
The route also takes runners past several of London’s iconic landmarks, including Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square and Royal Albert Hall.
First launched back in 2008 by The Royal Parks charity as an annual fundraising initiative to protect and improve London’s eight Royal Parks, the race is now widely perceived as one of the ‘UK’s best’ as a result of its stunning views, inviting atmosphere, and commitment to sustainability.
Royal Parks Half Marathon also prides itself on its commitment to charity, enabling charities of all sizes to be involved in the race. Since 2008, the event has raised over £70 million for over 1200 UK charities, including MacMillan Cancer Support, Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity, Mind and British Heart Foundation.
The money raised by the event also helps to preserve London’s beautiful Royal Parks, ensuring the magic of these vital green spaces remains alive. In a busy city, they are havens in which to relax, socialise, and learn about nature.
Also widely regarded as one of the UK’s most environmentally friendly major running events, the Royal Parks Half removed single-use plastic bottles in 2019. It provides fill-up stations in the event village and on the course, plus water stations with compostable cups. 2025 will also see the return of (Snow)Drop The Finisher Top, a T-shirt opt-out initiative which funds planting snowdrops and wildflowers on the half marathon route. Those who choose to receive a T-shirt will get one made from recycled material and all medals are made with FSC Certified wood.
Head of Royal Parks Half Marathon, Liz Tack, said:
“The Royal Parks Half Marathon is such a special race to so many people. The atmosphere generated throughout the parks on race-day is truly spectacular, so combining this with the stunning race-route really does make for a truly incredible race-day experience.”
“We are so proud to have raised £70 million for over 1,200 charities to date and look forward to raising even more this year through the incredible fundraising efforts of our runners.
Good luck to everyone entering this year’s ballot and we’re so excited to have you back for this year’s Royal Parks Half Marathon!”
Last year’s event attracted a stellar lineup of celebrity participants, including Radio and TV presenters Dermot O’Leary and Jenni Falconer, TV stars Kimberley Hart-Simpson and Andi Osho, Great British Bake Off winner David Atherton, and former Love Islanders Kai Fagan and Zach Noble. Details on the celebrity line-up for this year’s race will be released ahead of race-day.
To enter the 2025 ballot for the Royal Parks Half Marathon, visit the website here.
This year’s ballot opens on the 27 January and closes on 7 February.