Royal Parks Half Marathon
About this event
This scenic event is certainly a crowd favourite on the annual calendar. The pleasant course makes its way through four Royal Parks, with supporters cheering you past landmarks including Buckingham Palace. Come for the technical t-shirt (which you can wear during the race) and unique wooden medal.
Raceday details
Your organiser
We work with leading brands, engaging their audiences through active experiences. Providing a platform for meaningful real-life connections we create and deliver campaigns with guaranteed results.
From insight-led big ideas to strategy to execution, with over 25 years’ experience, we are the agency of the Active World.
Our work with global brands such as Nike, J.P.Morgan, Royal Bank of Canada and ESPN Digital allows us to create and deliver campaigns around the world.
How to enter
What's included:
- Free tech t-shirt made from bamboo and recycled bottles
- Finisher's medal crafted from FSC certified beech wood
- Course marshalled
- Mile markers
- Refreshment stations
- Chip timed
- Post run food & fitness festival
- Race pacers
- Winners prizes
Half Marathon
Run 13.1mi
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What people think
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Royal Parks Half finish?
At the South edge of Hyde Park, in front of the Hyde Park Barracks. The Knightsbridge tube station is within a 5 minutes walk.… read moreHow do I sign up for the Royal Parks Half?
To sign up for the Royal Parks Half you need to enter a ballot. The ballot normally opens in late January.… read moreHow long should I train for the Royal Parks Half?
If you're starting from a position where you are not running regularly, you might want 12 weeks of dedicated training in the run up to your half marathon. If you are already in the habit of running, an 8 week plan might be appropriate, and experienced runners may only require 6 weeks to get race ready. Check out our 8 week training plan: https://d178fu9mi2dmkb.cloudfront.net/resources/LDT_HalfMarathon_TrainingPlan.pdf… read moreYou may also like
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Route description
Route description
The course will continue to showcase the four Royal Parks (Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, St James’s Park, and The Green Park) and go past some of the capital’s most historic landmarks including Buckingham Palace, Horse Guards Parade and the Royal Albert Hall. Although undulating in parts, the course is not hilly and is great for either experienced or first time half marathon runners.
This event is a road race designed for runners, not walkers. This is because the organiser are only able to close the roads in Westminster, outside the Parks, for a limited time. They will open to traffic 2.5 hours after the start of the race, after which time participants who have not yet passed this point (6 miles in) will be asked to move on to the pavements, use pedestrian crossing points and then re-join the race route within Hyde Park.
Schedule
07:30 Baggage and festival area open
09:00 Half Marathon starts
16:00 Event village closes
It is recommended that all participants arrive with plenty of time to spare, so they can drop off any baggage, make use of the facilities and prepare themselves for running. The baggage area will be open from 7.30am and is located within the Food & Fitness Festival.
A baggage facility will be available for all half marathon participants. Please do not leave any valuables with your baggage – the race organisers cannot accept any responsibility for the security of these items.
There is no registration on the day of the race. Please wear your numbered race bib with timing chip, on the front of your shirt.
The Food & Fitness Festival
The Half Marathon doesn’t end with the run. The RPH want to make sure you and your family and friends enjoy your whole day.
At the Food & Fitness Festival there is a wide range of fun sporting and creative activities for the whole family to try, a tempting food market, live music and entertainment.
Food Market
With a range of hot food, drinks and sampling stalls, the Food Market is a delightful place to spend a couple of hours replenishing your energy, or for your supporters to grab an early Sunday coffee.
Entertainment
Festival visitors will be treated to live music and entertainment from our main stage, including a marching band, a rock choir and street band, amongst many more!
Activities
On race day, there will be a wide variety of fun sporting activities for you and your family to ‘have a go’ at and enjoy. We've planned a fun-packed programme of activities with our event partners and charities to make sure everyone has a brilliant time on race day.
Merchandise
There will be a range of official race merchandise on sale in our shop. Don’t forget to have a browse and pick up some new kit before you head off.
Don’t fancy running but would still like to be a part of the magnificent Royal Parks Half Marathon? Why not become one of the Race Makers?
There are numerous roles that need filling by enthusiastic volunteers looking to be part of the race day experience. Events on this scale simply can’t take place without the hard work of generous volunteers like you.
Volunteer roles range from giving our runners water along the route to working at the finish area putting medals round the triumphant runners’ necks. Race Makers are a vital part of the day.
All race makers will receive a full briefing, a t-shirt and either breakfast and/or lunch pack depending on the hours you’re working, plus a huge thank you from us and the sense of satisfaction that being involved in an event like this brings.
If you would like to volunteer, please email [email protected] for further details or to request a registration form.
Hyde Park, London, UK
Get directionsTube:
Hyde Park Corner tube (Piccadilly Line) – enter the park through Queen Elizabeth Gate and continue down Rotten Row to the Festival area 15 minute walk
Knightsbridge tube (Piccadilly Line) – enter the park through Prince of Wales Gate, cross over South Carriage Drive at a suitable crossing point and you will be able to see the festival area 12 minute walk
From Marble Arch tube (Central Line) – enter the park through Cumberland Gate and walk south towards the Serpentine Bar and Kitchen Cafe. Take the path to the left of the Café around the Serpentine and head south to Rotten Row and walk towards the festival 25 minute walk
From Lancaster Gate tube (Central Line) – enter the park through Victoria Gate and walk south down West Carriage Drive. Cross over the Serpentine and head south to Rotten Row. Turn left onto Rotten Row and walk towards the Festival area 25 minute walk.
Bus
North London: C2, 6, 7, 10, 16, 19, 23, 36, 52, 73, 82, 98, 113, 274, 390, 414
South London: 2, 36, 137, 148, 159, 436
West London: 9, 10, 14, 19, 22, 52, 74, 94, 148, 414
East London: 8, 15, 23, 30, 38, 274
Car:
It is strongly recommended that visitors avoid coming by car as there is no designated parking and many roads will be closed before, during and after the race.
For more information on how to get to Hyde Park and for details of any engineering works that may affect the above routes, call Transport For London on 0207 222 1234 or you can find help to plan your route on the TFL website http://www.tfl.gov.uk/.
Route description
Route description
The course will continue to showcase the four Royal Parks (Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, St James’s Park, and The Green Park) and go past some of the capital’s most historic landmarks including Buckingham Palace, Horse Guards Parade and the Royal Albert Hall. Although undulating in parts, the course is not hilly and is great for either experienced or first time half marathon runners.
This event is a road race designed for runners, not walkers. This is because the organiser are only able to close the roads in Westminster, outside the Parks, for a limited time. They will open to traffic 2.5 hours after the start of the race, after which time participants who have not yet passed this point (6 miles in) will be asked to move on to the pavements, use pedestrian crossing points and then re-join the race route within Hyde Park.
Schedule
07:30 Baggage and festival area open
09:00 Half Marathon starts
16:00 Event village closes
It is recommended that all participants arrive with plenty of time to spare, so they can drop off any baggage, make use of the facilities and prepare themselves for running. The baggage area will be open from 7.30am and is located within the Food & Fitness Festival.
A baggage facility will be available for all half marathon participants. Please do not leave any valuables with your baggage – the race organisers cannot accept any responsibility for the security of these items.
There is no registration on the day of the race. Please wear your numbered race bib with timing chip, on the front of your shirt.
The Food & Fitness Festival
The Half Marathon doesn’t end with the run. The RPH want to make sure you and your family and friends enjoy your whole day.
At the Food & Fitness Festival there is a wide range of fun sporting and creative activities for the whole family to try, a tempting food market, live music and entertainment.
Food Market
With a range of hot food, drinks and sampling stalls, the Food Market is a delightful place to spend a couple of hours replenishing your energy, or for your supporters to grab an early Sunday coffee.
Entertainment
Festival visitors will be treated to live music and entertainment from our main stage, including a marching band, a rock choir and street band, amongst many more!
Activities
On race day, there will be a wide variety of fun sporting activities for you and your family to ‘have a go’ at and enjoy. We've planned a fun-packed programme of activities with our event partners and charities to make sure everyone has a brilliant time on race day.
Merchandise
There will be a range of official race merchandise on sale in our shop. Don’t forget to have a browse and pick up some new kit before you head off.
Don’t fancy running but would still like to be a part of the magnificent Royal Parks Half Marathon? Why not become one of the Race Makers?
There are numerous roles that need filling by enthusiastic volunteers looking to be part of the race day experience. Events on this scale simply can’t take place without the hard work of generous volunteers like you.
Volunteer roles range from giving our runners water along the route to working at the finish area putting medals round the triumphant runners’ necks. Race Makers are a vital part of the day.
All race makers will receive a full briefing, a t-shirt and either breakfast and/or lunch pack depending on the hours you’re working, plus a huge thank you from us and the sense of satisfaction that being involved in an event like this brings.
If you would like to volunteer, please email [email protected] for further details or to request a registration form.
Hyde Park, London, UK
Get directionsTube:
Hyde Park Corner tube (Piccadilly Line) – enter the park through Queen Elizabeth Gate and continue down Rotten Row to the Festival area 15 minute walk
Knightsbridge tube (Piccadilly Line) – enter the park through Prince of Wales Gate, cross over South Carriage Drive at a suitable crossing point and you will be able to see the festival area 12 minute walk
From Marble Arch tube (Central Line) – enter the park through Cumberland Gate and walk south towards the Serpentine Bar and Kitchen Cafe. Take the path to the left of the Café around the Serpentine and head south to Rotten Row and walk towards the festival 25 minute walk
From Lancaster Gate tube (Central Line) – enter the park through Victoria Gate and walk south down West Carriage Drive. Cross over the Serpentine and head south to Rotten Row. Turn left onto Rotten Row and walk towards the Festival area 25 minute walk.
Bus
North London: C2, 6, 7, 10, 16, 19, 23, 36, 52, 73, 82, 98, 113, 274, 390, 414
South London: 2, 36, 137, 148, 159, 436
West London: 9, 10, 14, 19, 22, 52, 74, 94, 148, 414
East London: 8, 15, 23, 30, 38, 274
Car:
It is strongly recommended that visitors avoid coming by car as there is no designated parking and many roads will be closed before, during and after the race.
For more information on how to get to Hyde Park and for details of any engineering works that may affect the above routes, call Transport For London on 0207 222 1234 or you can find help to plan your route on the TFL website http://www.tfl.gov.uk/.