- Sun 12 Oct 2025
- Entries closed
09:00
Age 17 & over
£10-£40
- 13.1 miles road running + 88 m ascent
Event overview
The Royal Parks Half was established as an annual fundraising fixture to support and preserve London's eight Royal Parks for public enjoyment, while providing charities of various sizes the opportunity to be involved in a mass participation challenge event.
The greenest race of its kind
Proud to be London's original half marathon, 16,000 runners take to closed streets through four of the eight Royal Parks whilst enjoying Britain's most eco-friendly race and many are running for vital charity causes.
Run for charity
From the very first edition in 2008, this event has exceeded expectations, generating over £70 million for more than 1,200 UK charities!
I did this event as my first ever half marathon and ran it for charity. The location of this event is stunning, going through the different parks and past Buckingham Palace.. Great festival zone, awesome medal. Andrianna
What are charity places?
Charities buy places in this event, then give them to runners who agree to raise money for the charity – these are called charity places. Charity places are a great way to support a good cause and get a place in the event, especially if ballot entries are closed.
Benefits of running for charity
Committing to raising money for charity not only guarantees you a place in the Royal Parks Half Marathon but gives you motivation to get outside and run, plus many more perks - see the Fundraising section.
The Royal Parks Half and charity fundraising go hand-in-hand - which charity will you fundraise for?
Prefer to enter directly? General entry options are explained on the Royal Parks Half Marathon page.
Event photos
Event video
Charity places
These charities have places in the event. To secure your place, select a charity and provide your details.
Cancer
Orchid, Fighting Male Cancer
Raising awareness and saving lives for prostate, testicular and penile cancer.
- T-shirt
- Fundraising support
- Training plan
- Cheer squad on the day
- Certificate
- Submit fundraising up to 1 month after event
Get a place from the charity.
Sign up
£35
Fundraise
£400
Homelessness
The Passage
Together we can end homelessness for good.
- Running vest
- Personalised running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Fundraising incentives
- Training guide
- Dedicated contact
- Cheer squad on the day
- Certificate
- Submit fundraising up to 1 month after event
Get a place from the charity.
Sign up
£25
Fundraise
£350
Children
Smile Train
Supporting cleft surgery and other forms of essential comprehensive cleft care.
- Running vest
- Personalised running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Training plan
- Training guide
- Online training zone
- Dedicated contact
- Certificate
Get a place from the charity.
Sign up
£10
Fundraise
£400
Health and Medical
Meningitis Research Foundation
Meningitis and septicaemia can kill or disable in hours. We provide life-saving information and fund vital medical research into the diseases.
- Running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
Get a place from the charity.
Sign up
£35
Fundraise
£350
Children
Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity
Helping the hospital offer a better future to seriously ill children across the UK.
- Running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Bespoke training plan
- Pro training advice
- Training guide
- Dedicated contact
- Cheer squad on the day
Get a place from the charity.
Sign up
£35
Fundraise
£350
Cancer
Brainstrust
Helping the brain tumour community to feel less alone and more in control.
- Technical t-shirt
- Running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Dedicated contact
- Certificate
- Submit fundraising up to 1 month after event
Get a place from the charity.
Sign up
£35
Fundraise
£350
Human rights
Refugee Action
Helping refugees build safe, hopeful and productive new lives in the UK.
- Technical t-shirt
- Running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Dedicated contact
- Cheer squad on the day
- Submit fundraising up to 1 month after event
Get a place from the charity.
Sign up
£10
Fundraise
£400
Health and Medical
Cure Parkinson's
Here for the cure; working with urgency to find new treatments to slow, stop and reverse Parkinson’s.
- Running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Dedicated contact
Get a place from the charity.
Sign up
£30
Fundraise
£400
Disability
Sense
Connecting sight, sound and life.
- Personalised running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Fundraising incentives
- Bespoke training plan
- Dedicated contact
- Cheer squad on the day
- Post-race reception
- Submit fundraising up to 1 month after event
Get a place from the charity.
Sign up
£12.50
Fundraise
£325
Health and Medical
Scleroderma & Raynaud's UK
Providing support and funding research to improve lives everyday.
- Running vest
- Personalised running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Supporter cheer packs
- Pro training advice
- Dedicated contact
- Cheer squad on the day
- Exclusive social group
- Certificate
- Submit fundraising up to 1 month after event
Get a place from the charity.
Sign up
£20
Fundraise
£400
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Social welfare
Turn2us
Standing against UK poverty, supporting those struggling financially to thrive into the future.
- Technical t-shirt
- Running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Dedicated contact
- Submit fundraising up to 1 month after event
Get a place from the charity.
Sign up
£25
Fundraise
£350
International
WaterAid
Providing clean water and decent toilets to everyone, everywhere.
- T-shirt
- Technical t-shirt
- Running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Bespoke training plan
- Pro training advice
- Training guide
- Online training zone
- Dedicated contact
- Pre-event training sessions
Get a place from the charity.
Sign up
£30
Fundraise
£350
Animals
Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare
Rehoming and rescuing a wide range of animals to help them receive the care they deserve.
- Running vest
- Personalised running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Dedicated contact
- Cheer squad on the day
- Submit fundraising up to 1 month after event
Get a place from the charity.
Sign up
£25
Fundraise
£350
Children
NSPCC
Every childhood is worth fighting for.
- Personalised running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Bespoke training plan
- Pro training advice
- Training guide
- Training days
- Pre-event meet-ups
- Cheer squad on the day
- Post-race reception
- Refreshments
- Exclusive social group
- Pre-event training sessions
Get a place from the charity.
Sign up
£15
Fundraise
£350
Health and Medical
Epilepsy Society
Transforming the lives of people with epilepsy through world-leading research, advocacy and care.
- T-shirt
- Running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Training plan
- Training guide
- Online training zone
- Dedicated contact
- Cheer squad on the day
Get a place from the charity.
Sign up
£25
Fundraise
£350
Children
Winston's Wish
Supporting grieving children and young people to ensure they don't face their grief alone.
- Running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Training plan
- Pro training advice
- Training guide
- Dedicated contact
- Certificate
Get a place from the charity.
Sign up
£25
Fundraise
£300
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Animals
Cats Protection
For a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its needs.
- Running vest
- Personalised running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Training plan
- Dedicated contact
- Exclusive social group
- Certificate
- Submit fundraising up to 1 month after event
Get a place from the charity.
Sign up
£35
Fundraise
£375
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Free sign up
Social welfare
Alcohol Change UK
Working to end serious alcohol harm in the UK.
- Technical t-shirt
- Running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Fundraising incentives
- Training plan
- Training guide
- Dedicated contact
- Cheer squad on the day
- Post-race reception
Get a place from the charity.
Sign up
FREE
Fundraise
£350
Health and Medical
MS Society
For a world free from the effects of MS.
- Technical t-shirt
- Running vest
- Personalised running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Supporter cheer packs
- Training plan
- Training guide
- Dedicated contact
- Cheer squad on the day
Get a place from the charity.
Sign up
£35
Fundraise
£350
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International
CAFOD - Catholic Agency for Overseas Development
CAFOD is there, wherever the need is greatest to ensure that no one is beyond reach.
- Running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Dedicated contact
- Cheer squad on the day
Get a place from the charity.
Sign up
£20
Fundraise
£400
Cancer
The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity
Pioneering new cancer treatments to create a future beyond cancer.
- Personalised running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Dedicated contact
- Cheer squad on the day
- Post-race reception
- Refreshments
- Free massage
- Certificate
Get a place from the charity.
Sign up
£30
Fundraise
£350
Armed forces
Walking With The Wounded
Mentally, physically and socially wounded ex-service personnel and their families are supported to receive the help they deserve.
- Technical t-shirt
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Dedicated contact
- Cheer squad on the day
- Exclusive social group
- Memento
Get a place from the charity.
Sign up
£35
Fundraise
£380
Health and Medical
St John Ambulance
The nation's leading first aid charity, to teach everyone simple, life saving skills.
- Running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Training plan
- Pro training advice
- Training guide
- Cheer squad on the day
- Certificate
Get a place from the charity.
Sign up
£10
Fundraise
£350
Disability
Dyscover
Specialist aphasia support: Providing long-term support and opportunities to people with aphasia and their families.
- T-shirt
- Running vest
- Fundraising support
- Fundraising materials
- Dedicated contact
- Certificate
Get a place from the charity.
Sign up
£25
Fundraise
£300
- Event village
- Families
- Fancy dress
- Newcomers
- Spectators
- Traders at event
- Wheelchair users
Timetable
- Bag storage
- Bar
- Cafe
- Entertainment
- Music
- Park
- Toilets
- Urban
- 1 lap
- Cut off time
- Distance markers
- Entertainment
- First aid
- Flat
- Food stations
- Marshals
- PB
- Point to point
- Toilets
- Traffic free
- Water stations
- Wave start
Overview
This stunning course threads its way through the beauty and majesty of four Royal Parks and past iconic landmarks including Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament and the Royal Albert Hall. Although there are some gentle undulations, it’s a generally flat course, making it fantastic for both beginners and experienced runners. Look out for your charity cheering squads on route!
Map
Key points
- 13.1 miles through the heart of London
- One lap on closed roads, starting and finishing in Hyde Park
- Takes in many of the capital’s world-famous landmarks
- Runs through four of London’s eight Royal Parks – Hyde Park, The Green Park, St James’s Park and Kensington Gardens
- Four water stations at mile 3, 6, 9, and 11
- Impress sponsors with your half marathon challenge
Headphones
You are welcome to wear headphones; there are no restrictions.
Cut off
4 hours.
There is a cut-off time of 4 hours after the last wave has started. This means participants need to maintain an average pace of around 18 minutes 19 seconds per mile (about 11 minutes 23 seconds per kilometre) to finish within the time limit.
Pacers
A team of experienced pacers will be present at the event. They are identified by a large flag carried on their back, displaying their predicted finishing time.
Sustainability
- Bring your own cup
- Optional medal
- Optional t-shirt
- Plastic bottle free
- Public transport links
- Recycling
- Sustainability policy
- Trees not tees
- Chip timing
- Drinks
- Eco goody bag
- Eco medal
- Eco t-shirt
- Event app
- GPS tracking
- Map
- Pre-event training sessions
- Snacks
- Training plan
- T-shirt
Charity runners receive goodies from their charity too!
- Fundraising incentives
- Fundraising materials
- Fundraising support
Why run for charity?
Taking on a challenge like the Royal Parks Half Marathon is an amazing commitment and something to be celebrated. Every training session, every run in the grey light before dawn, in your lunchbreak, in the heat of summer or cold of winter, pushes you forward.
But you can do even more. By running for a charity you can make every step count double and share your achievements with those in need.
It’s not a one-way street either – running for a charity team gets you guaranteed entry to the race and connects you with like-minded runners in the run-up and race day, as well as giving you access to training and fundraising support.
Benefits of running for charity
When the going gets tough, your admirers step in! As 'masters of motivation', your chosen cause will spur you on and provide plenty of perks in the process:
Fundraising support
Charities know that raising money is all part of the challenge, which is why they provide advice, branded materials and a personalised online fundraising page to help the donations roll in. Think eye-catching videos for social media and traditional collection tins too.
Training support
Whether this is your first or fifth half marathon, you'll need to train for it! You'll receive an in-depth training plan with guidance, plus many charities have access to expert coaches and elite runners too, who can provide exclusive tips for your race preparation.
Branded running kit
When you show up on the day, people need to be able to see clearly that you're supporting a charity. Most charities will give you a branded and personalised t-shirt or vest to run in on the big day, and often a training top too.
Support on the day
When you're partway through your run and your energy is flagging, what you need is a boost from cheering spectators to keep you moving. Most charities set up a cheer station along the route, keeping an eye out for you to send up a huge cheer as you run past!
Post-race recovery
Refreshments and an indulgent post-race sports massage are often provided by charities for their runners. This is the perfect way to recover alongside other people who have run for that cause.
Exclusive social groups
You won't be the only person running for that charity, so it's well worth meeting other runners through the charity's invite-only social media pages! You can organise to meet up for training runs, chat with the charity's expert coaches and share tips and stories with each other to keep the motivation levels running high.
The Royal Parks Half and charity fundraising go hand-in-hand - which charity will you run for?
This was my 6th Royal Parks Half and still my favourite half. Also the first year accompanied by torrential rain but my goodness the charity support was still as strong as ever. A big thank you to All the supporters and organisers. Jeannette S
I did this event as my first ever half marathon and ran it for charity. The location of this event is stunning, going through the different parks and past Buckingham Palace and you would never know that 16,000 people were running. Andrianna C
Great Half-Marathon around the most beautiful parks and surroundings of London! The arrival in Hyde Park is amazing. Renaud B
I would say that although it was generally flat, this course is probably not a 'PB course', simply because there is so much to see. I found that even if I had wanted to push for a PB, I would have struggled, as a lot of people were stopping en route to take pictures. Kerry L
Massive shout out to the incredible marshals - they all had megaphones and they used them well, their support was amazing, especially as the weather was awful which probably put off some spectators. All in all, its a great race, highly recommended. Sophie B
My first half marathon and what a perfect way to start. The course was truly beautiful and took in some amazing sights of London., running down the Mall a highlight! Miranda C
Simply beautiful race through London’s Parks and past the cities iconic sites! One to run! Ian B
This is without a doubt my favourite event ever. Well organised, great route etc etc. This year was the first time I have run an event with a pacer and I have to say it made the experience even better, especially as someone who normally runs alone, I felt I was part of a team. I have done the London Marathon 3 times and this race still for me is so much better, great atmosphere and the route far more interesting. Gemma P
A fantastic event and a beautiful course, flat and fast and without doubt a PB course. Lee C
We were lucky enough to have a beautiful day for it and it was a great route...A sight seeing tour of London! Jessica L
Reviews thanks to RaceCheck