Running Races in London: Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K Calendar

Annual races in London

Training for one of these? The 10K and long run routes in London use the same roads several of these courses do.

Frequently asked

What is the biggest running race in London?

TCS London Marathon (Marathon), normally held in April. Flat, fast and heavily supported from Greenwich to The Mall; entry is by ballot or charity place.

Is there a marathon in London?

Yes — TCS London Marathon (April). Flat, fast and heavily supported from Greenwich to The Mall; entry is by ballot or charity place.

Are there half marathons in London?

Yes — London Landmarks Half Marathon (April), The Big Half (September) and Royal Parks Half Marathon (October).

Are there 10K races in London?

Yes — The Big Half (September) and Vitality London 10,000 (May).

Are there 5K or shorter races in London?

Yes — 1 mile at The Big Half (September). Shorter distances are the easiest way into a city's race scene: entry usually stays open later and the fields are less competitive.

When is the running season in London?

The events listed here fall in April, May, September and October. That spread means you can build a year around two peaks rather than one.

What is the weather like for the TCS London Marathon?

In April, London averages a daily high of 13.8°C and a low of 4.9°C, with rain on about 32% of days. That sits in the range most runners race best in. Figures are a ten-year average of recorded conditions for that month, not a forecast.

Which race in London is best for a personal best?

TCS London Marathon — it is the flattest marathon on this list, run in April when highs average 13.8°C. A flat course in a cool month is worth more to a finishing time than anything you can do in race week.

How do I enter a race in London?

Entry opens on each organiser's own site, and fees, closing dates and start times change every year. Each race above links to its own page here, which covers the course, the conditions and how to train for it, and points you at the organiser for the current year's entry details rather than repeating a number that may already be out of date.

Why are exact race dates not shown?

Race dates move every year and a stale date is worse than none. The month each event is normally held is listed instead, which is what you need to plan a training block. The organiser's site carries the confirmed date once it is announced.

What distances can I race in London?

Across the 5 events listed: Marathon, Half marathon, 10K, 1 mile. Pick the distance first and the date second — the build-up a distance needs is what decides which month is realistic.

How long should I train for the TCS London Marathon?

Allow 16 to 20 weeks from a base you already hold, not from scratch. That is the marathon standard, and it assumes you can already run comfortably three times a week before the block starts. The race page for each event breaks the build-up down further.

How far in advance should I enter?

The larger city marathons fill within days of opening, or run a ballot months ahead; smaller 10K and 5K events often take entries until race week. Check the organiser's site as soon as you have picked a race — entry timing is the one thing you cannot make up for later in training.

Can I run these courses outside race day?

Mostly yes, and it is worth doing. City-centre courses use public roads and parks that are open year round, so you can run the closing kilometres as a training session and know exactly what they feel like. The mapped London routes are a practical starting point for that.

Where can I train for these races in London?

The 10K and long-run routes mapped for London use many of the same roads and paths these courses do, so they work as course reconnaissance as well as training. Each race page also lists how long a build-up the distance needs.

Explore pages for London