Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Nuray Bulbul

Royal Parks Half Marathon 2024: how to enter and when is it?

The ballot for the 17th annual Royal Parks Half Marathon is now open, which is sponsored by Royal Bank of Canada.

The race of a lifetime will offer 16,000 runners the chance to compete.

Olympic gold medallist Eve Muirhead, social media star Tom Trotter, and radio DJ and TV presenter Jenni Falconer were among last year's event attendees.

The race, which debuted in 2008, is organised by the Royal Parks charity as a yearly fundraising event to support the preservation and improvement of London's eight royal parks, while also giving charitable organisations the chance to participate in a significant challenging event.

Since then, more than 1,200 UK charities, including the Royal Parks, Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity, and Mind, have benefitted from more than £60 million in donations.

The funds contribute to the preservation of eight essential green places, the education of adults and children about the natural world, the care of wildlife, and the preservation of historic sites.

With all this mind, how can you enter the Royal Parks Half Marathon ballot and when is it?

How to enter the Royal Parks Half Marathon ballot

You can enter the ballot via royalparkshalf.com.

The ballot opened on January 29 and closes on February 9.

When is the Royal Parks Half Marathon?

The Royal Parks Half Marathon takes place on Sunday, October 13.

Liz Tack, the head of Royal Parks Half Marathon, said: “We are so looking forward to welcoming 16,000 runners to the Royal Parks this October. The iconic route coupled with the amazing atmosphere is what makes the race so special, making for a truly magical experience for all our participants.”

She added: "The fact that the race has raised over £60 million since 2008 is truly astounding, and we look forward to boosting this number even further this year. Good luck to everyone involved in the ballot and we can’t wait to see you on the start line in October for what will be a day to remember!”

What routes does the Royal Parks Half Marathon cover?

The race's 13.1-mile course takes runners through four of London's stunning royal parks, including Hyde Park, Green Park, St James's Park, and Kensington Gardens.

A number of well-known London sites, such as Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square, and the Royal Albert Hall, are also passed by runners on the route.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.