The ballot for the 18th annual Royal Parks Half Marathon set a new record this year, attracting their highest number of entrants and a 35% increase compared to 2024, which had set the previous record number of ballot entrants.
Taking place this year on Sunday, 12th October 2025, the Royal Parks Half Marathon offers thousands of lucky runners a scenic 13.1-mile route through four of London’s beautiful Royal Parks, including Hyde Park, Green Park, St. James’s Park, and Kensington Gardens.
For those who missed out in the ballot, runners can still participate by securing a place through fundraising, with places available via the Royal Parks Half’s charity partners, including The Royal Parks, Mind, Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity, MacMillan Cancer Support, British Heart Foundation and many more.
The event has raised over £70 million for over 1,200 UK charities, with hundreds set to take part in 2025. The event also raises funds for The Royal Parks charity to help to keep the magic of the Royal Parks alive, teach children and adults about the natural world, care for wildlife and conserve historic monuments.
The race is also widely regarded as one of the UK’s most environmentally -friendly major running events. Since 2019, it has eliminated single-use plastic bottles, with fill-up stations accessible in the event village, plus water stations with compostable cups. In 2025, the event will see the return of (Snow)Drop The Finisher Top, an optional T-shirt initiative that funds planting snowdrops and wildflowers along the half marathon route. Participants who choose to receive a T-shirt will get one made from recycled material, while all medals are also made with FSC Certified wood.
On achieving its most successful ballot ever, Head of Royal Parks Half Marathon, Liz Tack, said: ‘It’s incredible to see the demand for this year’s ballot and to break the record we set last year! We’re so grateful to everyone who entered and wish them the best of luck when our results are announced. Those who miss out can still enter by fundraising for a charity and we have hundreds of worthy causes they can support. We can’t wait to welcome 16,000 runners to Hyde Park in October for another unforgettable Royal Parks Half’.
Taking place for the first time in 2008, the race was set up by The Royal Parks charity as an annual fundraising initiative to protect and improve London’s eight Royal Parks for everyone, while enabling charities of all sizes to be involved in a major challenge event.
