We have compiled a great list of UK half marathons taking place in 2023 and 2024. Organised by date order, scroll down to find your perfect race!
Jump to our Half Marathon UK list below
Looking for some help with training? We have you covered if you want to enter a race but are unsure how long it will take to train for a half marathon. We talk you through our top tips to get ready for a half marathon and how to prepare in 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 weeks. You can also download our Ultimate Half Marathon Guide which has a complete training plan included, scroll down to sign up and get the guide for free.
Half Marathons are a great challenge for any runner, if you have successfully completed a 10k run then this type of event might be next on your list. The training will require a lot more effort and time due to the length but it will be even more rewarding when you cross the finish line. For runners who aspire to one day run a marathon, a half marathon is a great bridging event between shorter races like a 5K or 10K and doing a full 26.2 miles.
Check Out Our UK Half Marathons Blog;
How to run a half marathon faster
What to eat before a half marathon
Top half marathon running tips
Calories burnt running a Half Marathon
What is the average half marathon time?
10 of the best half marathons in the UK in 2023
Half Marathon List UK
July 2023
23rd – BigHeat Marathon
6th – Birmingham Half Marathon
8th – Isle of Harris Half Marathon
15th – Abersoch Half
16th – Run the Blades Half Marathon
23rd – Run Aintree Half Marathon
August 2023
20th – The Big Pilgrimage Marathon
20th – Bath Two Tunnels Half Marathon
September 2023
3rd – Cheltenham Half Marathon
10th – Richmond RunFest Half Marathon
10th – Great North Run
17th – Belfast City Half Marathon
24th – Robin Hood Half Marathon
24th – Windsor Half Marathon
October 2023
1st – Cardiff Half Marathon
7th – Coigach Half Marathon
8th – Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon
8th – Bournemouth Marathon Festival Half Marathon
15th – Great Eastern Run
15th – Bournemouth Marathon Festival Half Marathon
15th – Bath Half Marathon
15th – Manchester Half Marathon
November 2023
11th – Endurancelife Gower
December 2023
17th – BigXmas Half Marathon
February 2024
25th – Brighton Half Marathon
March 2024
3rd – Cambridge Half Marathon
17th – Colchester Half Marathon
24th – Hastings Half Marathon
TBC – The Dartford Half Marathon
TBC – Bath Two Tunnels Half Marathon
TBC – Queen Elizabeth Off Road Half Marathon
TBC – Ironbridge Half Marathon
April 2024
7th – London Landmarks Half Marathon
May 2024
12th – Snowdonia Half Marathon
19th – Great Bristol Half Marathon
19th – Hackney Half Marathon
19th – Chester Half Marathon
TBC – BigwayRound Marathon
June 2024
TBC – Lyme Park Marathon
TBC – Bath Two Tunnels Half Marathon
TBC – Shropshire Marathon
TBC – Needles Half Marathon
TBC – Run Sandringham Half Marathon
TBC – Hitchin Hard Half Marathon
Why run a half marathon UK?
Even If you’ve never run competitively before, signing up for a half marathon can be a great way to motivate a change in fitness and lifestyle and push your abilities to run longer distances. You’ll need to stay committed to a good training plan before your race to avoid injury, but it will be totally worth it once you cross that finish line!
Not only is it a great form of cardiovascular exercise, but running a half marathon has plenty of other great benefits too. Firstly, if you’re looking to start running as a way to lose some weight, signing up for a half marathon event will give you something to stay committed to, and through your training, you’ll work on getting your heart rate up, burning calories and losing weight in no time.
Another reason to sign up for a half marathon is to raise money for charity. Half marathons are popular options for runners who want to fundraise and there are hundreds happening across the UK every year. Some people even choose to run in fancy dress to keep things fun!
Finally, running your first half marathon is a great way to really challenge yourself and improve your long-distance running ability. Once you’ve finished a half you’re sure to want to take on your next challenge of a marathon.
Half marathons near me
There are lots of well-known half marathon events in the major cities across the UK, but you may not have known that there are also loads of events that take place in smaller towns and villages, including in your local area too. As half marathons are popular events and great for fundraising, you’ll find that there are new events starting in the UK all the time, meaning that there is bound to be one that is easy and convenient for you to get to. Another benefit of joining one of the smaller half marathon events nearby is that you’re less likely to miss out on a place and joining fees are generally lower.
If you’re looking for ways to get more active, or even start exercising more with a friend or partner, training for a half marathon together is a great way to introduce a little friendly competition and also support each other in reaching your fitness goals. Our website has plenty of half marathon events that you can join all over the UK, so be sure to take a look for half marathons near you using the search bar on the left. You can then find races based on location and other options using the filters to find the perfect event for you.
Fundraising for a Half Marathon
Running a half marathon to raise money for charity is a fantastic thing to do. As well as the better-known events, such as the Great Run series, there are plenty of smaller local events you can sign up for as well. In fact, a lot of smaller local charities organise their own events to raise money for specific causes, and many of these will have benefits for the local community.
Setting up funding for a half marathon is easy too. Most charities will provide you with a sponsorship pack to get started you can also do online fundraising and share your goals with your friends on social media. Running in a local half marathon race is also an ideal way to raise money for charities that are based in your local community, and also a great way to get more familiar with your local area.
Charity half marathon events are growing in popularity every year, so if you want to get into running then these are a great place to start!
How can I find a charity half marathon?
If you’ve decided to run a half marathon for a charity, you may be wondering where you can find charity races nearby. You can find them here of course! On the UK Fitness Events website, you’ll find pages of fitness events that are taking place all across the UK. Use the search bar on the left and once you’ve filtered down the type of race you’re looking to take part in, you can then further refine the results by selecting your location and then choosing from a range of charities that you are interested in supporting.
If you’d like to support a charity that isn’t listed, you’re welcome to do that too! Be sure to check the website of your chosen charity to find out more about getting started with fundraising.
Training for a half marathon
Half marathons are a big commitment, and the 13.1 mile race will certainly put your body to the test. I’ve you’re relatively new to running of have only done shorter races previously, you’ll find that half marathons require a much longer training plan, where you have to train both your body and mind to be able to stand up to the length of the race.
If your goal is to eventually do a marathon you’ll need to get lots of training done before you even look at the track! Start off similar to a 5K prep with smaller runs and sprints and then slowly build up the length of the runs you do. Nutrition will also be important as you start to complete longer runs to make sure your muscles have adequate fuel to keep you going. Take a look at our guide for Half Marathon Training.
What are the best UK half marathons?
With so many half marathon events to choose from all over the country, it’s difficult to choose the best! Each course has its own perks and challenges, but here are a few of the most popular half marathon events
