Here’s a fun fact: the route is 0.1 miles shorter than a full marathon. And yet, it still feels like forever. Runners will pass the Peter Pan statue in Kensington Gardens. Peter Pan might get jealous of their speed.
Royal Parks Half Marathon 2026: London road closures and the route
Another quirky detail: the race starts at 9:00 AM for elites. But the real chaos begins at 9:30 AM when the wave of fancy-dress runners hits. Yes, someone will run in a full rhino costume. Good luck to that rhino.
Water stations are positioned every three miles. But organizers also hand out watermelon. Imagine eating a slippery slice of melon while running past a gridlocked taxi driver. Delicious irony.
When You'll Be Stuck (And When You're Free)
The closures are rolling. They don’t stay closed all day. Think of them as temporary, sweaty curtains.
- Hyde Park Corner: Closed 5:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Avoid it if you value your sanity.
- The Mall: Closed 7:00 AM to 2:30 PM. The finish line is here. Expect cheering, crying, and a lot of slow walking.
- West Carriage Drive (inside Hyde Park): Closed from 4:00 AM until 6:00 PM. That’s 14 hours of runner-only traffic. For the record, deer also ignore these closures.
Most roads will reopen by 3:30 PM. So by tea time, you can finally drive again. The runners, meanwhile, will be eating all the bananas in sight.
