Hackney Half Marathon
Sun 18 May 2025 London, UK

Hackney Half Marathon

One of the capital's favourite running events thanks to its fusion of running, music and culture and part of a weekend-long festival taking over the borough. Charity places now available for 2025.

Charity places
  • Sun 18 May 2025
Hackney Marshes, London

Hackney Half Marathon

09:00

Age 16 & over

FREE-£40

  • 13.1 miles road running

Event overview

One of the highlights of London's running calendar where culture and movement collide! This festival weekend, featuring the popular Hackney Half Marathon, returns to the Marshes in springtime.

Expect pure vibrancy as the borough comes alive for three days of celebrating the best of East London culture with crowds cheering you on at every turn!

In fact, spectators and supporters line the streets in their thousands to cheer on runners. Combined with entertainment on the course, this creates a rapturous, motivational atmosphere to help push you to the finish line!

Highlights

  • Festival atmosphere

    The three-day festival takes over Hackney with the air pulsing to live music, the sun shining and bars spilling out onto the streets. It's as fun for spectators as it is for runners.

  • Free community 5K

    Everyone aged 16+ can walk, jog or sprint the 5K course which is completely free, soaking up the festival vibes as you go.

  • Dynamic route

    Hackney is an exciting borough with vibrant street art and this route is designed to showcase its culture! Full of twists and turns, local landmarks and the Olympic Park.

  • Festival Village

    Spectators and runners will be entertained with yoga classes, stretching workshops, exhibitor demonstrations, food stands, bars, live music and more. Runners will hang around for hours afterwards, decked out in new medals and race t-shirts!

This event is part of Hackney Moves.

Event video

  • All fitness levels
  • Event expo
  • Event village
  • Families
  • Fancy dress
  • Free venue entry
  • Newcomers
  • Spectators
  • Teams
  • Traders at event
  • Wheelchair users

Friday

  • Hackney Moves Festival

Saturday

  • Hackney Community 5K
  • Hackney Moves Festival

Sunday

  • Hackney Half Marathon
  • Hackney Moves Festival

  • Bag storage
  • Bar
  • Cafe
  • Changing facilities
  • Entertainment
  • Music
  • Park
  • Toilets
  • Urban

Event HQ

Hackney Marshes
London
Greater London
E9 5PY
UK

The venue

The Hackney Festival village is located on Hackney Marshes, E9 5PF.

  • Considered the spiritual home of Sunday League football, Hackney Marshes are inextricably linked with exercise and movement. 
  • Easily accessible by public transport, Hackney Marshes are serviced by both overground and Tube links.

Parking

Westfield Stratford City (E20 1EJ): 25-minute walk.

Getting there

London Overground

  • Clapton Station | 30-minute walk
  • Hackney Wick Station | 20-minute walk
  • Homerton Station | 20-minute walk

Train

  • Stratford Station | 25-minute walk
  • Leyton Station | 20-minute walk

Bus

Local bus services will be running on diversions on event morning. Please check the TFL website for detail.

Cycling

There will be numerous bike parking facilities within the Festival Village. Don’t forget to bring an appropriate cable or chain lock!

  • Cut off time
  • Distance markers
  • Entertainment
  • First aid
  • Food stations
  • Marshals
  • Out and back
  • PB
  • Sweeper
  • Toilets
  • Traffic free
  • Undulating
  • Water stations
  • Wave start
  • Way markers

Overview

Cruise down Mare Street through a carnival of sound, pass by the famous Town Hall, head through the historic Broadway Market, and then take in Hackney Wick, which is flush with vibrant street art. Explore green spaces including Haggerston and Downs Parks, cross over twelve canals and rivers, and enjoy a panoramic view of the Olympic Park.

Map

map

Cut off

There is a race cut-off time of 3 hours and 30 minutes for each runner, after which any runners still on the course will be asked to move to the pavements so that roads can be reopened.

Sustainability

  • Carbon offset
  • Public transport links
  • Sustainability policy

  • Chip timing
  • Event app
  • GPS tracking
  • Medal
  • Training plan
  • T-shirt
  • Vouchers

As part of your #HackneyHalf entry you'll receive a rewards bundle featuring:

Included

  • Finisher t-shirt
  • Commemorative medal
  • Partner rewards

Charity places

These charities have places in the event. To secure your place, select a charity and complete the form to ask a question or get signed up.

All charity places
Dreams Come True
Featured Children

Dreams Come True

Get a place today on the friendly #DreamTeam and make Dreams Come True for children with serious or life-limiting conditions. "A fantastic supporter experience!"

  • Technical t-shirt
  • Personalised running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Training plan
  • Training guide
  • Dedicated contact
  • Certificate

Sign up
£20

Fundraise
£300

All charity places

  • Age 16 & over
  • Entries closed
  • Charity entries open until 04/04/2025
  • Charity places
  • Collect race pack
  • Enter online
  • Event merch available
  • Race pack by post

Charity places are available from FREE + sponsorship pledge.

This was my first Hackney Half. Really enjoyed it, it was a great atmosphere and experience all round. And most importantly running for TeamMonk - raising funds for my good friend Michael Monks cancer treatment. Sarah W

This was the first time I ran Hackney Half. It certainly didn't disappoint in terms of crowd support and music around the course, very on par with my experience of running the London Marathon. Plenty of aid stations providing water in cups, which helped cut down on the plastic waste, and designated rubbish points for them nearby once emptied. There were pacers available if you needed support on the day. Carmen

This is a brilliantly organised, very, very cool race. The support is wonderful from local people and Marshall’s. it’s heavily staffed from start to finish, despite some 22k people competing I felt I  hardly spent any time in a queue. Highly recommend it. Alistair

Brilliant atmosphere, with bands dotted along the short course, and lots of friendly encouraging stewards, volunteers and supporters. My first ever organised run, it was a great experience and I intend to do more! Rebecca

Amazing event. The festival feel they create makes this one really special. The route is one of the best supported I have ran in. Not much elevation. A couple of short sharp hills but nothing terrible. Lots of aid stations and the paramedics were amazing as the heat put a few people out. The atmosphere at the finish line was the best. The medal and t shirt are in my top 3 faves of all my races. If you get the chance, I highly recommend this half. Angela S