Charity is at the heart of the London Landmarks Half Marathon. It is all about the experience of running through London's historic streets alongside thousands of others and is a completely not-for-profit event organised by a charity to benefit many charities!
The event is not your average half marathon! From cultural landmarks and heritage to the city's quirky and hidden secrets, runners get to explore the capital on a route like no other! A huge proportion of runners are charity runners ie. people who have secured a charity place in the event in return for raising funds for a charity.
Since the first event in 2018, over £50,000,000 has been raised for worthy causes. You too can join the masses of charity runners by getting your own charity place in the event and supporting an important cause.
There is something special about this race... the team, support, crowds and charity cheers points are all the best.
Charities buy places in this event, then give them to runners who agree to raise money for the charity – these are called charity places. Charity places are a great way to support a good cause and get a place in the event, especially if ballot entries are closed. In recent years, charity places have sold out months ahead of the deadline.
Committing to raising money for charity not only guarantees you a place in the London Landmarks Half Marathon but gives you motivation to get outside and run, plus some or all of these too:
Charities know that raising money is part of your half marathon challenge, which is why they provide advice and branded materials. Your personalised JustGiving page comes with Top ten tips for setting up a successful fundraising page to help the donations roll in. You may receive videos for social media and branded images too.
Whether the London Landmarks Half Marathon is your first or fiftieth half marathon, you'll need to train for it. Your charity may offer a free in-depth training plan with guidance - ideal if you'd rather not subscribe to the event's training app.
When you head to the start line on the big day, people will be able to see clearly which charity you're supporting - a great conversation-starter for solo runners! Most charities will give you a branded and personalised t-shirt or vest to run in on the big day, and often a training top too so you'll look and feel the part.
When you're partway through your half marathon and your energy is flagging, what you need is a boost from cheering spectators to keep you moving. Many charities set up a cheer station (some are 'themed') along the route, keeping an eye out for you to send up a huge cheer as you run past - especially in Central London where many of the charities are based!
You won't be the only person running for that charity, so it's well worth meeting other runners through the charity's invite-only social media pages! You can organise to meet up for training runs, chat with the charity's expert coaches and share tips and stories with each other to keep the motivation levels running high.
Running the London Landmarks Half Marathon and charity fundraising go hand-in-hand - which charity will you run for?
Charity entries are now closed. Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to hear when charity places are available for next year.
The London Landmarks Half Marathon is so much more than just a run! Every year the race celebrates London's grand, quirky and hidden history like never before. Runners and spectators discover the birthplace of the bowler hat and learn about Roman life beneath the City's cobbled streets.
Starting by Pall Mall and finishing by Downing Street, the London Landmarks Half Marathon route has much to offer including activations, musical performances, DJs, dancers, themed cheer stations and of course world-famous landmarks too:
Recent themes have celebrated the grand, the quirky and the hidden history of this famous city. Runners and spectators discovered the birthplace of the bowler hat, learnt more about Roman life beneath the City's cobbled streets and found out why Waterloo Bridge is known as Ladies Bridge.
Lock & Co's hatmaker, Thomas Bowler, designed a hardy new hat for the Earl of Leicester's gamekeepers - so the bowler hat was created.
Built so the police could watch troublesome demonstrators in Trafalgar Square.
Designed as a seat so you can enjoy his company.
Australia House was used as the setting in Harry Potter.
R.Twining & Co has been run by the same family from the same location since 1787.
Guy Fawkes and the gunpowder plotters met here when hatching their plans for the Gunpowder Plot.
Shakespeare bought the house in 1613 on the corner of St. Andrew's Hill and Ireland Yard.
Famous from the film Closer this memorial commemorates ordinary people who died trying to save the lives of others.
The famous bell from the nursery rhyme Oranges and Lemons.
Constructed by the Romans and seated over 7,000 spectators.
The Great Fire of London started in a shop here, believed to have belonged to Thomas Farriner, who supplied ships biscuits for the Navy.
Shakespeare first performed the Tempest here for the court of King James I.
This event brings together celebrated musical talent from across the capital! A motivating soundtrack of pulsing pop, sensational samba and uplifting ballads kept runners going. In recent years, runners were treated to:
Winners of the Notting Hill Carnival samba category.
London's inspirational and vibrant drumming group.
Uplifting songs to keep runners' feet moving!
Britain's biggest boyband.
Keeping spirits high with swing, jazz and musical theatre repertoire.
An over-60s choir with classical, pop, jazz and folk.
The UK's first steel band established in 1964, heard at the London Olympics and BBC Radio London.
Toe-tapping dance tunes.
Do you love singing but lack the ability, practice or confidence?
The world's largest, contemporary choir.
Led by Mark De-Lisser, TV vocal coach for ‘The Voice’ and ‘Let it Shine’.
An award winning pop chamber combining good music with serious levels of fun!
A brass, wind and percussion group that plays originals, covers, reggae, Afro-beat, Ska, funk, pop, and Nawlins style.
An eclectic repertoire runners will love!
Getting runners grooving on the route.