Oxford Half Marathon
Sun 12 Oct 2025 Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK

Oxford Half Marathon

Runners will enjoy the fast, flat and beautiful route through University Parks and the historic Oxford City Centre whilst celebrating running and movement with entertainment and cheering fans!

Get charity place
  • Sun 12 Oct 2025
University Parks, Oxford

Oxford Half Marathon

09:30

Age 16 & over

FREE-£47.92

  • 13.1 miles road running

Overview

A prestigious half.

The fast and flat Oxford Half has a perfect route for both newbies, PB chasers and charity runners!

The course takes runners through the pristine, winding streets of historic Oxford. The route begins in the city centre and passes through the stunning sites of Old Marston village, the River Cherwell, Oxford University’s impressive Lady Margaret Hall, before finally finishing on Parks Road.

Give your miles some purpose and raise life-changing funds for one of these incredible charity partners.

Highlights

  • A must-do UK half marathon

    Aim for a PB in this prestigious city, whether you're a first-timer or an improver.

  • Architecture, waterways, universities

    Beautiful, historic course from start to finish which gets rave reviews every year.

  • Well-supported with great atmosphere

    The locals come out in droves to cheer you on to the finish line!

  • Event village
  • Fancy dress
  • Newcomers
  • Spectators
  • Wheelchair users

Timetable

  • 07:30 | Event Village opens
  • 08:15 | Warm up with Runna starts
  • 08:30 | Warm up with Runna starts
  • 08:45 | Warm up with Runna starts
  • 08:45-09:15 | Runners move to start pens
  • 09:30 | Race start
  • 10:20 | Schools' Challenge
  • 15:00 | Event Village

Wheelchairs

Wheelchair entrants are permitted at the Oxford Half. Hand cycles, however, are not permitted and all wheelchair participants must be self-propelled without support.

If you meet the elite qualifying time and are also taking part in a racing wheelchair, then you will start at the front of the race, shortly before the main field. If you are taking part in a day chair then you will start the race at the back of the main field.

Disabled participants

If you are a visually impaired runner or your disability and/or medical conditions means that you require a guide runner/assistant, then please get in touch. Guide dogs are not permitted at the Oxford Half.

Charity cheer points

Awesome charities will be cheering runners throughout the 13.1 miles. Feel free to join, cheer and wave with them!

Spectators

The Oxford Half isn’t just for the runners, it’s also for all the dedicated family and friends that have helped, supported, sponsored and cheered the runners to get to where they are. 

The Event Village in Oxford University Parks will be open from 07:30 with plenty of things to see and do (not just for the runners).  In addition to the food, drink and entertainment in the Village, spectators can also take the fans’ walking route and stop off at our two designated fan hubs – you can walk between each one faster than your runner, so you’ll see them whizz past you on more than one occasion!

Grab yourself a hot drink for the walk and work up an appetite for some street food back in the Event Village afterwards. There’ll be loads going on, so come down and get involved whilst the runners make their way around the 13.1 mile course.

  • Bag storage
  • Changing facilities
  • Entertainment
  • Paid parking
  • Park
  • Toilets
  • Urban

Event HQ

University Parks
South Parks Road
Oxford
Oxfordshire
OX1 3RF
UK

Start line

Broad Street, Oxford OX1 3AS

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

Route overview

The course takes runners through the pristine, winding streets of historic Oxford. The route begins in the city centre and passes through the stunning sites of Old Marston village, the River Cherwell, Oxford University’s impressive Lady Margaret Hall, before finally finishing on Parks Road.

map

Cut off time

3 hours 30 minutes

The cut-off time for the Oxford Half Marathon is 3 hours and 30 minutes. Runners who are still on the course after this time are asked to move to the pavement to allow the streets to reopen, but they are still able to collect a medal at the finish line.

Entertainment

There will be a fantastic line-up of live entertainment positioned at every mile, to energise runners and keep spirits high for all - in addition to the charity cheerers supporting those wearing charity vests! You are encouraged to run without headphones to hear any necessary emergency announcements and to soak up the sounds along the route. 

  • Carbon neutral
  • Public transport links
  • Recycling
  • Sustainability policy

Positive actions at the Oxford Half Marathon:

Summary

  • Leftover products and giveaways will be recycled or reused
  • Local suppliers are used where possible
  • Donating discarded clothing to charity
  • Travel smarter – cycle or use public transport where possible to get to the event
  • Be self-sufficient en route by using refillable bottles to reduce waste
  • Go paperless – use your phone for all event information

  • Chip timing
  • Goody bag
  • Medal
  • Race photo

Optional extras

  • Professional photos

  • Fundraising materials
  • Fundraising support

Every year thousands of runners take part in this event and fundraise for charity. While this is hugely beneficial to the charities it gives the runner advantages too, from supporting a cause that is close to your heart to securing a place in this highly sought-after event and much more.

Benefits of running for charity

Committing to raising money for charity gives you motivation to get outside and run, plus all of these extras which will elevate your event experience:

  • Fundraising support

    Charities know that raising money is all part of the challenge, which is why they provide advice, branded materials and a personalised online fundraising page to help the donations roll in. Think videos for social media, branded imagery and testimonials from previous runners.

  • Training support

    Whether this is your first run or your fifth, you'll need to train for it! You'll receive an in-depth training plan with guidance, plus many charities have access to expert coaches and elite runners too, who can provide exclusive tips for your race preparation. Experts include Runningwithus, Full Potential and Olympic champs.

  • Branded running kit

    When you show up on the day, people need to be able to see clearly that you're supporting a charity. 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.

  • Support on the day

    When you're partway through your run 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 along the route, keeping an eye out for you to send up a huge cheer as you run past!

  • Post-race recovery

    Refreshments and an indulgent post-race sports massage are often provided by charities for their runners. This is the perfect way to recover alongside other people who have run for that cause.

  • Exclusive social groups

    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.

What are charity places?

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 general/ballot entries are closed.

Running a half marathon and charity fundraising go hand-in-hand - which charity will you run for?

Charity places

These charities have places in the event. To secure your place, select a charity, complete the form and follow the instructions.

Free sign up Homelessness

Missing People

The only UK charity that reunites missing children and adults with their loved ones.

  • Running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Dedicated contact
  • Exclusive social group

Sign up
FREE

Fundraise
£350

Animals

Cats Protection

For a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its needs.

  • Running vest
  • Personalised running vest
  • Fundraising support
  • Fundraising materials
  • Training plan
  • Dedicated contact
  • Exclusive social group
  • Certificate
  • Submit fundraising up to 1 month after event

Sign up
£25

Fundraise
£150

  • Age 16 & over
  • Entries not yet open
  • Charity entries open
  • Charity places
  • Collect race pack
  • Enter online
  • Race pack by post

Charity places are available from free plus sponsorship target.

Race number collection

Event Village, Oxford University Parks, Oxford, OX1 3RF

If you haven't opted for race bib postage, you will need to collect your race number from the Event Village in Oxford University Parks on Saturday from 10:00 - 17:00. Please note: Race Number collection will not be available on race day.

Age

The minimum age for competitors is 16, as long as you are 17 on or before 31st December 2024.

The course is brilliant: fast, fairly flat and beautiful, combining sections around the colleges with spells in the suburbs and countryside. There are a lot of spectators to cheer you on, so there's a definite buzz during the run itself. The race village is pretty good, with lots of choices of places to eat and drink. Brian H

Great race with lots of support on the course! Violet C

A great event that deserves the hype and build-up it gets. Andrew T

5th year running the Oxford Half and it was amazing as ever! Abby D

Would thoroughly recommend this Half Marathon. Mike E

Reviews thanks to RaceCheck

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