How to get into the Royal Parks Half

Royal Parks Half ballot

General entry is by ballot, which the organizers say opens in early 2027. There are two: one for UK residents and one for people living outside the UK, kept separate to cut air travel. The 2026 ballots ran from January 26 to 5 p.m. on February 6, 2026, with results by email on February 12. The 2025 ballots ran January 27 to February 7, 2025.

Drawn runners confirm, pay and register by a deadline, which was 5 p.m. on March 2, 2026, or lose the place. Paying early gives no advantage in the first draw.

UK entrants can pay upfront. That fee is never refunded, but it enters them in a second chance draw for places drawn runners did not take up. In 2026 that draw was on March 3, with emails on March 4. An upfront payer not drawn in either draw has the fee turned into a donation to The Royal Parks.

Royal Parks Half ballot odds

The organizers do not publish applicant numbers. They reported record ballots two years running: entrants rose 43% for 2024 and another 35% for 2025. For 2026 they expected demand to be higher again and have not given a figure.

About 16,000 runners started in 2024 and 2025. The corporate page puts the 2027 race at 17,000, and every year sells out.

Royal Parks Half entry fees

The 2027 fee has not been published. The ballot fee was £66 plus a £4.95 admin fee for 2026, up from £64 plus £4.95 for 2025. The admin fee is never refunded.

Royal Parks Half charity places

The race was set up by The Royal Parks charity, and its own team takes a £35 non-refundable registration fee and a £350 minimum pledge, excluding Gift Aid. Places cannot be used for another charity or transferred. The registration deadline is 5 p.m. on August 12, 2027. Only a limited number go to people living outside the UK.

Partner charities buy places in five tiers. The three large tiers for 2027 are full. Charities buying fewer than 125 places, the Elm and Sapling tiers, can buy from November 24, 2026, so more charities list places after that date. The 2026 Elm and Sapling places sold out in three hours.

The race has raised over £88 million for more than 1,900 UK charities since 2008. The average JustGiving fundraiser raised £820 in 2026. A ballot runner can fundraise for any charity with no minimum.

Royal Parks Half corporate places

Companies can buy guaranteed places for staff in the Corporate 13.1, a team race inside the half marathon. Places cost £216 each for 2027, VAT exempt, plus a £4.95 admin fee per place, paid by card or invoice. Teams of four to seven race for fastest male, female and mixed team.

Corporate entry for 2027 is open now. The 2026 allocation sold out in eight days.

Royal Parks Half tour operators

The organizers list no tour operator. Non-UK residents have their own ballot instead. Marathon Tours & Travel sold guaranteed international entries with travel for 2024 and only a waitlist for 2025, and could not sell to UK residents. Destination Sport Experiences sold international runner packages for 2023 and 2024. Neither has published a 2027 package or price.

No operator lists a bib-only option, and no charity-plus-travel package is listed.

Royal Parks Half refunds, transfers and deferral

Fees are non-refundable, and the admin fee is never refunded. A ballot place can be transferred to a friend or family member for a £5 admin fee by 5 p.m. on September 1 (2026 terms). A UK-ballot place can only go to another UK resident.

Deferral of a ballot place is at the organizers' discretion, in exceptional circumstances, with requests by September 1. The fee paid becomes a donation to The Royal Parks, and further fees may apply for the later race. Team Royal Parks places cannot be transferred, and deferral is also discretionary.