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Richmond Marathon, Half Marathon And 10K: 2027 Guide
Richmond Run-Fest returns to south west London on 11 and 12 September 2027, with a 10K, half marathon and marathon forming the main races across the weekend.
All three distances start inside the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The 10K remains within the gardens, while the half marathon and marathon continue through Richmond and alongside the River Thames before finishing at Old Deer Park.
With three distances and routes incorporating some of south west London's best known locations, Richmond Run-Fest has developed into one of the capital's most distinctive running weekends.
The Destination
Richmond upon Thames sits in south west London and combines riverside scenery, historic buildings and extensive green spaces while remaining within easy reach of central London.
The Thames runs through the heart of the borough, connecting Richmond, Kew, Teddington and Hampton Court. Richmond's riverfront, Richmond Green and nearby Ham House provide a very different side of London from the streets and landmarks associated with events in the centre of the capital.
Kew is best known for the Royal Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site containing one of the world's most important collections of living plants. Richmond Park, Hampton Court Palace and Bushy Park provide further reasons to explore the area beyond race weekend.
History Of Richmond Run-Fest
Richmond Run-Fest grew out of the sporting legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with the first event taking place in 2013. It initially centred on races at Kew Gardens before developing into a wider running weekend across Richmond upon Thames.
The marathon was subsequently added to the programme, extending the event beyond Richmond and along the Thames towards Kingston and Hampton Court. Run-Fest now combines its three main adult distances with family races and a finish festival at Old Deer Park.
Charity fundraising has also become an important part of the event. The organiser reports that more than £4.5 million has been raised for its official charities during Run-Fest's first 13 years.
When Is Richmond Run-Fest 2027?
Richmond Run-Fest takes place over the weekend of Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 September 2027. The 10K is held on Saturday, with the half marathon and marathon following on Sunday.
The Richmond 10K starts at 8.30am on Saturday 11 September. The Richmond Marathon begins at 8am on Sunday 12 September, followed by the Richmond Half Marathon at 9.30am.
Richmond Run-Fest Race Number Collection
Race numbers can be collected in advance from designated collection points in Richmond, Putney and Kingston. Runners should check the arrangements for their particular distance before travelling because collection requirements can differ between races.
The organiser has already published advance collection arrangements for the 2027 Richmond 10K, beginning on 1 September. Final instructions for all three races will provide the latest collection details closer to the event.
Race Morning
The three main races start next to the Orangery inside the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Runners enter the gardens through Elizabeth Gate on Kew Green and should allow additional time to walk from the entrance to the start area.
Kew Gardens station and Kew Bridge station provide public transport options for reaching the area. The half marathon and marathon finish elsewhere at Old Deer Park, close to Richmond station, so runners in those races should plan around having separate start and finish locations.
Final travel and access arrangements can change as race weekend approaches. The organiser advises participants to use the instructions issued for their particular race when making their final plans.
Richmond Marathon Course
The Richmond Marathon begins inside Kew Gardens before travelling through Richmond and following the Thames towards Teddington, Kingston and Hampton Court. It then returns along the river towards the finish at Old Deer Park.
The organiser's detailed course information currently relates to the 2026 race, so the exact 2027 route has not yet been confirmed. The existing course shows the areas and landmarks that have defined the marathon in recent editions.
Kew Gardens And Richmond
The marathon starts next to the Orangery and initially follows the paths through Kew Gardens. After leaving the gardens, the route heads into Richmond and reaches the Thames, beginning the long riverside journey that forms much of the race. Richmond Green and the area around the former Richmond Palace are among the historic locations associated with this section. The course then continues upstream as it moves away from Richmond.
Teddington And Kingston
Teddington Lock is one of the major landmarks further along the Thames. From here the marathon continues towards Kingston, extending considerably beyond the route used by the half marathon. The course reaches Kingston Riverside before continuing upstream towards Hampton Court. This middle part of the marathon takes runners through several distinct areas while remaining closely connected to the river.
Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace provides one of the most recognisable landmarks on the course. The former royal residence of Henry VIII stands beside the Thames and marks the furthest section of the marathon away from Richmond. After reaching the Hampton Court area, the course begins its return towards Richmond. This creates a marathon that explores a substantial stretch of south west London rather than remaining within a single part of the borough.
Ham House And The Finish
The return section passes the area around Ham House, a 17th century property beside the Thames. From here runners continue towards Richmond as the marathon approaches its final miles. The finish is at Old Deer Park, close to Richmond town centre. The park hosts the Run-Fest finish festival, with Richmond station a short walk away for the journey home.
How Difficult Is The Richmond Marathon Course?
The Richmond Marathon has relatively modest elevation for a 26.2 mile race. The organiser gives approximately 160 metres of ascent and 160 metres of descent for the existing course, with no major sustained climbs defining the route.
The course is not entirely on conventional city roads, however, and its character changes as it moves between Kew Gardens, riverside sections and roads. The precise elevation and route for 2027 should be checked once the updated course information is published.
Richmond Half Marathon Course
The Richmond Half Marathon also begins inside Kew Gardens before continuing through Richmond and alongside the Thames. Its shorter distance means it turns back towards Richmond rather than continuing to Kingston and Hampton Court.
The organiser's current detailed course information is still for 2026. The established route nevertheless provides a good indication of the locations that have become associated with the race.
Kew Gardens And The Thames
After starting next to the Orangery, runners travel through Kew Gardens before heading towards Richmond. The route then reaches the Thames and follows the river away from the town centre. Richmond Palace is among the historic locations associated with the course before the race continues upstream. The riverside surroundings become the dominant feature as runners move further from Richmond.
Teddington Lock And Ham House
Teddington Lock marks one of the principal locations on the half marathon route. The lock complex is the largest on the Thames and marks the boundary between the tidal and non tidal sections of the river. The route also passes Ham House before turning back towards Richmond. This gives the half marathon a strong sense of place without extending as far along the Thames as the marathon.
Old Deer Park Finish
The final section returns runners towards Richmond and Old Deer Park. The finish area hosts the event's music festival and is within easy walking distance of Richmond town centre.
Richmond station is around a six minute walk from Old Deer Park. Its rail, Underground and Overground services make onward travel relatively straightforward after finishing.
How Difficult Is The Richmond Half Marathon Course?
The Richmond Half Marathon has very little elevation. The organiser's current course information gives approximately 91 feet of total climbing across 13.1 miles, making significant hills a minor feature of the race.
The course remains close to the Thames rather than climbing towards the much higher ground around Richmond Hill. This relatively level profile is one reason Richmond is an interesting option for runners looking for an autumn half marathon with personal best potential.
Richmond 10K Course
The Richmond 10K differs from the two longer races because its entire route is contained within the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It starts and finishes next to the Orangery and takes place on flat tarmac paths closed to traffic.
The course explores different areas of the gardens during its 6.2 miles. Kew's landscaped grounds and historic buildings provide the surroundings throughout, rather than the riverside sections encountered in the half marathon and marathon.
The organiser describes the 10K as a flat and fast course. A water station is positioned at approximately 5.5km, with toilets available at several points around the route.
What Makes Richmond Run-Fest Special?
Few UK running events can offer Kew Gardens as their starting point. The opportunity to run through the UNESCO World Heritage Site before the gardens open normally gives the weekend an identity that is immediately different from a conventional city road race.
The three distances then offer contrasting experiences. The 10K concentrates entirely on Kew, the half marathon adds Richmond and the Thames, and the marathon expands the journey as far as Kingston and Hampton Court.
This also makes Richmond Run-Fest particularly useful for groups of runners wanting to take part in the same event without racing the same distance. The three main races share a common identity while providing substantially different courses.
Is Richmond Run-Fest Fast?
The 10K and half marathon both have particularly favourable elevation profiles. The 10K is flat within Kew Gardens, while the current half marathon course has only a small amount of climbing across its 13.1 miles.
The marathon has more elevation but still avoids the substantial climbs found at many UK marathons. Its current course is England Athletics certified, and the organiser lists Richmond as both a London Marathon Good For Age and Boston Marathon qualifying event.
Runners hoping to use a marathon result for qualification should always check the current criteria and qualifying windows for the relevant event before entering.
Is Richmond Run-Fest Good For First Time Runners?
Richmond can work particularly well for runners taking on a new distance. The 10K provides a traffic free course within Kew Gardens, while the limited elevation of the half marathon removes the additional challenge presented by a hilly route.
The marathon also avoids major sustained climbs, although the changing surfaces and riverside nature of parts of the course distinguish it from a marathon held entirely on wide city roads. The established organisation and large field provide the atmosphere of a major event without the scale of London's biggest races.
How To Enter Richmond Run-Fest 2027
Entries for the Richmond 10K, Richmond Half Marathon and Richmond Marathon 2027 are open through the event organiser. Runners choose their distance and register directly for the race while places remain available.
The longer distances can fill well ahead of race weekend. Both the half marathon and marathon sold out by the end of April for the 2026 event, around five months before race day.
Entry conditions vary depending on the circumstances, so runners should read the current terms covering refunds, transfers and deferrals before registering.
Running Richmond Run-Fest For Charity
Charity fundraising has been part of Richmond Run-Fest throughout its development. The organiser works with a range of national and local charities, with places available across the 10K, half marathon and marathon.
Each participating charity manages its own places and fundraising requirements. Runners interested in securing a charity entry should therefore check availability and the required fundraising commitment directly with the organisation they want to support.
Charity places can also provide an alternative route into the event when general entries for a particular distance are no longer available.
Where To Stay
Richmond is the most convenient base for runners taking part in the marathon or half marathon. It places you close to the finish at Old Deer Park while providing a large choice of restaurants and good transport connections.
Kew is particularly convenient for the start and may appeal to marathon runners facing the earliest race time. Accommodation is more limited than in central Richmond, so booking early is sensible if staying close to the gardens is important.
Kingston, Twickenham and central London provide further options. The rail, Underground and Overground network makes it possible to stay farther away, although runners should check the early morning journey to Kew before booking.
Our Verdict
Richmond Run-Fest stands out because its three main races make unusually good use of their surroundings. Kew Gardens provides a memorable setting for every distance, while the half marathon and marathon use the Thames to explore a side of London rarely seen in the capital's larger running events.
The half marathon deserves consideration among the UK's leading autumn half marathons because of its combination of scenery, limited elevation and distinctive start. The marathon builds on those strengths with a much longer journey through south west London, adding Kingston and Hampton Court to the riverside course.
The 10K completes the weekend with a race entirely within Kew Gardens. Together, the three distances make Richmond Run-Fest much more than a single race and give it a strong case for inclusion among the UK's most interesting running events.
Race Website
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