Looking for a fresh challenge to start the year? Want to raise money for charity in 2025, or keen to motivate yourself to improve your fitness? Here are a few challenge events happening in London over the coming months, which you can sign up for right now.
1. Walkie Talkie Tower Climb
The Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity (GOSH) holds a tower climb challenge event, taking place in the Walkie Talkie building (or 20 Fenchurch Street, to use its official name).
Sign up to climb 36 floors and 896 steps up to the Sky Garden, where a celebratory drink (and top-notch views) will be waiting for you. There's a registration fee, as well as a fundraising pledge of £250.
Walkie Talkie Tower Climb, 8 March 2025.
Kew the Run, Kew Gardens
As running locations go, Kew Gardens is up there with London's finest. Kew the Run is a two-day event taking place over one weekend, with a 10K route on Saturday and a half marathon on Sunday. The 10K course is entirely contained within the gardens, while the half marathon starts and ends in the gardens, meandering down to Ham House in Richmond and back. Could be a good warm-up run for the London Marathon three weeks later...
Every participant receives a t-shirt and medal, and free entry to Kew Gardens for you and four supporters on the day. It's not specifically a charity event, so there's no pressure to fundraise and collect sponsorship, though of course there's nothing to stop you supporting a charity of your choice.
Kew The Run, 29-30 March 2025.
London Landmarks Half Marathon 2025
The ballot for places in the London Landmarks Half Marathon has closed, but you could still bag yourself a spot on the start line via a charity place. Macmillan Cancer Support, Alzheimer's Research UK, Guide Dogs, Shelter, The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, RNIB and Crisis are just some of the dozens of charities listed who may have places available — it's a case of contacting the organisation individually to find a place.
As for the race itself, it's a route through the City and Westminster on closed roads, starting at Pall Mall and passing landmarks including Trafalgar Square, St Paul's Cathedral, Bank, Monument and the Tower of London before doubling back and finishing at Downing Street. A great option if you've always fancied experiencing the London Marathon but don't have a full 26.2 miles in you.
London Landmarks Half Marathon, 6 April 2025.
Hackney Half Marathon or 5K
Over the middle weekend of May, thousands of runners pound east London's streets for the Hackney Half Marathon and 5K. General places for the half marathon have all gone (though you may find a place via a charity), but registration for the Hackney 5K through Hackney Marshes has yet to open at time of writing. Keep an eye on the website if you're keen.
Hackney Half Marathon and 5K, 17-18 May 2025.
Richmond RunFest
If you missed out on Kew the Run (above), there's another chance to run through Kew Gardens in September. Richmond RunFest consists of four different events: the Richmond Marathon and Richmond Half Marathon which start at Kew Gardens and end at the Old Deer Park in Richmond, the Richmond 10K which takes place entirely inside Kew Gardens, and the Family Mile and Kids' Mile races, in the Old Deer Park.
The latter raises money for WWF, with the whole family, including pets and pushchairs, invited to take part together. The marathon, half marathon and 10K events aren't specifically for charity, but again, there's nothing to stop you doing your own fundraising if you wish.
Richmond RunFest, 14 September 2025
Royal London Hospital Helipad Abseil
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One for the daredevils: launch yourself from the highest rooftop helipad in Europe, on top of the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, and abseil 17 floors back down to the ground. It's a free hang abseil, meaning no contact with the wall on the way down, and raises money for London's Air Ambulance Charity, with a £40 registration fee and fundraising pledge of £300.
It's expected to take place in September 2025, exact date TBC. Keep an eye on the website and sign up for updates if you're interested in taking part.
September 2025.
