By the time you’re 30, everyone’s lost a friend to half-marathon training.
These days everyone seems to be running. Sure, there are those avid runners who have kept it up since the viral couch-to-5K COVID initiative, but there’s an even bigger number of grown adults, suddenly interested in running. Some train for half marathons. Others are doing a Hyrox. Others have found running clubs are the newest dating apps.
Whatever category you fit in, we’ve asked around, researched, and boiled it down to present you London’s best, and hippest, running clubs.
Tempo Run Club
- Meeting Point: Peckham Levels SE15 4ST.
- Based: South London.
- Specialty: Unique for integrating music and running, this club is suitable for all levels, offering weekly runs with a musical twist for an engaging workout experience.
Best Athletics
- Meeting Point: Battersea Park for Track Tuesday and Central London for Tempo/hill sprint Thursday.
- Based: Battersea Park, London.
- Specialty: With a lively team atmosphere, the club hosts varied session lengths suitable for all abilities, including track workouts and tempo runs.
Tooting Run Club
- Meeting Point: Tooting Bec Athletics Track, Borough of Wandsworth.
- Based: Wandsworth, South-West London.
- Specialty: Emphasizing inclusivity, the club welcomes all skill levels with weekly sessions that focus on building community and improving fitness.
Black Girls Do Run UK
- Meeting Point: Varies, with events often in Hyde Park or Fulham.
- Based: Across London.
- Specialty: Promoting fitness and friendship among black women, this club offers a supportive environment for all levels, with regular group runs and race training sessions.
TrackMafia
- Meeting Point: Paddington Recreation Ground.
- Based: Paddington, London.
- Specialty: Aiming for performance improvement, this club meets weekly for speed work sessions suitable for all abilities, especially those looking to improve their running pace.
Midnight Runners
- Meeting Point: Central London; specific details on their Facebook page.
- Based: Central London.
- Specialty: This club is famous for its evening runs enhanced by music systems. The runs are typically 10km, designed to cater to various fitness levels, with the emphasis on combining exercise with nightlife.
London City Runners
- Meeting Point: The Clubhouse, under an archway in Bermondsey, 130 Druid Street SE1.
- Based: Bermondsey, London.
- Specialty: Known for its vibrant social scene and free membership, this club accommodates all skill levels, with routes often starting at the clubhouse, where social gatherings also occur.