Best Under-the-Radar Running Clubs in London

Somewhere between the sober curious movement and the 2024 Paris Olympics, running clubs in London became all the rage. When chasing the highest sleep scores on Oura Rings started to outshine how many you knocked back the night before, suddenly things like wellness and early nights, dare I say it, became sexy.

Personally, I had a love-hate relationship with running in the early part of my life. Growing up in the Mile High City (5,280 feet above sea level) with a wicked case of childhood asthma, I couldn’t think of anything more laborious than running a mile around the track. I even got special permission to take speed-walking classes in PE instead.

As I got into my twenties, I never anticipated I would call myself a runner. But in 2006, after I moved to New York and knew next to no one, I filled my time doing the most reasonable thing I could think of: working out.

First, I tried my luck at Crunch Fitness. But between the smell of stale feet and unwanted f*ck-me stares, I’d decided I’d pass on that membership. Then came NYSC, and after a woman berated me for not wearing a swim cap and another snapped at me for accidentally moving her towel, I realised maybe this Rocky Mountain gal wasn’t quite ready for sports club etiquette in the Big Apple.

So, I grabbed my third-generation iPod, a dusty pair of yellow Adidas trainers, and started a slow jog down the Hudson River Path. Before I knew it, I had blown past 42nd Street, then the Javits Center, and Chelsea Piers. I had no idea how far I had run (remember, these were the days before iPhones. Hello, Blackberry!), but I knew it was farther than I had ever run before. That orange sky evening, sweating my heart out in Tribeca, is when my love affair with running truly began.

While I love the solitary experience of plugging in music and running until your lungs get the best of you, there is something to be said about the people you meet through running, and how the power of numbers, paired with external encouragement can push you farther than you think you can go.

So, without further ado, here is my list of my favourite running clubs in London.

Hyde Park Runners at The Mandarin Oriental, Knightsbridge

This is my favourite run club in the British capital, and for good reason. After injuring myself training for the Milan and Hackney Half in 2023, I swore off running for a good while. But I had seen a write-up in Sheerluxe about this run club and bookmarked it for the future. I hadn’t run in as long as I could remember, but Coach Kieran Alger (and the team at Mandarin Oriental) made everyone, regardless of ability, feel like they belonged. That first run back could have been torture, but oddly, it went by in a blink. And the best part? When you return to the hotel, there is a selection of fresh juices, nourishment bars, and gold-dusted chocolate strawberries waiting for you. How could you not love this elevated experience on an ordinary Tuesday evening? And the cost? Nada. Sign up for spaces on the Mandarin Oriental website.

Third Space Singles Running Club

This is a new run club that is designed for singles… Third Space knew how to tap into this trend.

I joined a few of their first-ever runs, which were a little awkward at the start, but the club seems to have found its groove these past few weeks. Open to everyone, not just Third Space members, they hold sessions in Hyde Park and outside their Battersea location, running along the Thames and around the park back to the club. You can sign up to their singles runs through their page on Strava.

Mikkeller Running Club

One of my OG favourite running clubs in London. Truth be told, I haven’t been on a run with Mikkeller for a few seasons after moving west, but it’s firmly on my radar to rejoin this summer. It’s always been such a fun and welcoming crew. Plus, Mikkeller has 10 non-alcoholic beers I’m dying to try. Ten? That’s a massive range of choice, when I often consider myself lucky if the bar has Asahi Zero. Get more information on upcoming runs on the Mikkeller London Club group on Instagram.

Puresport Running Events

From Hackney and Clapham to The Strand and Shoreditch (the latter two spots for Soho House members), Puresport events are equal parts cordial and competitive.

I checked out this club during the height of my half-marathon training and would summarise it like this: most runners are fairly seasoned and comfortable doing fast 7K jaunts around the city. I was in my slow but steady phase, focused on distance, but I was warmly welcomed and kept company by one of their friendly coaches at the rear. Learn more about the Puresport Running Community on their website.

Tracksmith Run Club

Setting off from their London boutique on Chiltern Street, Tracksmith hosts a range of runs each month, including Morning Miles on Fridays at 7 am, speed sessions on Wednesday evenings, and longer runs on Sundays.

In my experience, these runs tend to attract more experienced and faster runners. However, I have also seen how supportive their coaches are with newcomers and slower joggers like myself. Sign up on the Tracksmith website.

Hollow Rocks

Not just for runners, Hollow Rocks in London is a goldmine for anyone who wants to get better at sport.

Touted as a sports and social club, this community offers a running club with varied distances and paces, along with classes for every level in football, basketball, gymnastics, boxing, and rugby. Even if you have never played a particular sport before, you will be surprised by how many others are also just looking to try something new and meet like-minded people.

They also have a WhatsApp group where weekly class details are shared.