Serpentine New Year's Day 10K race (NYD10K) and 3K fun run take place on the traffic-free paths through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. The event is organised by Serpentine Running Club volunteers. 

After the unprecedented circumstances that occurred just a few days before the 2024 event, the event's village was moved to the south side of Serpentine. Following the positive feedback and requests from the attendees, the event's village will remain on the south side of Serpentine for the 2025 event. 

Timetable on 1st January 2025

09:30 am to 10:45 am – collection of race packs open for 10K race attendees

10:55 am – 10K race briefing at the start (mandatory for all 10K race attendees)

11 a.m. - 10K race starts 

11 am to 11:45 am – collection of race packs open for 3K fun run attendees   

12noon - 3K fun run starts

12:20 pm approx – prize giving (weather and results dependent)

Course information. 

During the 10K race runners complete two short laps in Kensington Gardens before returning to Hyde Park and finishing on the south side of the Serpentine, at the Old Football Pitches. The course passes many iconic landmarks including Kensington Palace, the Italian Gardens and the Henry Moore statue. The full 10K route is available in the 'Maps' section. The 3K fun run route is available in the 'Maps' section. 

Current records for the NYD10K race.

Female: 33:53 - Emma Pallant (2018)

Male: 29:39 - Seyfu Jamaal (2024)

Non-binary: 39:38 - Alex Baird (2024)

Event organisers.

The organisation of the race relies on the volunteers and members of the Serpentine Running Club. The club is grateful to the members who curtail their New Year festivities for an early start to mark the course in Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens and set up the start and finish lines.

Event information.

The number collection for both events will be done on the morning of the race day. The results will be available here. All finishers will be awarded a race medal and finish-line goodies. Toilet facilities will be available, but no changing rooms, so please arrive ready to run. Bag drop and water stations will be available on a day. The nearest toilet facilities will be in the Serpentine Lido and Serpentine Bar & Kitchen. 

Prizes.

All finishers will receive a medal, water and finish line goodies.

For the 10K race, the top 3 in male/female/non-binary categories will receive a trophy and SOAR Running shopping vouchers: 

1st place - £150 value SOAR voucher 

2nd place - £100 value SOAR voucher

3rd place - £50 value SOAR voucher 

For the 10K race, the trophies and SOAR vouchers will also be issued to the Top3 V50 (over 50 years old on the day of the race) finishers:

V50 – 1st/2nd/3rd Male - £50 value SOAR vouchers

V50 – 1st/2nd/3rd Female - £50 value SOAR vouchers

Only one trophy/SOAR voucher per runner. 

Special trophies will also be awarded to the youngest overall participant on a day (likely from 3K Fun Run) and to the most senior participant on a day (from either event)

Important rules.

The overall capacity for the event is 650 runners as per UK license (number #28333 ), so all entries must be booked in advance with no entries available on the day. The event is open to all abilities with a cut-off time of two hours. The online entries will close once the event reaches the maximum capacity of 650 runners. Each participant's number is specific to their age and race category. Do not pass your event number to anyone else without the authorisation of the Race Director. Anyone found number swapping may be disqualified from the race. For your safety, the safety of other runners and members of the public, the use of personal stereos, headphones, or mobile phones during the race is not permitted. The minimum age for entry to the 10K is 15 years old on a race day. Baby buggies, dogs and walking poles are not allowed. We share Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens with the public, please be respectful – we DO NOT have priority over other park users. No lead/assistance bikes are allowed in this event. 

NYD10K history and notable mentions.

In the mid-1980’s London Road Runners Club organised a race in Hyde Park on the morning of New Year’s Day. The race continued until the London Road Runners disbanded in 1989/1990 when the Serpentine Running Club took over the running of the race. The inaugural Serpentine NYD10K took place on 1^st January 1992. It has taken place every year since except 2021, when the Government enforced restrictions about the Coronavirus pandemic preventing it from going ahead.

Early editions of the race were staged entirely within Hyde Park on a three-lap course, but the arrival of the Winter Wonderland in 2007 meant that a new course had to be found. The Royal Parks were keen that the race continued as it had become an important attraction for tourists and locals enjoying the park on New Year’s Day.  As such, a course was devised which takes in some of the park's iconic landmarks including Kensington Palace, the Italian Gardens, the Henry Moore statue, George Watt’s Physical Energy statue and The Old Police House. This ‘new’ course starts and finishes in Hyde Park with the majority of the race taking place in Kensington Gardens. 

Spectators – some of whom are mildly bemused by the sight of club runners in their shorts and vests on an invariably cold winter morning – gather at landmarks around the course. 

The race is open to all abilities, attracting 650 competitors, with many keen club runners and some new runners putting their New Year resolution to get fit into place as early as possible. The NYD10K has, however, seen some outstanding competitive performances and has attracted former Olympians and elite athletes:

Hugh Jones (London Marathon winner in 1982 and 1984 Olympian, who also measured the initial 10km course) in 2002 swapped his course measuring equipment for running shoes, finishing the race in 3rd place

Triathlete Annie Emerson was the 1st female in 2004

Jake Wightman, the 2022 1500m World Champion, won the race in 2015

Jonathan Hay, the 2016 English Cross-Country Champion, won in 2017

A highly decorated multi-sport competitor, with world titles in both duathlon and aquathlon, Emma Pallant has set the female course record in 2018. She also finished the course as 1st female in 2020

Zak Seddon, the 2019 3000m outdoor British Champion, won in 2023

In 2024, Seyfu Jamaal tested the new course and finished it in 29:39, setting a new record time in the male category for the event