Triathlons near London: 9 great events you can enter now
Want to enter into a race but don't fancy straying too far from the capital? Not to worry, here are nine triathlons near London that are ideal for beginners and experienced athletes alike...
Living in and around London and want to enter a triathlon that doesn’t require hours of travel for you to even get to the start line?
Good news! You’ll find plenty of events taking place within an hour or so of the capital, many of which are well suited to beginners and PB chasers alike.
To help you find triathlons near London, we’ve pulled together this list of nine top events.
There are options across all triathlon distances and some of them use the same facilities, but they all have their own individual flavour. So, scroll through the below and take your pick!
Triathlons near London
Eton Sprints Weekend
Date: 13-14 May
Location: Dorney Lake, Windsor
If you’re looking for a race early on in the season then the Eton Sprints Weekend might be for you.
There are supersprint and sprint events taking place across the weekend, with the course unfolding within the grounds of the site.
The swim takes place in Dorney Lake at Eton College Rowing Centre, which was the rowing venue for the 2012 Olympics.
Once you’re out of the water, you’ll tackle the predominantly flat and fast multi-lap bike and run courses.
Dorney Triathlon
Date: 21 May
Location: Dorney Lake, Windsor
As you’ll very quickly establish, there are a lot of events taking place at Dorney Lake.
Among them is this one from RunThrough Events, who have eight triathlons taking place here throughout the season.
Like the other events taking place at this venue, the course takes place entirely within the grounds and is ideal for beginners or those chasing good times.
Royal Windsor Triathlon
Date: 11 June
Location: Windsor
With 30 years of racing behind it, the Royal Windsor Triathlon has an impressive history, and there’s a reason it’s stood the test of time – it’s a great event!
There are sprint, Olympic and relay options available, with all taking place against the beautiful backdrop of the River Thames, Windsor Castle and the Long Walk, the tree lined avenue leading up to the castle.
The swim takes place in the River Thames and is followed by a bike route that takes you around the beautiful countryside.
Once off the bike, the run takes place on the Long Walk, passing the impressive Windsor Castle along the way. It’s two laps for the sprint and three laps for the Olympic distance.
Eton Dorney Triathlon
Date: 25 June
Location: Dorney Lake, Windsor
Yep, here’s another triathlon in Windsor. Organised by Votwo, this event (there’s also one on 24 September) takes place on the same grounds as the likes of the Banana Triathlon.
That means you get the same beginner and PB-chasing friendliness with no other traffic on the course.
Distances available include supersprint, sprint and standard/Olympic, while they’re all also available as a relay with a team of two or three people.
Banana Triathlon
Date: 1 July
Location: Dorney Lake, Windsor
The second event in Human Race’s Dorney Lake series, the Banana Triathlon has received warm words of praise from the 220 team for years.
That’s because it’s incredibly beginner friendly and is equally as good for anyone chasing personal bests.
All the action unfolds on the same course as the Eton Sprints Weekend, but the early July date should offer slightly better weather and more time to train.
There’s a range of options available up to Olympic distance, plus two youth events and a duathlon.
Hever Castle Festival of Endurance
Date: 9 July
Location: Hever Castle, Kent
The Castle Event Series of races are always popular and well organised, and this event at Hever Castle is no exception.
Competitors have a wide range of distances to choose from here, with everything from runs, swims, duathlons and triathlons.
In terms of triathlons, there are full or middle-distance events on offer, and everything is based out of Hever Castle, which was once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn.
The swims take place in Hever Lake, the bike routes take you through Ashdown Forest and around the South Downs, while the runs unfold on the beautiful castle grounds and surrounding villages.
There’s also an event here on 23-24 September.
Henley Triathlon
Date: 23 July
Location: Henley Leisure Centre, Oxfordshire
Here’s another beginner-friendly triathlon with a lot of history. In fact, 2023 will be the 14th year the Henley Triathlon has taken part at Henley Leisure Centre.
Competitors can choose from a supersprint or sprint distance, while both can also be taken on as a relay team.
The swim takes place in Henley Leisure Centre’s heated indoor swimming pool and is followed by a bike route through rolling Oxfordshire countryside (one lap for the supersprint, two laps for the sprint).
After that, the run course takes you on a multi-lap route around a grass field.
Hertfordshire & Middlesex Triathlon
Date: 30 July
Location: Sandy Lodge, Rickmansworth
Taking place entirely inside of the M25 circle, this triathlon is a great option if you don’t want to travel very far.
The event is based out of Merchant Taylors’ School, with its grounds including sports fields, lakes and other green areas.
Starting with a lake swim, the event then takes competitors on a loop (or two, for the Olympic-distance event) of the local roads, passing through a patchwork of fields.
The flat run takes place around the lake, with each lap being 2.6km.
London Triathlon (now Challenge London)
Date: 5-6 August
Location: ExCel, Custom House, London
If you want short travel times, it’s hard to beat Challenge London (formerly the London Triathlon), one of the most popular events in the country.
Based out of the ExCel, the event is easily accessible via public transport and there are also thousands of parking spaces if you want to drive.
There are a range of distances available, including supersprint, sprint, Olympic and Olympic Plus, with the latter including an 80km bike rather than the standard 40km you do in a normal Olympic distance.
In fact, there’s even a ‘Weekend Warrior’ category, where you try to complete as many back-to-back triathlons as you can over the weekend.
All events start with an open-water swim in the docks. The Olympic and Olympic Plus bike routes will take you past Big Ben, the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament, and all are followed up with a multi-lap run near the ExCel.
Dorney Lake Season Finale Triathlon
Date: 17 September
Location: Dorney Lake, Windsor
Organised by the same people that run the Eton Sprints Weekend and Banana Triathlon, the Season Finale Tri is a great option if you want to enter a race later in the year.
The race unfolds on the same course, so you’ll get the same calm waters and fast and flat routes for the rest of the race.
This time, there’ll also be a shorter option for first timers (200m swim, 5.3km bike and 2.5km run), plus an Olympic distance.
There’ll also be a duathlon, with its 5km run, 21.1km bike and 5km run.
Happy to travel a little further for a race? Here’s our list of the best triathlons in the UK.
Top image credit: Limelight Sports Club
Rob Slade
