The best running clubs in London
I’m writing this as I sip my oat flat white, my Asics Superblast waiting expectantly in the corridor, and a not-so-subtle reminder of last night’s 10k in my calves. A running stereotype if there ever was one. Garmin stats, Strava segments, and an ever-growing collection of race tees I refuse to part with.
“Running clubs, oh yes,” my colleague once said to me with an air of sarcasm, “we’ve all been in a park when a good-looking bunch of uni-grads kick dust up onto you.” Fair enough. But if you’re reading this, I imagine you’re like me, in it for the endorphins, the community, and the post-run caffeine or – let’s be real – the occasional free flat white.
I founded my own run club back in my hometown so when it comes to running clubs, I’m all in. Whatever your motivation, whether you’re after a PB, finding love (yes, really), bringing joy back to your training, or just avoiding FOMO, London’s run club scene is a pick ’n’ mix of sweaty camaraderie. And trust me, there’s something for everyone.
Central London running clubs
PURESPORT
If you’re after community, scenic city routes, and a welcoming atmosphere, Puresport delivers. From a speedy 4:30 min/km crew to the ‘sexy pace’ 6:30 min/km group, there’s space for everyone.
As one of London’s biggest running clubs, each session starts with a pre-run briefing and coffee chat at their Clubhouses before heading out. The HQ route winds through London’s busy, iconic landmarks. Pacing the streets with this pack of sweaty mates made me feel like a force to be reckoned with.
If you're joining the Saturday long run, expect some traffic-dodging, but let’s be honest, weaving through pedestrians is just part of the London running experience.
Puresport hosts weekly 5km and longer runs, building distances through the spring and autumn race seasons. It’s a blend of structured training and laid-back fellowship, making it a favourite in the city’s running scene. Whether you’re there for the training or the post-run caffeine hit, you’ll fit right in.
- Tuesdays at 7 am in Southwark & Hackney
- Wednesdays at 6.30 pm in Southwark
- Thursdays at 7 am in Clapham
- Saturdays at 9 am in Hackney & Southwark
Midnight Runners
Sweaty, music blasting, and you’re at the club. No, it’s not Ministry of Sound, this is Midnight Runners Run Club. If you like your runs served with neon lights and a speaker blasting house music on someone’s back, meet your new crew.
Essentially a party with a 10km warm-up instead of pre-drinks or a warmup act, it’s social, sweaty, and undeniably cool. Expect a scenic route along the Thames, pit stops for squats and post-run drinks. A strong contender for ‘most fun you can have in Dry-Fit.’
Midnight Runners has monthly runs in Central London.
East London running clubs
Your Friendly Runners
If you’re a young urbanite, join this Saturday morning 10k in East London, you won’t regret it. “Every week it’s popping off,” says Hooson, its founder. “New people keep showing up. And they never come just once.”’ No sign-ups, no pressure, just a steady run with good people and a post-run coffee that sometimes lasts longer than the miles.
But it’s not all chatty long runs. Depending on their monthly schedule, YFR brings speed sessions for those looking to turn their legs over a little faster and early morning sessions for first-light lovers. For those who’ve thought “Maybe I, too, could be Mo Farah if I just applied myself?” YFR will help you put that theory to the test.
At its core, YFR is simple: run, connect, and be part of something bigger.
YFR has weekly runs with differing monthly schedules.
Say Yes Run Club
A Tuesday night 5k in Hackney with a simple rule: just say yes. Founded by Esmée, who had to learn to walk, and then run again, after an accident left her paralysed from the waist down. This running club is a celebration of what your body can do.
No sign-ups, no pressure, and no need to be nervous about showing up solo or otherwise. Just walkers, joggers, and runners meeting in London Fields at 6.30 pm, covering 5k at their own pace, and finishing at the pub, because pints taste better when you’ve earned them alongside your new like-minded besties.
Some push the pace, others keep it easy, and a few prefer to walk. It doesn’t matter how you move, only that you do. The crowd is friendly, the atmosphere is lighthearted but motivating, and the midweek reset? Undeniably worth it.
Tuesdays at 6.30 pm & Saturdays at 9 am in London Fields.
North London running clubs
Mafia Moves
Mafia Moves is a run club with a purpose. Founded by Andre Coggins, it was created to bring safety and positivity back to the streets of London. With a conscious decision not to run in parks, they run on tarmac, “making positive movement visible where it matters most”.
Meeting twice a week in North London, Mafia Moves is about support, growth, and community. The sessions are open to all, welcoming runners of all backgrounds and abilities. Whether you are training for your first event or simply looking for a new way to move, you’ll find motivation, camaraderie, empathy, and a team that will push you forward.
The Saturday morning run starts from the Gessner Apartments in Tottenham Hale, blending structured training with social miles. Tuesday evenings meet at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, offering a post-work reset with movement and connection at its core.
Mafia Moves is about showing up – for yourself, for your people, and for the streets that shaped a community.
Tuesdays at 6.30 pm at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Saturdays at 9.15 am in Tottenham Hale.
Scrambled Legs
Alarm goes off. It’s cold outside. You’ve got 25k on the plan, and the mere thought of running is already testing your willpower. Enter Scrambled Legs, the crew that makes long runs less of a lonely slog and more of a shared mission.
This is a community built for those who love the long run, or rather, love the feeling once it’s done. Every Saturday, runners show up – rain or shine, tired or fresh, sticking to paces or just getting it done. With these guys, it's not about speed, it’s about getting through it together and forging friendships through miles shared.
Expect 20 to 30km routes, steady miles, and conversation that somehow makes time move faster. The fatigue is real, but so is the support. No one gets left behind, everyone gets it done, and the post-run coffee has never tasted better.
Saturdays at 9 am. New meet point and route weekly.
South London running clubs
Croissant run club
Some runs are about speed, some are about distance, and this one is about pastries. When the only real motivation to lace up is the promise of a buttery, flakey reward at the end, Croissant Run Club delivers.
There’s no racing and no pressure, just an easy-paced run with good company, knowing a well-earned pastry and coffee await. The vibe is light, social, and beginner-friendly, perfect for those who want to start running or already love running but love carbs just as much.
Expect 4 to 5km of steady miles, conversation, and a post-run treat that always tastes better after the effort. No one gets left behind, everyone leaves happy, and with a sweet treat in hand, life feels pretty good with these guys.
Saturdays at 10.30 am meeting at Clapham Common Tube Station or Battersea Power Station. Check their schedule.
West London run clubs
Pana Run Club
PRC brings the kind of energy that makes you wonder if they’re high on electrolytes or just pure vibes. They have a joyous energy and an even greater community spirit. What began as four friends meeting up outside their usual social settings has grown into a warm and welcoming community.
Rooted in its name, Pana (which is short for Pan Africanism) embodies the ethos of unity, bringing together people from the wider African diaspora and beyond. PRC welcomes and supports runners of all ethnic backgrounds and all abilities.
The energy is always high, kicking off with a pre-run stretch before starting on a 3.5km to 5km run at pace groups of 6:00/km to 9:00min/km on a Thursday and longer runs on a Sunday. No matter the pace, PRC runners show up, support each other and keep the vibes alive.
Thursdays at 7 pm in Northumberland Alley, Sundays at 10.30 am with an 11 am start at Rembrandt Gardens, Little Venice.
Naive Run Club
When the rest of the running world feels a bit too intense, Naive Run Club is the friend who couldn’t care less if you don’t know your Garmin from your Strava or think carbon plates belong in a science lab. Running is just about moving your body outdoors, and that’s more than enough.
There is no chance of being left behind with this friendly bunch. The back pacer always matches the last person’s pace, whether that means walking, slowing down or even stopping for a breather.
Starting at 7 am, Naive Run Club meets at their Clubhouse for a quick warm-up before heading out on a 5.5km loop over Wandsworth Bridge and Putney Bridge, finishing back with a caffeine reward at a friendly 20% discount.
The most enticing part for me, aside from the coffee and post-run yap, is that Naive often collaborates with fun brands to treat their runners to goodies – and who isn’t a sucker for a feel-good freebie?
Tuesdays weekly at 7 am, Sundays fortnightly at 10 am, meeting at Parsons Green.
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