London Cross Challenge @ Parliament Hill

🏅 Stand by for a XC treat as the London Cross Challenge takes place on the hallowed turf at Parliament Hill.  Spectating is free on the route.

NEWSFLASH: The London Cross Challenge is a wrap for 2026!  Review 👇

👀 Check out our ATHLETICS section here for more events coming up in the capital.  Including the London Marathon and London Diamond League.

2026 REVIEW

CONGRATULATIONS to Hugo Milner who repeated his 2024 success at Parliament Hill by winning 2026 London Cross Challenge senior men’s race.  The international triathlete led from the gun to win over 10km in muddy conditions in a time of 32:16.  2025 National Cross Country champion Richard Slade was second in 32:39.  James Kingston (National Cross Country champion in 2023) completed the podium places with a time of 32:45.

In the women’s senior race, Eleanor Curran took the win over the 8km course.  The Leeds City AC athlete broke the tape in a time of time of 29:50.  Scout Adkin was second in 30:01.  Niamh Brown finished in third place.

2026 PREVIEW

With the London skyline as the breathtaking backdrop and an array of the UK’s top cross country runners set to take part, Hampstead Heath is the place to be for the London Cross Challenge.  Taking place on Saturday 7 February it’s the first big athletics event on home soil in 2026.

The London Cross Challenge first took place in 2024 as the London International Cross Country.  Abbie Donnelly (senior women’s champion) and Hugo Milner (senior men’s champion) were crowned senior women’s and senior men’s champion respectively, each claiming a 2,000 first prize and sealing their places to represent Great Britain at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships.  A memorable day of racing also saw European U20 XC champion Innes FitzGerald stake her claim as one of the brightest young talents in UK running, winning the U20 race by 69 seconds.

2026 PREVIEW

This year’s event will feature a host of races designed to showcase the sport in a unique setting for cross country running (see below for the full timetable).

Races will start and finish next to Parliament Hill Lido on Hampstead Heath and take place on a 2km multi-lap course.  A switchback at the end of each loop, will enable spectators to get up close and personal to every race.  Large parts of the course will be viewable from the start/finish area. 

Junior races will take place between 11am and 2pm.  Headlining the show are two senior races.  The senior women’s race over 8,000m is at 2.15pm and the senior men’s race over 10,000m is at 2.50pm.  

The senior races will host the Home Countries International & Celtic Nations Cross Country (see below for ‘ones to watch’) which rotates around the 4 home countries.  Teams representing England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will take part.  The races will also feature an area competition with teams from the North, Midland, South and East competing against each other.

Bringing up a hat-trick of jeopardy, the senior races are part of the British Athletics Cross Challenge.  The London leg is the third race of the 2025/2026 series which concludes in Nottingham.  The best cross country runners compete over four races across the winter/spring months.

TEAMS ANNOUNCED

England have announced their team for the Home Countries International.  The senior men’s squad includes Jenson Connell (Leeds City AC), who represented Great Britain at the European U23 Cross Country Championships in Lagoa at the end of 2025.  Leading the women’s team is 2025 English National Champion and last year’s senior women’s individual winner, Jessica Gibbson (Reading AC).

Johnson Hughes (Rotherham Harriers & AC) has been selected for the Men’s Junior team.  This follows his appearance for the Novuna Great Britain & Northern Ireland team at the World Cross Country Championships in Florida last month.  His World XC teammate Michael Clarke (City of Norwich), who finished 20th out in Florida, will also be competing individually in London.

For Scotland, Scout Adkin (Moorfoot Runners) will be one to watch.  Adkin arrives with the world No.1 ranking from the 2025 Mountain Running World Cup.  Logan Rees (Fife AC), last year’s Men’s individual Cross Challenge winner in Leeds, also features in the Scottish squad.

Northern Ireland bring a strong team featuring rising young talent and regional championship standouts.  These include Emer McKee (City of Lisburn AC), Tom Fleming (City of Lisburn AC) and Odhran McBrearty (Finn Valley AC).

LONDON CROSS CHALLENGE – TICKETS, TIMINGS & TRAVEL

🎟️ Spectating is free on all areas of the course.

🕒 Timetable

🚊🚗 Travel tips: The start of each race is located near to Parliament Hill Fields Lido on Hampstead Heath.  The nearest railway station is Gospel Oak (just a few minutes walk) on the London Overground.  Buses 24 and 168 stop nearby.  If travelling by tube Kentish Town and Belsize Park are both a 10-15 minute walk.  Plan your journey at the Transport for London website.

THE COURSE

Parliament Hill in north London is an iconic venue for cross country.  The National Cross Country Championships have taken place there on a regular basis since the 1950s.  The course, based at Hampstead Heath, is known as the ‘home of English cross country’.  Its uphill start (main picture) making for compelling viewing as a sea of athletes jockey for position on one of the toughest courses in the country.  The 2km race loop used at the London Cross Challenge incorporates the first half of the uphill start.

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