Bidwells Oxford 10k is the oldest run in our Town and Gown series. Inspired by a local boy Daniel Cleaver who had muscular dystrophy, it started in 1982. Daniel’s father and local runners set up the event as a fun run to raise money for muscular dystrophy and to this day all profits still go to our work.
What is the Bidwells Oxford 10k?
As the only closed-route race in Oxford, this sell-out event offers a unique opportunity to run on city roads amidst Oxford’s scenic landmarks and historic charm. Now in its 45th year, the course also features beautiful stretches through the city’s parks and alongside its rivers.
With its fast and flat layout, it’s an ideal setting for both fun runners and experienced runners aiming to achieve a personal best (PB).
Join us for the Bidwells Oxford 10k race, an annual event that attracts around 8,000 runners every year.
What’s included?
Personalised training plan from URUNN
Professional warm up
Branded items at finish
Chip timing
Option to pre-order finisher t-shirt
Exclusive finisher medal
Why take part?
- Participate in Oxford’s only closed-road 10K route, passing some of the city’s iconic landmarks.
- Challenge yourself on a course that welcomes everyone, from elite runners chasing a personal best to fundraisers, friends and families.
- Soak up the atmosphere in our vibrant Event Village, with a range of food and drink options to enjoy.
- Purchase high-quality photos after the event to remember your achievement.
- As an event run by Muscular Dystrophy UK, your registration fee and donations help fund groundbreaking research and life-changing support.
Bidwells Oxford 10k route
Our route takes you through the closed roads of Oxford city centre and University Parks. You’ll run past many beautiful and historic landmarks and university buildings, with marshalling and clear signage throughout.
Bidwells Oxford 3k route
Our epic 3K route, designed for 9-15 year-olds, takes you through one of Oxford’s most beautiful and historic green spaces. Run through University Parks, follow the scenic River Cherwell, and step through history with Oxford’s iconic colleges just beyond the trees.
Our headline partner
Bidwells
We’re a leading property consultancy, working within the most dynamic real estate markets in the UK. Over 80% of our work is concentrated in the Oxford-Cambridge Arc – a region of global significance, where we sell, on average, £1.1m of new homes every day, and have been advising science and technology businesses for more than 50 years. Established in 1839, we’ve retained many of our original clients, including some of the best-known colleges in Oxford and Cambridge who are among the biggest landowners in the UK. Our deep insight helps investors, developers, landowners and homeowners harness the benefits of the exceptional growth in these markets.
Event partners
Our digital training partner: URUNN
URUNN is the training app co-founded by Olympic legend Sir Mo Farah, elite coach Adam Clarke, and GB marathoner Charlotte Purdue, built to give every runner access to world-class coaching.
Get a personalised plan built around your schedule, goal, and pace —
wherever you’re starting from.
Backed by genuine elite expertise, and with a community of runners all chasing their own finish line, you’re never doing it alone.
Bidwells Oxford 10k 2026
On Sunday 10 May 2026, over 6,000 of you crossed the finish line at our Bidwells Oxford 10k. Every one of your entries is now funding groundbreaking research and life changing support for people living with muscle wasting conditions.
Find your photographs
Enter your name or bib number to find your photos.
Results
Check your chip-time results for our Oxford 2026 races.
Other ways to get involved
Enter as a fundraiser
Enjoy a free event t-shirt, complimentary post-race massage, and a free #TeamMDUK running vest.
Volunteer
The series has already raised over £3 million and we simply couldn’t put these events on without brilliant volunteers.
Frequently Asked Questions
8am – Event Village opens
8.50am – Junior 3k warm-up
9.05am – Junior 3k runners walk to start on Banbury Road
9.15am – Junior 3k start
9.30am – 10k warm-up
9.35am – head to start pens
9.45am – 10k runners walk to start on Banbury Road
10am – 10k start
1pm – Event Village closes
The Event Village in the University Parks, OX1 3RF, near the cricket pavilion. Exact location: What3Words ///sounds.title.scout
You’ll find everything you need pre- and post-race in the Event Village: the information and baggage tents, the registration tent for on-the-day entries, food stalls, and toilets.
The Event Village is where the pre-race warm-ups and prize presentations take place. Please note the races start on Banbury Road, a short walk from the Event Village in University Parks.
It’s important that 10k runners arrive at University Parks in time for the warm-up at 9.35am and Junior 3k runners arrive for their warm-up by 8.50am. Our compere will instruct runners to make their way to the start line after the warm-up, where they will seed themselves according to their expected finish time.
The 10k is open to everyone over the age of 16.
The 3k is open to 9-15 year olds.
The race attracts local runners, including university students, club runners and fun runners.
If you’d like to run pushing a running buggy, the route allows for this, and you are very welcome. Please just start in the appropriate place (we recommend the back and to one side) and take responsibility for the safety of yourself and others around you.
If you’re a wheelchair user or have any accessibility requirements and would like to take part, contact us on townandgown10k@musculardystrophyuk.org and we’ll make the necessary arrangements.
Race packs will be sent out by post before the event to the address provided on registration, as long as you entered on or before Tuesday 21 April. For all entries on or after Wednesday 22 April you’ll need to collect your race pack on the day from the registration marquee in the Event Village from 8am
Your race pack will include your running bib, with the timing chip fixed onto it.
If you provided your mobile number on entry, you’ll get an SMS with your chip-time shortly after you finish the race. All chip-timed results will be available after the event on www.chiptiming.co.uk.
If you’re unable to race, you can transfer your place to someone else the deadline for this is Tuesday 31 March.
Contact townandgown10k@musculardystrophyuk.org for support with this.
To ensure we don’t lose money as a charity, we can no longer offer a free deferral to the following year’s event, unless you are pregnant.
In all other situations, we can defer you place for a 50% discount on the following year’s event. The deadline for deferrals is Tuesday 31 March.
Contact townandgown10k@musculardystrophyuk.org for support with this.
A unique closed road route through the streets of Oxford
A vibrant event village experience with a number of vendors to purchase from
A professional warm up provided by David Lloyds Club
A bespoke medal and several branded items at the finish line
We have a large baggage marquee in the event village. Please make sure your race number is on your baggage label (attached to your race bib) and attach the label securely to your bag before handing it in. After the race, present your race number to reclaim your bag.
Trophy presentations will take place at 11am on the Event village stage . These will be based on chip-time achieved on the day for the following categories:
First, second and third place, female and male
First place in female and male age groups
Should a runner qualify for both an overall winner prize and an age group prize, they’ll be awarded the overall prize and the age group prize will be offered to the next finisher.
Parking in the centre of Oxford is extremely limited with no parking facilities in the area of the race. All roads in the immediate area are closed with parking restrictions enforced.
Local Buses
Please visit the Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach websites for up-to-date travel and bus routes to Oxford City Centre on race day.
The start and Event Village is a maximum 10-minute walk from the city centre. Any bus going near the city centre will be a walkable distance.
Trains
The start and Event Village is a maximum 20-minute walk from Oxford train station. You’ll need to factor this in when arriving by train. For up-to-date train information visit the national rail website.
Parking
Visit the Oxford City Council website for a list of car parks within the city centre. Please note, you may need a congestion charge permit.
Road closures will be in place on Sunday 11 May 2025 from 8:00am to 12:30pm.
They’ll be managed by Chevron Traffic Management and will reopen as soon as the last runner passes. Some residential parking bays will also be suspended.
Roads closed between – 8:00am – 11:30am:
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A4165 Banbury Road (St Giles to Moreton Road)
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Belbroughton Road (Northmoor Rd to Charlbury Rd)
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Charlbury Road (Belbroughton Rd to Linton Rd)
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Linton Road (Banbury Rd to Northmoor Rd & Charlbury Rd to Chadlington Rd)
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Chadlington Road
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Bardwell Road
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Norham Road
Roads closed between – 8:00am – 12:30pm:
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Fyfield Road
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Norham Gardens
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Parks Road
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South Parks Road
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Mansfield Road
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Jowett Walk
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St Cross Road
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Broad Street
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Catte Street
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New College Lane
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Queens Lane
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High Street (Queens Lane to Longwall Street)
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Longwall Street
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Holywell Street
Suspended parking bays (Sunday 11 May 2025, 12:00am–12:30pm):
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Belbroughton Rd, Linton Rd, Charlbury Rd, Chadlington Rd, Bardwell Rd
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Longwall St, Parks Rd, High St, Mansfield Rd, Jowett Walk
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Norham Gardens, Fyfield Rd, Norham Rd, Broad St
We have a zero-tolerance policy for abuse of any kind. Harassment, discrimination, intimidation, or any form of abusive behaviour will not be tolerated at any of our events. We are committed to creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all participants, volunteers, staff and spectators.
This policy reflects our commitment to ensuring that the Town and Gown 10k series is open, inclusive, and welcoming to all participants. As well as ensuring to abide by the above policy, we also ask all runners to be mindful of their attire and language, and to avoid anything that could be perceived as offensive or cause distress to others.
If you see or hear anything that concerns you whilst on the route, please report this to the nearest steward who will contact our event control team, and if necessary, the police. If you see or hear anything that concerns you in the event village, please report this to a volunteer in high-vis who will also contact the event control team, and again, if necessary, the police.
We are excited to offer the opportunity to a participant to use our Hippocampe Marathon Running Chair. The Hippocampe Marathon Running Chair allows assisted runners to participate in events with either one or two people pushing. It is ideal for marathons, half marathons and triathlons as well as being suitable for shorter distances and social running.
If you are interested in this opportunity or would like more information, please contact the Town and Gown team on townandgown10k@musculardystrophyuk.org