ATW Milton Keynes Triathlon

The ATW Milton Keynes Triathlon is coming to Willen Lake on Sunday 12 September 2027, with sprint and standard distances to choose from. It's one of the few closed-road triathlons in the UK, which is the main thing that sets it apart: the bike leg is fully closed to traffic, so you're not dodging cars or worrying about junctions while you're on two wheels. That pairs with a calm open-water swim and a flat run around the lake, and the whole venue sits less than an hour from London, Birmingham and Oxford.

It's marketed as one of the best beginner triathlons in the country, and the numbers back that up. There's a generous five-hour cut-off, which means first-timers can take their time without feeling the clock ticking down, and they'll be sharing the course with club athletes and elite competitors. The swim is a rolling start, so you're not all diving in at once, and it's a non-drafting race, meaning you keep your own distance on the bike rather than tucking in behind someone else.

The event is run by ATW, which James Shipley started back in 2011. Since then it's grown into a national events company specialising in running, triathlon, duathlon, aquathon and cycling, with over 40,000 entries a year. Their charity partner for this one is Alzheimer's Research UK.

Entries run from £70 to £120, and the whole thing takes place at Willen Lake, Brickhill St, Milton Keynes MK15 0DS.