How many people can be in a team, and do we need a leader?

A team is a maximum of 7 people, and any leader or helper counts as one of those 7. We suggest a minimum of 3.

We're strict about the 7 — requests for bigger teams get a polite no. It's about safety, and about everyone in the team getting a decent day out of it.

Does a leader count towards the 7?

Yes. Leaders don't accompany the team, they play in it, so they take one of the seven places. A team with a leader is 6 Scouts or Guides plus 1 Leader — not 7 plus a leader on top. This catches people out every year, so it's worth checking your teams before you upload them.

Do we need a leader in the team?

If anyone in the team is under 14, yes — at least one Leader must be in that team, taking one of the seven places.

Teams where everyone is 14 or over can go round without a leader. That's your group leader's decision to make, not ours.

⚠️ Explorers and Rangers. Going round London without a leader is not the same as travelling to London without one. A unit leader doesn't have to take part in the Run, but an adult must be on hand in London all day to deal with problems and emergencies.

Who else can be in a team?

That's up to you — we don't require teams to be made up in any particular way. A mixture of Guides and Scouts is fine. A team of all leaders is fine.

Adults in a team must be DBS checked. Whether they're full leaders or occasional helpers is for you and your organisation to decide. Either way they're taking part, so they need a paid place.

Updated on: 29/08/2026