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Top 15 UK Marathons To Run In 2027: Cities, Coast And Mountains
The UK has an exceptional choice of marathons, from world famous city races to challenging mountain courses and scenic events through coast and countryside.
For runners planning a marathon in 2027, the possibilities include the extraordinary atmosphere of London, fast city running in Manchester, the Scottish Highlands around Loch Ness and the mountains of Eryri in North Wales. There are also established races in cities including Edinburgh, Belfast, Leeds, York, Chester and Newport.
The marathons in this guide are presented in calendar order rather than ranked. They have been selected because they offer something really worth running for, whether that is the course, atmosphere, history, scenery, potential for a fast time or the opportunity to experience somewhere new over 26.2 miles.
Brighton Marathon: 4 April 2027
Brighton combines a major spring marathon with the distinctive setting of one of England's best known seaside cities. The 2027 race takes place on Easter Sunday as part of Brighton Marathon Weekend.
The course takes runners through Brighton and Hove, with the seafront becoming an increasingly important part of the experience. Coastal views and long stretches beside the sea give the race a character quite different from Britain's inland city marathons.
Brighton is also easy to reach from London and much of southern England, while the city has plenty to offer before and after the race. For runners looking to combine their marathon with a weekend by the sea, it is one of the most appealing options on the UK calendar.
Southampton Marathon: 11 April 2027
Southampton provides another opportunity to race 26.2 miles on the South Coast, although the experience is quite different from Brighton. The marathon forms part of the Southampton Marathon Festival alongside a half marathon, 10K and 5K.
The route takes runners through the city and incorporates its waterfront surroundings. Crossing the Itchen Bridge is one of its defining features, adding a significant climb as well as elevated views across Southampton.
Its April date places the race in the heart of the spring marathon season. Southampton is particularly worth considering for runners who want an urban marathon while looking beyond the UK's largest events.
Manchester Marathon: 18 April 2027
Manchester has become one of Europe's leading marathons and is firmly established as a highlight of the UK spring running calendar.
Starting and finishing in Trafford, the course travels through communities across Greater Manchester. Its relatively flat profile has made the race particularly attractive to runners chasing personal bests, while extensive crowd support brings atmosphere to long sections of the route.
Places are highly sought after, making early planning important for anyone hoping to take part. Charity entries provide another route onto the start line and fundraising remains a significant part of the event.
Newport Marathon: 18 April 2027
Newport provides one of the flatter marathon options in Wales and a marked contrast to the mountainous challenge awaiting runners at Marathon Eryri later in the year.
Starting and finishing in Newport, the course extends beyond the city into the surrounding countryside before returning towards the finish. The favourable profile has helped the race become a popular choice for runners targeting a personal best.
The 2027 race takes place on the same day as Manchester, creating an interesting choice for anyone targeting a mid April marathon. For runners looking for a fast Welsh road race, Newport deserves serious consideration.
London Marathon: 24 And 25 April 2027
The London Marathon is one of the defining events in world distance running. Elite competition, extraordinary charity fundraising, huge spectator support and a landmark packed course combine to create a race that runners travel from across the world to experience.
The route starts in Greenwich and Blackheath before travelling through south east London, crossing Tower Bridge and continuing towards Canary Wharf and central London. The final section follows the Thames towards Westminster before runners turn towards the famous finish on The Mall.
The 2027 edition will be unique. For one year only, the TCS London Marathon will take place across Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 April, with runners on both days following the course from Greenwich to Westminster.
Shakespeare Marathon: 25 April 2027
The Shakespeare Marathon uses Stratford upon Avon as the setting for a long established road race through Warwickshire.
The route combines the historic town with the surrounding countryside, producing a marathon with a more traditional feel than the huge city events that dominate much of the spring calendar. Its connection with Shakespeare also gives the race an identity firmly rooted in its location.
Stratford upon Avon is an attraction in its own right, particularly for runners travelling from outside the area. The historic centre, riverside and surrounding Warwickshire countryside make it easy to turn the marathon into a full weekend away.
Belfast City Marathon: 2 May 2027
The Belfast City Marathon is one of Northern Ireland's major sporting events and provides an opportunity to discover different parts of the city over 26.2 miles.
The race starts at Stormont Estate and finishes in Ormeau Park, travelling through Belfast between the two. Support from local communities plays an important role in the day and helps create an atmosphere that extends well beyond the main event areas.
Its early May date comes just after the busiest part of the April marathon calendar. Belfast is also compact enough to explore over a weekend, adding another reason to consider the race if you are travelling from elsewhere in the UK, Ireland or overseas.
Milton Keynes Marathon: 3 May 2027
The Milton Keynes Marathon takes place over the early May Bank Holiday and showcases a surprisingly green side of one of Britain's best known planned cities.
Much of the route uses the city's extensive network of paths and green spaces, taking runners past parks, lakes and residential areas. This creates a course where stretches surrounded by greenery are every bit as important as the more urban sections.
One of the highlights is saved until the end, when runners enter Stadium MK for the finish. Completing the marathon inside the stadium provides a memorable conclusion to the 26.2 miles.
Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon: 9 May 2027
The Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon has quickly established its place on the UK running calendar. Created in honour of former Leeds Rhinos player Rob Burrow, the event has a powerful connection with fundraising and the fight against motor neurone disease.
Starting and finishing at Headingley Stadium, the route takes runners beyond central Leeds into surrounding communities and countryside. There is considerably more climbing than on some of Britain's fastest city courses, making the terrain an important part of the challenge.
Fundraising remains at the heart of the event, but the marathon has developed an identity that extends beyond its original inspiration. The combination of a testing course, strong local support and the story behind the race makes Leeds a memorable choice for 2027.
Edinburgh Marathon: 30 May 2027
Edinburgh combines one of Britain's great cities with a marathon that eventually heads east towards the coast and Musselburgh.
The opening stages provide a taste of the Scottish capital before the route moves towards East Lothian. A generally favourable profile has contributed to Edinburgh's reputation for fast running, while the coastal sections change the character of the course as the race progresses.
The marathon is part of Edinburgh Marathon Festival, with several other distances taking place across the weekend. This works particularly well for groups and families where runners want to tackle different events while sharing the same trip.
Richmond Marathon: 12 September 2027
Richmond reveals a greener side of London than runners encounter during the capital's famous spring marathon. The race begins inside Kew Gardens before continuing through south west London and alongside the River Thames.
Riverside stretches and parkland shape much of the experience, with the course making the most of an area of London better known for open spaces than city streets. It is an unusual opportunity to complete a marathon in the capital without heading into central London.
Taking place in September, Richmond also provides an early target for the autumn marathon season. The combination of Kew Gardens, the Thames and south west London gives the race plenty of its own character.
Loch Ness Marathon: 26 September 2027
Few UK marathons can match Loch Ness for its combination of scenery and sense of journey. The point to point course starts in the Scottish Highlands before following the south eastern side of Loch Ness towards Inverness.
Moorland, woodland and long views across the loch dominate much of the route before runners eventually reach the city. The changing landscape makes the surroundings a central part of the experience rather than simply a backdrop to the race.
The location also makes this an obvious marathon around which to build a longer trip. Inverness, Loch Ness and the wider Highlands provide plenty to explore once the running is finished.
Chester Marathon: October 2027
Chester combines a historic English city with rural roads and a course that crosses the border into Wales.
After leaving the city, runners pass through countryside and villages before eventually returning towards Chester. Crossing between England and Wales adds an unusual dimension to a route that changes considerably during the 26.2 miles.
The historic centre provides plenty to explore around race weekend, while the mixture of city and countryside makes the marathon particularly appealing to runners who prefer variety in their course. The exact 2027 date is still to be confirmed.
Yorkshire Marathon: 17 October 2027
The Yorkshire Marathon takes place in York, combining one of England's most historic cities with the villages and countryside surrounding it.
Starting and finishing around the University of York, the course heads beyond the city into rural North Yorkshire before eventually returning towards the finish. Runners therefore experience a mixture of event atmosphere and quieter country roads as the marathon unfolds.
York itself is a major part of the attraction. Its compact historic centre, city walls and wealth of places to visit make the Yorkshire Marathon particularly well suited to an autumn race weekend.
Marathon Eryri: 30 October 2027
Marathon Eryri is unlike anything else in this guide. Instead of a fast city course, runners face a demanding road marathon through the mountain landscape of Eryri in North Wales.
The route circles Yr Wyddfa, passing through Llanberis, Beddgelert and Waunfawr along the way. Significant climbing and exposed sections make the landscape an integral part of the challenge rather than simply something to admire from the course.
That difficulty is central to the race's appeal. Marathon Eryri has built its reputation over decades and attracts runners looking for spectacular scenery, atmosphere and a serious test over 26.2 miles.
Which Top UK Marathon Should You Choose in 2027?
The right UK marathon depends on what you want from your 26.2 miles. London and Manchester provide the scale and atmosphere of major international events, while Brighton, Edinburgh, Belfast, Leeds and Yorkshire combine substantial race experiences with destinations worth visiting in their own right.
For scenery, Loch Ness and Marathon Eryri are obvious choices, although the experiences could hardly be more different. Richmond explores a greener side of London, Chester mixes city and countryside across England and Wales, while Shakespeare uses historic Stratford upon Avon as the base for a traditional road marathon. Newport has particular appeal for runners looking for a flatter Welsh course, while Southampton and Milton Keynes add further choices to the busy spring calendar.
Entry arrangements can be just as important as the course when making your decision. Some of these marathons sell out quickly or have restricted entry routes, while charity places provide another way into several events. If one particular race matters to you, investigate its entry arrangements well before you begin building your training towards one of these top UK marathons in 2027.
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