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Where To Stay For The London Marathon: The Complete Accommodation Guide For Runners

Running the London Marathon is an unforgettable experience, but where you stay can have a huge impact on your race weekend. Every April, around 50,000 runners head to the capital for one of the world's most famous marathons, with thousands travelling from across the UK and overseas. In 2027 there will be a marathon on both days of the weekend. Choosing the right accommodation can reduce stress, improve your race day experience and allow you to enjoy everything London has to offer before and afte

Running the London Marathon is an unforgettable experience, but where you stay can have a huge impact on your race weekend. Every April, around 50,000 runners head to the capital for one of the world's most famous marathons, with thousands travelling from across the UK and overseas. In 2027 there will be a marathon on both days of the weekend. Choosing the right accommodation can reduce stress, improve your race day experience and allow you to enjoy everything London has to offer before and after crossing the finish line. Book Your Accommodation As Early As Possible The London Marathon is one of the busiest weekends of the year for hotels in the capital. As soon as runners receive confirmation of their place, accommodation starts disappearing quickly. Leave your booking until January and you'll find fewer choices and significantly higher prices. Booking early not only saves money but also gives you the freedom to choose an area that best suits your race plans. Even if your training is only just beginning, it's worth securing accommodation while availability is high. Many hotels also offer flexible cancellation policies, providing extra peace of mind. Availability for 2027 is already very limited and very expensive so if you see something reasonable grab it quick, don't put it off. How Much Accommodation Does London Have? London has one of the largest hotel markets in Europe, with thousands of hotels ranging from budget chains to luxury five-star properties. There are also countless serviced apartments and holiday rentals available, giving runners plenty of options regardless of their budget. Major hotel brands such as Premier Inn, Travelodge, Holiday Inn, Hilton and Park Plaza all have multiple locations across the city. If you prefer more space or you're travelling with family, serviced apartments and self-catering accommodation can often offer better value than traditional hotels. How Many Nights Should You Stay? The answer depends on how far you're travelling and how much time you have available. Many runners choose to arrive on Saturday, collect their race number at the London Marathon Running Show, stay overnight and head home after the race on Sunday. While this is perfectly possible, it can make for a very busy weekend. In 2027 it's likely this will all be different so check Expo opening days as soon as you get your entry confirmed. Adding Friday night to your stay allows you to visit the Expo at a quieter time, settle into your hotel and enjoy a much more relaxed build-up to race day. If you're travelling from overseas, extending your stay either before or after the marathon gives you the chance to explore London properly. Should You Stay Near The Start Or The Finish? This is probably the biggest accommodation decision you'll make. Staying close to the start in Greenwich or Blackheath gives you a wonderfully relaxed race morning. You can enjoy breakfast without rushing and walk to your start area rather than relying on busy public transport. For many first-time runners, this can remove a lot of unnecessary stress. The downside comes after you've completed 26.2 miles. You'll still need to travel back across London with tired legs while thousands of other runners are doing exactly the same thing. Staying closer to the finish around Westminster, Victoria or Covent Garden offers the opposite experience. Race morning requires a short journey to the start, but once you've crossed the finish line you're only a comfortable walk from your hotel. After months of training, that short walk back to a hot shower often feels like a luxury. Covent Garden is the perfect place to stay, but won't be cheap Choosing The Right Area Westminster is perfect if you want to be within walking distance of the finish on The Mall. It also places you close to many of London's best attractions, although hotels here are among the most expensive. Victoria offers excellent transport links, a wide range of hotels and an easy walk back after finishing. It strikes an excellent balance between convenience and cost. Covent Garden combines fantastic restaurants, entertainment and straightforward transport connections. It makes an ideal base if you're planning to turn marathon weekend into a city break. Greenwich is ideal for runners who want the shortest possible journey to the start. It provides a calm and relaxed atmosphere before the race but requires a longer journey back afterwards. Read more about the London Marathon course here. How To Find The Best Hotel Finding accommodation has never been easier. Hotel comparison websites allow you to compare hundreds of options in minutes, while many hotel chains also offer exclusive prices when booking directly. If you're considering an apartment, compare the facilities carefully. Access to a kitchen can be useful if you want complete control over your pre-race meals, particularly if you have specific nutritional requirements. Whichever option you choose, check transport links, cancellation policies, breakfast availability and walking distance to Underground or DLR stations before confirming your booking. How Much Should You Budget? London Marathon weekend is never cheap. Prices increase significantly because of demand, particularly in central London. Budget hotels may cost considerably more than they would during a normal weekend, while four-star hotels can become very expensive. If you're travelling as part of a group, sharing an apartment can often work out cheaper than booking several hotel rooms. With two marathons on 2027 race weekend it could be even more expensive. Although accommodation is one of the larger expenses of marathon weekend, remember that you're investing in making one of the biggest days of your running life as enjoyable and stress-free as possible. Be Careful If you're booking on the likes of Airbnb please be careful. Last year there were lots of stories of hosts cancelling bookings at the last minute and scams where the accommodation booked didn't even exist. With the Double Marathon in 2027 and accomodation at a premium the likelihood of these issues increasing is very high. Where to Stay At The London Marathon 2027 The London Marathon is far more than just a race. It's an experience you'll remember for years, and where you stay plays an important part in that experience. Book your accommodation early, think carefully about whether you want to stay near the start or the finish, and choose somewhere that supports your race-day routine. A well-chosen hotel can reduce stress, improve your recovery after the race and allow you to enjoy every moment of one of the greatest marathons in the world. If you're looking for a charity entry in the 2027 London Marathon head here

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