London Marathon 2027: Where to Stay and How to Plan Race Weekend

At a glance

Bring the hotel, expo and race-day journeys into one itinerary

1. The 2027 two-day format changes the booking decision

London Marathon Events has announced a one-off April 24–25, 2027 event. Do not assume everyone in a running club or friendship group is taking part on the same day. Read each runner’s allocation and build the hotel dates around the earliest race in your group.

A Saturday runner might choose Thursday to Sunday; a Sunday runner might choose Friday to Monday. A group split across both days may find Thursday to Monday more comfortable. These are suggested travel patterns, not official minimum stays. International arrivals and uncertain flight connections can justify extra time before the race.

The official Running Show page says Event Pack collection is at ExCeL and that 2027 opening times will be confirmed in the new year. Do not book a late arrival on the assumption that collection stays open until a particular hour. Put collection on the itinerary before adding tourist attractions.

This guide compares travel convenience, not guaranteed race packages. None of the hotels below is presented as including entry, a start shuttle or late checkout. If a property sells a marathon package, obtain the exact inclusions and the relevant race date in writing before paying.

2. Waterloo and the South Bank: our balanced shortlist

The trade-off is that your post-finish walk must respect the event’s pedestrian controls and permitted bridge crossings. Trace the journey from the actual exit or meeting area, not the finish-line symbol. A short straight-line distance can become a longer walk when barriers are in place.

3. London Bridge: useful rail access and a separate supporter plan

Supporters staying here can build their own viewing day while the athlete follows the start journey. The hotel’s location does not mean the runner can stop for a mid-race visit or that your family can move freely across the course. Keep the two plans separate until the reunion.

For food, investigate the Borough branch of Monmouth Coffee on a non-race morning. Check that day’s opening hours and allow for a queue. It is an optional coffee stop, not a reliable last-minute breakfast before a fixed train. Buy any essential familiar breakfast supplies the evening before.

4. Westminster versus Greenwich: finish convenience or start-side geography?

Our judgement: Waterloo or London Bridge is a good first shortlist for a mixed group. Choose Greenwich when the confirmed start journey and the rest of your stay make it work. Choose finish-side central London when reducing post-race travel is worth the higher room quote. There is no single district that removes every transfer.

5. Do not choose the hotel solely for the expo

ExCeL is a required stop for pack collection under the organiser’s current plan, but it is only one part of the trip. A room beside ExCeL may be convenient for that visit while creating longer journeys for the start, finish and group meals. Compare total travel across the stay rather than optimising the first errand.

If someone else may collect for the runner, follow the specific authorisation requirements in the final participant guide. Do not assume that possession of a screenshot is enough. Keeping entry documentation organised is more useful than making a perfectly formatted itinerary that omits the one thing needed to start.

6. Airport journeys and everyday transport costs

Choose the airport transfer after choosing the hotel. A cheap flight into an airport with a long onward journey can lose its advantage when several people pay for separate rail tickets. Compare flight plus transfer plus arrival time, especially if collection is still outstanding. A late landing the night before your race leaves little margin.

Use TfL’s journey planner for the hotel address and actual travel date. Save a second workable route in case a line has engineering work. For race morning, the official participant instructions take priority over a normal weekday journey suggestion or last year’s blog itinerary.

As a current reference, TfL’s September 2026 fare guidance lists the adult Zones 1–2 daily cap at £8.90. That is not a guaranteed 2027 fare, and it does not cover every airport journey or excursion beyond those zones. Use the same payment card or device consistently so eligible journeys count together.

Any runner travel concession must be checked in the 2027 instructions. Do not extend a participant benefit to supporters or assume a rule from 2026 remains unchanged. Budget supporters’ transport separately. Keep the rental car out of a simple central-London weekend unless another part of your trip specifically requires it.

7. The hotel checklist that matters more than a star rating

8. A weekend plan for either race day

Two days before your race: arrive, settle in and complete pack collection if it is open. Keep the evening near the hotel. If the group wants a special dinner, choose a flexible booking and a familiar meal rather than treating the runner’s pre-race night as the main culinary adventure.

The day before: review the start journey, buy breakfast supplies and agree the reunion. Supporters can explore while the runner rests. Dishoom’s London restaurants give the wider group named options for a separate meal, but do not make a runner wait in a long queue or try unfamiliar food to keep everyone together.

Race day: the athlete follows the assigned timetable and supporters follow their own viewing plan. Keep the post-race booking late enough to allow finishing procedures and a shower. The following day: choose a short walk or relaxed breakfast before travel rather than an ambitious attraction circuit.

If your group has runners on both days, the Saturday finisher should not automatically become the Sunday logistics coordinator. Agree roles beforehand. Someone who has just completed a marathon may want rest rather than a full day of standing, transfers and carrying everybody else’s bags.

9. What to budget and what to book first

The estimate below uses an all-in twin-room planning range of £200–£360 a night for three nights, divided between two people. It is not a rate quote for any named hotel, and premium properties or scarce room types can exceed it. A four-night stay adds another half-room share per person plus meals and local travel.

Book in this order: confirmed race day and entry, flexible accommodation, travel that leaves collection time, then optional meals and sightseeing. A hotel reservation is not evidence that you have a race place. Keep the runner’s entry cost personal unless the group has explicitly agreed to sponsor it.

For shared spending, start with rooms and any genuinely shared transfers. Individual sightseeing, premium meals and souvenirs should remain optional. If the group has different budgets, choose the accommodation ceiling together before circulating attractive hotels that only half the group can comfortably afford.