Simple Tips for Running Lifestyles

Uncover the best sights, activities, and dining options for runners visiting London for the London Marathon.

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Running the London Marathon is one of those bucket-list experiences that’s about so much more than race day. Between traveling to another continent, navigating a new city, juggling taper energy, and turning the trip into an actual vacation, there’s a lot to think about when planning your London Marathon itinerary.

When I ran the London Marathon in 2025 with a group of friends, we treated it like a girls’ weekend in another country. It made the experience so much more relaxed and memorable. This travel guide is part race prep, part London travel advice, and part “what to do in London” so you can soak it all in without feeling overwhelmed.

Whether this is your first international marathon or your tenth, consider this your runner-friendly roadmap to London.

Pro Tip: If you need help planning an international (or domestic) trip, consider booking your trip with a travel agent. See why every runner needs a travel agent with this post! I also booked my flight for free using miles from my United Card!

London Travel Advice for the Marathon

Traveling internationally for a marathon comes with extra logistics, but London is one of the easiest cities to navigate once you arrive. It’s also a gateway to Europe since you don’t have to worry about learning another language.

For our trip, most of us landed at Heathrow on Thursday morning, which gave us time to adjust, grab our bibs at the race expo, and explore the city before race day. Brian arrived Saturday, which worked perfectly and allowed us to enjoy the city together after the race. If you can swing it, arriving a few days early takes a lot of pressure off race weekend.

Pro Tip: Never lose your passport with this passport holder that connects to your iPhone! I love this passport holder and it gives me so much peace of mind! Order it here on Amazon!

What You Need to Visit the UK in 2026

Before booking your flight, make sure your passport is valid for six months before leaving on your trip. You won’t be able to board your flight if your passport expires within six months of your departure. 

Once your flight is booked, you’ll need to apply for the UK Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) card. This is mandatory for all international visitors before entering the United Kingdom. The cost is £16 (approximately $20-$22 USD) per applicant.

If you’re a frequent international traveler, this is also a good time to review trusted traveler programs and airport tips.

Pro Tip: Consider applying for Global Entry to make your entry back into the United States. Get Global Entry for free with the United Card!

How to Pack When Traveling for a Marathon

Packing smart is everything when you’re racing abroad. My biggest rule is simple: race-critical items should never go in your checked bag.

Pack everything you need for race day in your carry-on. Use this marathon packing short list for marathon race day. You should make sure to pack these items in your carry-on bag.

• Running shoes
• Race outfit and socks (here’s what I wore for the race)
• Nutrition and fuel you’ve trained with
• Your race day glitter
• Travel-size recovery tools, including your compression socks and massage tools (I love how travel-friendly The Stick is for any trip)

I used a prompt to create the perfect packing list to ensure I had everything I needed for this trip. I shared my perfect packing prompt in this post.

Pro Tip: If you want a full breakdown, I’ve shared more detailed international marathon travel tips here. And get my shopping list of travel essentials here on Amazon.

Where to Stay When Visiting London for the Marathon

For the marathon portion of our trip, we stayed in South Kensington and then moved to another hotel in Westminster after the race to be closer to the major attractions.

A few things to know:

• Westminster is an ideal location if you want to stay close to the finish line.
• The London Tube is fast, reliable, and easy, so you don’t need to stay right by the start or finish. Within our group, we stayed in Victoria, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden, Westminster, and South Kensington, and we all loved how easy it was to get around.
• Choose a neighborhood that matches your travel style, not just race logistics.

The Best Activities When Visiting London for Marathoners

London is incredibly walkable, which makes it perfect for light movement during taper or relaxed sightseeing after the marathon. From historic landmarks to food experiences, there’s no shortage of things to do in London without overdoing it.

Activities for Before the London Marathon

The key before any marathon race day is to keep activities low-stress and low-impact.

• River boat tour on the Thames River: This was a great way to see the city while staying off our feet. We even walked past the Cutty Sark while crews were setting up the course, which made the race feel very real.
• London afternoon tea: We enjoyed tea service at the Wolseley and based on the menu, we thought the cost was per person. We were delighted to learn the pricing was per tower. We ordered three classic towers for five people. They were a delicious selection of finger sandwiches, desserts, and scones. It was a ton of food and felt like a fun, celebratory pre-race experience. There are also double-decker bus tea tours as an option if you want something unique!
• Pasta dinner the night before the race: One of our friends was so excited for Circolo Popolare because of the cheese wheel they mix your cacio e pepe in at your table. After seeing the gorgeous pictures of this restaurant, our whole group booked multiple reservations so we could all experience this restaurant! We also ordered a pizza to-go for a late-night meal before the race. Plan ahead! We booked our reservation a month in advence.

Pro Tip: These walking shoes are my go-to for everyday use and my travel adventures. They’re so cute and go with any outfit! Check them out on Amazon!

Tips for Running the London Marathon

Race day in London is unforgettable, but it helps to know a few things ahead of time.

• Cell service is very limited in the starting village. The starting villages are on the edge of the city and packed with runners. Have a pre-race meeting location in the starting village if you are running the race with friends, so you can find each other.
• Get the Green Corral experience if you can: London introduced a sustainability-focused green corral in 2025, which we participated in. We had a VIP race experience with earlier start times and extra bathrooms.
• Train for uneven roads. The course has narrow sections and uneven pavement. Adding ankle strength and stability work to your training goes a long way.
• Run with the Rhinos. This was one of the most iconic parts of the race. There are runners who dress in full rhino costumes to support Save the Rhinos Foundation, and the crowd energy around them is incredible. They have their rhino names on them.

Activities for After the London Marathon

After the race, we shifted fully into vacation mode. Plan your post-race activities ahead of time since some of these activities have limited availability. Having all of our events reserved ahead of time allowed us to celebrate without decision fatigue.

Restaurants to Check Out in London

London’s food scene is worth building into your itinerary.

• Dishoom: The Covent Garden location is one of the best Indian meals we’ve ever had. They only take reservations before 5 pm. Make sure to arrive early, as they will give your reservation away if you are late. They don’t take reservations after 5 pm, and it’s really popular. The line often wraps around the building, and it’s worth the wait. I also love they donate a meal two two different childhood nutrition programs for every meal served in their restaurants (you know I love a charity angle).
• Local pubs: Most pubs are counter service and pay-as-you-go, which makes them perfect for casual meals and post-sightseeing stops. Most of the pubs we found were really nice and gorgeous! We also visited the Black Dog for a little Swiftie fun. They have some merchandise in the pub, but most of it is available online.
• Plume: This wine restaurant hosts a Tuesday event where guests can pass secret notes to other diners and the staff. We were really popular since we attended wearing our marathon medals. It’s quirky, social, and a fun way to experience London nightlife without staying out late.

Tour Experiences for London Marathon Week

Here are some of the tours we scheduled with Maggie, our travel agent, and we loved the experiences! We saved these tours for after the race so I could bring my marathon medal for incredible pictures. We loved the creative apprach to having Maggie select these tour operators based on our interests.

The Borough Market

Borough Market is a must for food lovers. There are so many different cuisines, wines, and desserts to enjoy! There are also a few filming locations from Harry Potter and Bridget Jones’ Diary that you can see in person.

A few things to note about the Borough Market:

• It’s closed on Mondays
• It’s located in South London
• We recommend booking a guided food tour! We learned so much about the food culture, and samples were included. There are so many vendors in the market, it was nice to have the best samples picked for us ahead of time.

After visiting the market, we stopped at The Anchor, which is the oldest pub in London. It’s also where Shakespeare would drink and is close to the Globe theater. It’s an easy walk from the market.

Legends of Rock Tour

We booked a tour to see more of the locations for notable rock moments in London. This tour included Abbey Road. While it’s a great pre-race activity since you’re seated most of the time, it was especially fun post-race when we got photos crossing Abbey Road with our medals.

Visit Stonehenge

We took a bus tour to Stonehenge, which is only about a 90 minute drive from London. We took an all-day tour and the tour also included the city of Bath, which was a filming location for many movies and TV shows, including Bridgerton. It was a long day but absolutely worth it to see the English countryside.

How to Get Around for the London Marathon

London is incredibly easy to get around. Here are options for traveling in London. We recommend using the Tube whenever possible. It’s faster and more reliable than Uber or a cab, and it’s really affordable. The fare depends on where you scan in and scan out. 

If you need to take Uber or Lyft, you don’t need a separate app. You can use your normal app.

Related Post: Learn strategies to maximize your airline points (including through Lyft rides you’re already taking) with these airline mile tips!

London Marathon FAQs

Here are a few notes you’ll want to know for running the London Marathon.

Pro Tip: Pick the perfect charity team with this guide!

Conclusion: Wrapping Up Your London Marathon Travel Plans

The London Marathon is an incredible race, but the magic really comes from turning the trip into a full experience. With thoughtful planning, smart packing, and a flexible itinerary, London becomes one of the most runner-friendly cities to explore. Whether you’re there for the race, the food, or the post-marathon celebrations, this is a trip you’ll remember long after the medal is packed away.