Last updated: October 24, 2026 · By Ronen, Stay Near The Venue
Planning where to stay for the London Marathon 2027? The race starts in Greenwich and Blackheath in southeast London and finishes on The Mall by Buckingham Palace, so the best base is either close to the start (for an easy race morning) or near the finish (for a short walk back after you cross the line). This guide covers the best areas, hotels and transport tips for both race days.
Quick answer: For the start, book the Novotel London Greenwich or The Clarendon Hotel on Blackheath. For the finish, The Royal Horseguards in Westminster puts you a short walk from Horse Guards Parade and The Mall.
Top hotel picks at a glance
| Hotel | Location & highlights | |
|---|---|---|
| Novotel London Greenwich | on Greenwich High Road beside Greenwich station, within reach of the Red start in… | Check price |
| The Clarendon Hotel | a historic hotel on Montpelier Row overlooking Blackheath, where the Blue, Green and Yellow… | Check price |
| InterContinental London – The O2 | a large riverside hotel on Greenwich Peninsula next to North Greenwich station, with a… | Check price |
| The Royal Horseguards | on Whitehall Court near Embankment, a short walk from Horse Guards Parade (where post-race… | Check price |
| St. Ermin’s Hotel | a grand Victorian hotel near St James’s Park station, within walking distance of the… | Check price |
| Park Plaza Westminster Bridge | a big, modern hotel at the South Bank end of Westminster Bridge with a… | Check price |
| London Marriott Hotel West India Quay | a waterside hotel next to Canary Wharf, which the course loops around in the… | Check price |
| Novotel London ExCeL | right at ExCeL London, which hosted the Running Show (expo) in 2026. Handy if… | Check price |
Prices change daily – tap “Check price” for live rates on your dates.
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See hotels near the London Marathon start – compare live prices in Greenwich, Blackheath and beyond.
Hotel map: live prices near the London Marathon start
London Marathon 2027 dates & when to book
For the first and only time, the 2027 TCS London Marathon will be held over two days: Saturday 24 April and Sunday 25 April 2027, with a record 100,000 runners across the weekend on the traditional Greenwich-to-Westminster course. The men’s elite races take place on Saturday, while the traditional Sunday is reserved for the women’s elite and wheelchair races. Organisers will confirm which day you run, so check your entry details before booking nights. With twice the usual number of runners and supporters, central London and Greenwich hotels will fill early. Book as soon as you know your race day, choose a free-cancellation rate, and consider adding a night either side so you are not rushing on race morning or travelling home tired.
Best areas to stay for the London Marathon
| Area | Distance / travel time | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Greenwich & Blackheath | At or near the start areas (Greenwich Park and Blackheath) | Runners who want a short, calm race morning |
| Westminster & St James’s | Walking distance of the finish on The Mall | Easy post-race recovery and meeting family |
| South Bank & Waterloo | Across Westminster Bridge from the finish; Southeastern trains to the start from Waterloo East | Balancing start and finish access |
| Canary Wharf & Docklands | On the course (around the later miles); DLR links to Greenwich | Value on weekends and spectators |
Near the start: Greenwich & Blackheath
- Novotel London Greenwich – on Greenwich High Road beside Greenwich station, within reach of the Red start in Greenwich Park. A dependable four-star choice for runners who want a simple, early-to-bed race eve.
- The Clarendon Hotel – a historic hotel on Montpelier Row overlooking Blackheath, where the Blue, Green and Yellow starts are located. Ideal if you want to walk to the start rather than squeeze onto a race-morning train.
- InterContinental London – The O2 – a large riverside hotel on Greenwich Peninsula next to North Greenwich station, with a spa and plenty of restaurants. Good for groups and supporters who want a bit of luxury close to Greenwich.
Near the finish: Westminster & South Bank
- The Royal Horseguards – on Whitehall Court near Embankment, a short walk from Horse Guards Parade (where post-race reunions are usually held) and The Mall. A classic choice for a celebratory post-race stay.
- St. Ermin’s Hotel – a grand Victorian hotel near St James’s Park station, within walking distance of the finish area. Great for runners who want quiet rooms and a short hobble back after the medal.
- Park Plaza Westminster Bridge – a big, modern hotel at the South Bank end of Westminster Bridge with a pool and spa. Waterloo East, one of the Southeastern stations offering trains to the start, is close by, making it a strong all-round base.
Docklands & Canary Wharf
- London Marriott Hotel West India Quay – a waterside hotel next to Canary Wharf, which the course loops around in the later miles. Business-district hotels often price well at weekends, and supporters can watch the race nearby.
- Novotel London ExCeL – right at ExCeL London, which hosted the Running Show (expo) in 2026. Handy if ExCeL is confirmed again for 2027 and you want an easy bib pickup.
Getting there, shuttles & parking
- Start areas: The race uses several start areas in Greenwich and Blackheath. In 2026, Blackheath station served the Blue, Green and Yellow starts, Greenwich station the Red start, and Maze Hill the Pink start. Check your 2027 runner information for your assigned start.
- Free train travel for runners: In 2026, runners with a valid race number could travel free on Southeastern from London Bridge, Cannon Street, Charing Cross, Waterloo East and Victoria to their start. You still needed a valid ticket for travel into London and after the race. Confirm the 2027 arrangements in your runner pack.
- Expo: All runners must collect their race pack in person at the Running Show. In 2026 it was held at ExCeL London (Royal Victoria Dock) from Wednesday to Saturday before the race. The 2027 venue and dates will be confirmed closer to the event.
- Finish: The finish is on The Mall, with family reunion areas usually located around Horse Guards Road and Horse Guards Parade.
- Driving: Avoid it. Road closures cover a wide corridor from Greenwich to Westminster on race day, and parking near the start or finish is very limited.
Tips for London Marathon weekend
- Confirm whether you are running on Saturday or Sunday before you lock in non-refundable nights.
- Visit the expo early in the week. Weekday sessions have historically been quieter than the final days.
- Stay near a Southeastern station (London Bridge, Waterloo East, Charing Cross, Cannon Street or Victoria) if you are not staying in Greenwich, so you have a simple train to the start.
- Ask your hotel about late checkout on race day so you have time for a shower after finishing.
- Supporters should avoid the three stations closest to the start on race morning, as they get extremely busy. Head straight to a viewing spot like Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge or the Embankment instead.
London Marathon Start, Finish and Spectator Transport
The London Marathon follows a 26.2 mile course from the south east of the city to the centre. According to the official spectator guide from London Marathon Events, the race starts at Blackheath and finishes on The Mall. The organisers also provide a Meet and Greet Area at Horse Guards Avenue, Whitehall, for spectators wanting to find runners after the finish. A residents leaflet for the 46th race describes the course as starting in Blackheath and Greenwich Park and ending on The Mall, with the event stated as Sunday 26 April 2026 and more than 50,000 participants expected.
The organisers say some parts of the route can get extremely busy, so spectators should plan ahead. They list six particularly busy zones: Cutty Sark and Greenwich, Canada Water and Rotherhithe, Tower Bridge and Tower Hill, Canary Wharf, Rainbow Row in Limehouse, and Victoria Embankment and Westminster. The official advice is to arrange meeting points in advance and not to rely only on phones, because reception can be unreliable in crowded areas. The organisers also recommend the TCS London Marathon app for real-time tracking.
On transport, the spectator guide advises walking between different route sections where possible. It suggests avoiding the most crowded stations and gives the example of using London Bridge instead of Tower Hill. The organisers say visitors should be prepared to wait up to 90 minutes at certain train stations and should expect significant delays at peak times. They also suggest the Thames Clippers boat service as a way to travel between piers.
For accessibility, the organisers state that five accessible viewing areas are available, at Cutty Sark, Canary Wharf, Rainbow Row, Tower Hill and Victoria Embankment. They are described as having barrier-free access, toilets and improved sightlines for wheelchair users.
Road closures are significant around the start. The Westcombe Park residents leaflet for 2026 says a short section of Shooters Hill Road and Charlton Way closes at 04:00 for gantry installation, with main closures beginning at 07:00 on roads including Shooters Hill Road, St Johns Park, Old Dover Road, Charlton Way, Vanbrugh Park, Charlton Road, Charlton Park Road, Charlton Park Lane and Woolwich Road (A206). According to the organisers, southern roads are anticipated to reopen by 14:30 and northern roads by 15:00. A vehicle crossing point between Vanbrugh Hill and Blackwall Lane is stated to be open until 08:40 and from 13:35 onward.
The leaflet also states that vehicles parked on the route will be removed from 04:00, and that residents should move cars by the evening of Saturday 25 April. Relocated vehicles can be traced at trace.london. The Royal Parks has separately noted that the race starts in Greenwich Park and finishes on The Mall in St James’s Park, with park facilities and gates affected on race morning. Times and arrangements are set each year, so confirm all details on the official London Marathon Events website before you travel.
Official sources: London Marathon Events: Spectator Guide · London Marathon Events: Westcombe Park Residents Leaflet 2026 · The Royal Parks
How we checked this guide
The “Last updated” date at the top of this page is when we last reviewed it end to end.
- Parking rates, shuttle fees and transport times are taken from the port’s, venue’s or operator’s own published pages and from each hotel’s own website — not from aggregator sites.
- Distances and journey times are the figures the venue or transit operator publishes, not our estimates. Where we give a distance, we say what it is measured to.
- Hotel amenities (breakfast, shuttle hours, pet and parking policies) come from each hotel’s own site. These change more often than anything else here, so confirm them when you book.
- Room rates are deliberately not listed anywhere on this site. They move daily, and a price written one month is wrong the next. Our links take you to live pricing instead.
- We have not stayed at every hotel we write about. Where we contacted a property directly, the guide says so and gives the date. Where a figure comes from a third-party report rather than an official source, we say that too.
Found something out of date or wrong? Tell us and we will fix it.
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London Marathon 2027 entry fees
The 2027 London Marathon UK ballot entry fee is £79.99, or £49.99 if you opt to double your chances, and international entry is £275.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| UK ballot, full fee | £79.99 |
| UK ballot, double-chance option | £49.99 |
| International runners | £275 |
FAQ
When is the London Marathon 2027?
The 2027 TCS London Marathon takes place over two days, Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 April 2027. Men’s elite races are on Saturday, and the women’s elite and wheelchair races are on Sunday.
Is it better to stay near the start or the finish?
Staying near the start in Greenwich or Blackheath makes race morning easier. Staying in Westminster or on the South Bank makes the post-race walk shorter and offers more hotels and restaurants. South Bank hotels near Waterloo East give you a bit of both.
Where is the London Marathon expo?
In 2026 the Running Show was held at ExCeL London. The 2027 venue and opening times will be confirmed closer to the date, so check the official London Marathon website before booking a hotel just for bib pickup.
Do runners get free travel on race day?
In 2026, runners with a race number travelled free on Southeastern from five central London stations to the start. The 2027 details have not been published yet, so check your runner information.
How early should I book a hotel?
As soon as you know your race day. With 100,000 runners over two days in 2027, demand will be higher than usual, so pick a free-cancellation rate and book early.
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We start at the venue and work outward: walking time, shuttle and transit options first, then guest review scores and value for money. Hotels can’t pay to be listed. Some links are affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability change daily, so always check live rates before you book.
