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Best place to stay for London Marathon - near the start of the finish?

4 watchers

Fitz Aug 2021 11:40am, 16 Aug 2021 2,477 posts	Quote Pin Fitz I vote for near the start - you can get up later, have a decent breakfast, use the loo and face less stress trying to get to the start. 30,000 people all heading for the same point on public transport on a Sunday morning is potentially fraught! But at this stage your chances of anything decent and affordable near the start are probably quite remote.
tonyp2604 Aug 2021 4:37pm, 16 Aug 2021 648 posts	Quote Pin tonyp2604 Got an Airbnb 1.5 miles away from the start. Looks nice and not too pricey!
folkieboater Aug 2021 8:21pm, 18 Aug 2021 116 posts	Quote Pin folkieboater Remember that as long as you’re on the tube and tfl network you’ll get free travel on the day. On the West Ham/Barking/Upminster line you can use c2c as well so it’s quicker, change onto the DLR at Limehouse and you’re at the start. Or Stratford you can be straight on the DLR. I’m sure that’s possible from the other side of London, but I don’t know that area.
WA Aug 2021 8:42pm, 18 Aug 2021 8,973 posts	Quote Pin WA I'd say the finish so you can walk back rather than the faff of public transport. And there's a great buzz with all the runners on the trains in the morning on the way to the start.
folkieboater Aug 2021 8:49pm, 18 Aug 2021 117 posts	Quote Pin folkieboater WA I think the buzz spreads through the whole of the South East. I travelled from Essex, via Upminster c2c train and the atmosphere was there both ways…including in the micropub in Upminster where I grabbed a celebratory pint (or 2). On the way in a guy was eating his toast, which we commented on the nice smell of. He offered me, and my non running OH, a slice. That’s not something you normally get in London.
Windsor Wool Aug 2021 8:52pm, 18 Aug 2021 5,215 posts	Quote Pin Windsor Wool I always stay near the start. It’s never occurred to me to stay close to the finish but perhaps that’s because I can simply amble to Waterloo and get the train home (via the boozer, of course). Perhaps Waterloo is a good option for you? There may be hotels still available there, can’t imagine there’s anything in Greenwich left. Take the train to Blackheath from Waterloo east in the morning, it’s only 15 mins or so. Don’t worry about what the final instructions say about which station to go to for which start. Just go to Blackheath and walk to whichever start you are on. Go to Greenwich and you have to walk up the hill!!
tonyp2604 Aug 2021 6:32pm, 20 Aug 2021 649 posts	Quote Pin tonyp2604 Thanks again for all the suggestions.
tonyp2604 Aug 2021 7:05pm, 20 Aug 2021 650 posts	Quote Pin tonyp2604 Thanks again for all the suggestions.
Windsor Wool Aug 2021 1:12pm, 27 Aug 2021 5,222 posts	Quote Pin Windsor Wool for me everything has changed given the changes in set-up for the day, most notably the change in bag drop arrangements and so close to the finish line now seems a much better bet to me. I just remembered that my finish line hotel booking was flexible and so I've cancelled it and booked in to a Premier Inn close to Waterloo where I can pick up my stuff on the way home. Easy train from Waterloo East to Blackheath on the morning. Still plenty of availability at reasonable rates....