I ran my 4th World Marathon Major, the London Marathon, in 2022. It was in October in 2021 and 2022 because of the pandemic. I also cheered on a bunch of my friends running it in 2024. It’s one of my favorite races I’ve run, and whether you’re there to run fast or you’re planning to PR in fun, you can accomplish it. Check out this blog post for some race-specific tips.

Outside of running the marathon, there is SO much to do and see in London. It can honestly be a bit overwhelming, so I recommend picking just a few activities before the race so you’re not stressed and tired from doing so much before the main reason you’re visiting London (to run a marathon). And then you can do more afterwards, depending on how you booked your travel.

Below are some of the activities I did while visiting London and a rough itinerary of my time there to help you plan your trip!

Day 1: Paris

I flew into Paris the Monday before the race because it was a cheaper flight and I’d never been to Paris before. CDG is a nightmare airport to fly into, though, and I don’t recommend it. The lines for customs were over 2 hours long and were a complete mess. This wasn’t the best way to start the trip.
It was raining and I was exhausted when I finally got to my Airbnb, so other than walking around + getting some food, I didn’t do much my first day in Paris.

Day 2: Paris/London

I went for a short run along the Seine, ending at a bakery to get a chocolate croissant. The baked goods definitely live up to the hype in Paris. The running path along the Seine is lovely and had restrooms + water fountains. I got to see the Eiffel Tower from afar, as well as some of the big sights.
It was raining for a lot of the day and I wasn’t in the mood to go to a museum, so I went to a cute little bar - L’Avant Comptoir de la Terre - and just ate and drank for a few hours.
I took the Eurostar from Paris to London in the afternoon. Tips for taking the Eurostar:
- Book your ticket as far in advance as you can, as they can get quite pricey the longer you wait.
- Give yourself plenty of time to get to the train station in Paris. I took a taxi because I was running a bit late and traffic was awful. I got lucky that my train was delayed, otherwise, I likely would have missed my train.

*The food and wine at L’Avant Comptoir de la Terre was very good*

Day 3: London

The London Marathon expo is open for 4 days, from Wednesday-Saturday. Since I was in London early, I went on the first day. I highly recommend going on one of the earlier days if you can, as it wasn’t busy and I had my pick of sizes for gear.
Getting Indian food was high on my list while in London. I went to Dishoom (there are multiple locations). While my service was subpar, the food was really good. I know there are other good Indian spots in London, as well, if you want to do more research, but Dishoom is worth the hype. If you go to Dishoom, make a reservation or go early if you don’t want to wait in a long line.
I saw “The Lion King” in the West End. Seeing a Broadway show is a great activity in London, especially in the days before the marathon, because it gets you off your feet. I saw “The Book of Mormon” the second time I was in London, as well. In both experiences, my tickets were significantly cheaper than what I would’ve paid to see the same shows in Chicago or NYC. There are a ton of theaters and shows at any given time, so it’s worth looking into!

Day 4: London

I went for a run along the Thames to shake out the legs. I took my time and wandered around a bit to explore more after my run, as the weather was lovely.
I checked out the Borough Market for lunch. I went here again in 2024, and while this is a touristy spot, I do think it’s worth wandering around. Expect crowds and longer lines for the popular stalls.
I met up with a friend from Chicago for fish + chips at a pub. While I don’t think London has the best food, this is a staple that’s worth getting at least once when visiting.

Day 5: London

This was the first day of the Tracksmith pop up and I wanted to get a free hat, so I arrived at the store earlier in the morning. I grabbed my free hat and bag, as well as a “London” Brighton base layer top.
I walked around Hyde Park. This well-known park is worth walking, biking, or running through while in London!
Later in the day I met up with a friend of a friend to go on the London Eye. Unfortunately it was raining and cloudy, so we weren’t able to see as far out, but it was still fun. This is a good activity to get off your feet and see the city. I recommend buying tickets in advance to avoid lines and if there’s a specific time you have in mind.

*Note: I spent the afternoons working on Days 3-5, as the fall is a busy season for me as a running coach, so if these days look lighter with activities, this is why!

*Still had some good views from the London Eye, despite it being rainy + cloudy*

Day 6: London (Marathon eve)

I started the morning with a shakeout run with Tracksmith. It was a big group and a great way to start the morning!
I didn’t plan much for during the day, given it was the day before the race and I wanted to relax. I did go on a wild goose hunt for a poncho, though, as there was a large chance of rain in the morning and I was freaking out a bit. (spoiler alert - it didn’t end up raining, but I would pack one just in case because it was hard to find one!)
Dinner was at The Italian Greyhound. It was delicious and I’d go back again for carb loading. I recommend making a reservation, as it was quite busy.

Day 7: RACE DAY!!

The reason this whole trip happened - let’s run this thing!
I fundraised for the MS Society, so I hung out at the post-race party for awhile. They had showers and food, and I waited for a friend to finish who had also fundraised for them.
It was tough to find an open kitchen close to my AirBnB later in the day, so I ended up eating some McDonald’s for dinner and met a friend out in the Soho neighborhood. The bars aren’t open very late in London, so if you’re someone who likes to party late after a marathon, it’s harder to find spots to do that (in my experience).

*I went to a run crew after party in 2024, but tickets sold out quickly and you needed to know about it ahead of time.

*MS Society afterparty for the London Marathon in 2022*

Day 8: London

This was my final day in London before heading for the airport early the next day.
I went to a free medal engraving at the New Balance store, but after waiting in line for awhile and it not moving very quickly, I decided it wasn’t worth it.
I walked around to a bunch of different neighborhoods, both solo and with a friend from DC. We walked along Brick Lane, which has a lot of murals and also a really good bagel shop - Beigel Bake. Go here for your carb load - I wish I’d known about it sooner! I also strolled through Notting Hill and had dinner with some friends in the Spitalfields neighborhood.

*Lots of fun art along Brick Lane and in the surrounding streets*

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, I also went to cheer on friends for the 2024 London Marathon. I was able to cross a few more activities off the list, including -

Afternoon tea. We went to the Crystal Moon Lounge inside the Corinthia, as it had great reviews. It was my first afternoon tea experience, so I have nothing to compare it to, but the food was good and the ambiance was lovely. This would be a great activity a few days before the race (I would avoid the day before a marathon if you have a sensitive stomach) or sometime after running the marathon to refuel + relax.
The British Museum. I’m not normally a museum person, but I had some extra time on a day when the weather wasn’t great. I actually really enjoyed this museum and think it’s worth a visit if you have the time!
Sunday roast. This is a traditional Sunday meal in London and you can find it served in many places. I don’t remember the place we went (I don’t think the spot was anything memorable), but if you want to go to a particular spot, a reservation is recommended. This would be a great meal post-race.

You run over the Tower Bridge and see Big Ben during the marathon, so I didn’t feel the need to do these activities outside of the race. Seeing Buckingham Palace wasn’t a priority for me, but I know a lot of people enjoy doing it. The Churchill War Rooms sounded cool, but I didn’t plan far enough in advance to get tickets.

There are endless things you could do in London! Compared to other places I’ve traveled for races, I think London is one that you need to plan a little more in advance to get tickets and reservations. Of course there will be spots you can just walk into, but I do wish I’d planned a little more for my first trip.

*Some of the treats from afternoon tea at the Crystal Moon Lounge*

Additional London tips:

Phone theft has gotten more rampant in recent years. I had my phone stolen out of my hands by an e-biker in 2024 and a friend of mine had the same thing happen when she was getting out of an Uber. All this to say, don’t walk around with your face in your phone and put it away when you’re in the train stations and in situations when you may not be paying full attention to your surroundings.
Bring a UK plug adaptor. Some hotels and AirBnB’s have them, but don’t count on it. Make sure you get one ahead of time so you can use your chargers and other things you need to plug in!
Use the CityMapper app to get around. I found this to be more accurate than Google Maps and it’s what the locals use.

Are you running the London Marathon this year? Which of these activities do you plan on doing? Let me know in the comments!

Running the World: London Marathon Racecation Itinerary