Marathons in England

Every England marathon for 2026 & 2027, by season — the London Major and flat, PB-friendly Manchester in spring, the Yorkshire and Chester autumn classics, plus Lake District and coastal races. Jump by month or filter by course profile below.

Updated 2026-07-13 Sorted by race date. Field sizes and course data are checked against each race's official source.

Browse by region

England 46 Wales 8 Scotland 5

August 2026 3 marathons

September 2026 5 marathons

October 2026 13 marathons

November 2026 1 marathons

December 2026 2 marathons

March 2027 2 marathons

April 2027 8 marathons

May 2027 8 marathons

June 2027 1 marathons

May 2026 1 marathons Race Completed

June 2026 2 marathons Race Completed

About marathons in England

Three seasons. The big-city spring (early April to mid-May) gathers England's largest fields: London, the ballot-entered World Marathon Major (around 56,000 runners), and flat, PB-hunting Manchester (about 40,000), plus seafront Brighton and the hillier Rob Burrow Leeds. Autumn brings the northern classics — the Yorkshire Marathon out of York and Chester around its walled city. The third strand is scenic and regional: the Lake District, the Cornish and Jurassic coasts, the New Forest and the North York Moors. Use the month chips above to jump to your window, or filter the grid by course profile and BQ status.

Chasing a time? England's flattest fast courses are Blackpool (about 50 m of climb), the pancake-flat Dorney Lake (about 54 m) and Manchester (about 55 m — the flattest big-city option) and Chester (about 80 m) — all Boston-eligible. Check your target against the BQ race guide and the Boston Qualifying calculator. The trade-off lives in the hills: Beachy Head, Jurassic Coast and the Lake District races climb well over 1,000 m — run those for the views, not the clock.

Getting in. London is the only England race here decided by lottery, and its public ballot runs for a single week roughly a year ahead; everything else is open entry, though Manchester, Yorkshire and Chester sell out months in advance. Fast rail links the host cities, and many smaller regional races fill first-come, well before the marquee events open. See the best UK marathons for the full picture, and slot your training with a marathon plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the biggest marathon in England?

The London Marathon is by far the largest, with a field of around 56,000 runners and World Marathon Major status. Manchester is the second-largest race in England and across the UK, with a field of roughly 40,000, followed by the autumn Yorkshire and spring Brighton at around 10,000 to 12,000 each.

Which England marathon is best for a personal best or Boston qualifier?

Manchester is widely regarded as England's flattest, fastest big-city option, with only about 55 m of total climb on its loop around Old Trafford — a popular target for a PB or a Boston-qualifying time. For an even flatter profile, the lap-based Dorney Lake (about 54 m) and seaside Blackpool (about 50 m) are smaller but Boston-eligible, as is Chester (about 80 m). Check your standard with the Boston Qualifying calculator.

When is the England marathon season, and what's the weather like?

There are two main windows. The big-city spring season runs from early April to mid-May — Brighton, Manchester, London and Rob Burrow Leeds — when conditions are typically cool and changeable, ideal for fast running. The autumn classics arrive in October, led by Yorkshire and Chester, again in cool, often damp weather. Scenic regional races in the Lake District, Cornwall, the New Forest and the North York Moors are spread across both seasons; midsummer is the quietest stretch.

How do you enter the popular England marathons — ballot or open entry?

Only London uses a lottery: its public ballot opens for a single week about a year before race day, and once it closes the remaining routes are charity places, Good for Age and championship entry. Manchester, Yorkshire, Chester and Brighton are open entry but sell out months ahead, so book early. International runners need a UK ETA (electronic travel authorisation) to visit unless they hold a qualifying passport or visa.

Which is the most scenic, bucket-list marathon in England?

For scenery over speed, the standouts are the Lake District races around Windermere, the clifftop Beachy Head above Eastbourne (about 1,150 m of climb), the Jurassic Coast in Dorset (over 1,100 m) and the Cornish and North York Moors coastal routes. These are demanding, hilly trail-style courses — choose them for the views and the challenge, not a fast finish.

Are there England marathons in any given month?

October is the busiest single month, with Yorkshire, Chester, Kielder, Abingdon and several coastal races clustered together. April to mid-May is the spring peak, headlined by London, Manchester and Brighton. Summer (June to August) and deep winter are quieter but never empty — use the month chips at the top of the page to jump straight to the races in your window.