The Manchester Marathon is just around the corner, and with more than 840,000 people having applied for a spot in the London Marathon in 2024, and only a 2% chance of securing a place, the experts from KUDOS Run at GO Outdoors have revealed the top alternative marathons to run across the UK.
Looking at factors such as the entry fee, the number of places available and the popularity of the marathon, KUDOS Run have named Manchester Marathon as the best marathon in the UK.
The running event has been named the best marathon to enter if you missed out on a London Marathon space with a score of 9.39 out of 10. The race, which began in 1908, kicks off near Old Trafford, taking runners through the heart of Manchester city centre before finishing on Oxford Road, offering a scenic route for runners.
With plenty of spots for supporters to gather and cheer on loved ones, many of which are in the loveliest neighbourhoods in Manchester, the race is also a great experience for those on the sidelines, and with an array of places to celebrate with a drink and a bite to eat when the race is done, you really can’t go wrong.
In second place is the Brighton Marathon, which earns a score of 8.67/10, followed by the Southampton Marathon, London’s shadow the Richmond Marathon, and fellow northern race the Yorkshire Marathon.
The top 10 marathons in the UK aside from London (with overall score) are:
- Manchester Marathon: 9.39
- Brighton Marathon: 8.67
- Southampton Marathon: 8.52
- Richmond Marathon: 8.38
- Yorkshire Marathon: 8.38
- Edinburgh Marathon: 8.23
- Kielder Marathon (Northumberland): 8.09
- Chester Marathon: 8.09
- Leeds Marathon: 7.51
- Newport Marathon: 7.36
This year’s Manchester Marathon takes place on Sunday 27 April – you can register for next year’s marathon from Monday 28 April on priority, or on Tuesday 29 April through public access here.