Written by George Major
Running the London Marathon is an unforgettable experience that you’ll want to celebrate. Here’s how to do it in style, while saving money with free food and drink offers for anyone taking part. It’s a long way to go to get a free lunch, but it’ll be so worth it!
Travel for free on marathon day
Anyone with a London Marathon race bib can use the Underground or DLR until 6.30pm on race day. But if you’re coming from further afield, you may be able to travel for free, too.
C2C are giving free train travel to participants, both on the way to the start and on the way home. Just show your race number or finisher’s medal at the station and hope you can get a seat!
Southeastern is offering runners free travel to the start in Blackheath from London Bridge, Cannon Street, Charing Cross, Waterloo East and London Victoria. Just show your race bib to the station staff and they’ll bleep you through the gate.
Replace those carbs post-race
You’ve just emptied the tank running 42.2km. You need pasta. Luckily for you, Pastaio is giving free plates of the good stuff away to anyone who shows up with a finisher’s medal on race day. The offer applies for most of the pasta dishes on their menu.
Maybe you’d prefer pizza? Franco Manca branches nationwide will serve you a free pizza from their spring/summer menu when you show them your medal on race day or on Monday 27 April.
The Real Greek are being extra-generous, too. Show up to any of their restaurants nationwide on Sunday 27 or Monday 28 April, flash them your medal, and you’ll get a free Greek Plate.
Similarly, all SushiDog locations are offering free SushiDogs, Sushi Bowls or Sushi Salad to finishers on race day.
The offers continue all week, too. It’s Bagels in Primrose Hill are giving a cream cheese bagels away for the whole week after the marathon if you show them your medal.
Get your protein in with a free steak or burger
Heliot Steak House (which benefits from being within limping distance of the finish line, at the Hippodrome Casino in Leicester Square) will feed marathon finishers with a free Argentinian ribeye steak or their house burger on 21 and 22 April.
Similarly close to the finish line, Maxwells Bar & Grill will give anyone with a finisher’s medal a free signature smash burger. Also nearby, Boulevard Brasserie on Wellington Street in Covent Garden are offering a free Boulevard Burger and fries to finishers, and Palm Court Brasserie in Covent Garden are doing free steak and fries.
All branches of Meatliquor are also offering a free burger to finishers on marathon day.
Celebrate with a drink
Once you’ve got your medal, why not celebrate with Champagne? The Ivy has your back, show them your medal and you’ll get a free glass at any of their London locations.
Or head to the pub. Drop into any of Greene King’s 128 London pubs with your medal for a free beer, any time until 1 May.
Three Cheers Pub Co. have nine South London pubs, and they’ll all be serving free beer for finishers on race day.
Or just pamper yourself
Post race, you’re probably going to need a bath. Lush in Covent Garden, Oxford Street, Paddington, Victoria and Waterloo are giving marathon finishers free Epsom salt cubes and massage bars. You have until Wednesday 30 April to turn up and show them your medal to get yours.
Or you could unwind in the pool… Brockwell Lido and North London Park Road Leisure Centre and Lido have free swimming sessions for marathoners – before and after the race. Just show them your confirmation of race entry on arrival.
Enjoy your marathon day!
