If you're running the London Marathon, crossing the finishing line is just the beginning. But fear not – once you've done the hard bit, there are plenty of rewards to benefit from in the capital, and even some pre-run freebies to claim.
Whether you've earned a great marathon time or heaved your tired body over the finish line many hours after everyone else, you can flash your medal and grab these marathon freebies. You've earned it.
What you can get for free if you're running the London marathon
Free travel on London Tube, Overground, buses and some trains
Save your legs before – and after! – the race by enjoying free travel on Transport for London services, including the Underground and Overground, DLR, Elizabeth line and London buses when you flash your bib or medal to staff at ticket barriers.
Some free travel is also available on parts of the Southeastern rail service in the morning to get you to the start line.
Free alcohol-free beer from Honest Burgers
With over 20 Honest Burgers sites in London, this is a good deal to bear in mind for runners across the capital. On Sunday, you can enjoy a Lucky Saint alcohol-free lager or IPA on the house when you order a burger. They’ve got a new BBQ Cajun Special on at the moment, which might provide the perfect post-run refuel.
Free pizza from Franco Manca
This deal can be claimed on both Sunday and Monday – a perfect fix for when the DOMS are hitting the day after the marathon. Flash your medal at any London-based Franco Manca pizzeria (except Westfield Stratford) to claim your freebie.
Plus, if you’re running another city marathon, you can claim a free pizza up and down the UK this spring. Freebies are available for marathon runners on both marathon day and the following day in: Brighton, Manchester, London, Birmingham, Southampton, Leeds, Plymouth, Edinburgh and Bath.
Free roast dinner – and bottomless red wine – from Kitty Hawk
This is a new one – a free roast dinner. Perhaps the most indulgent British post-run meal of all time? Kitty Hawk’s rooftop restaurant at Trafalgar Square is offering race finishers a full roast with all the trimmings – and bottomless red wine. But you’ll need to find a group, though, as this offer is only eligible for tables of at least four guests. They’ll need to present their medals too to get the offer.
Free massage balm and shower gel from Lush
After you’ve replenished your carbs, your post-race body might need some taking care of. From Lush stores at Oxford Street, Covent Garden, Victoria station and Paddington station, you can pick up a free Ouchy magnesium massage balm and a minty tub of The Good Hour shower jelly.
Free drink from Greene King pubs
On marathon day, you can claim one of the following drinks from any Greene King pub around the capital city:
- Beefeater London Dry (25ml) with Fever Tree mixer
- Aperol Spritz
- Pimm’s
- Pint of Aspall
- 125ml glass Mirabeau Classic Rose
- Pint of Peroni Nastro Azzurro
- Clean Blood Orange Spritz
- Level Head IPA
- Hazy Day
- Soft drinks including Coca-Cola Original, Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero, Schweppes Lemonade
Free pasta from Pastaio
Still need more carbs? Famously for marathon runners, the carb limit doesn’t exist. All Pastaio dishes – except the lobster linguine, sadly – are included in the offer.
It’s only a 20-minute walk from The Mall, where the marathon finishes. The perfect distance for a cool down.
Free chocolate brownie from Cutter & Squidge
If you’ve been in Soho for a free plate of pasta from Pastaio, maybe you should head round the corner to Soho bakery Cutter & Squidge for pudding. They’re offering a free brownie to any runners who show their medal in store this Sunday, while stocks last.
Free head and arm massage from Elemis
After 26.2 miles, everything will be hurting. Head to Elemis in Covent Garden for a complimentary hand and arm massage, and pick up a bunch of free product samples to see you on your way to recovery.
Free black cabs from HOKA
To give your legs a rest, why not take up HOKA on their offer of complimentary black cab rides to help you get home after the race? All you need to do is head to the HOKA Hub at 4 Chance Street, Shoreditch, after the race, enjoy some of their offerings and then jump one of their HOKA Fly & Ride Black Cabs for a free 30-minute ride in London Underground Zones 1 and 2. At the HOKA Hub, there'll be an AllPress coffee bar, exclusive HOKA merch, product testing and experiences.
There's activities on at the HOKA Hub all week – so head down there on Wednesday and Thursday (22-23 April) to make your own personalised cheer sign, and on Friday and Saturday (24-25 April) to build a custom bouquet of flowers to celebrate finishers.
Free pizza, beers and flash tattoos – and get your medal engraved – from Puma London
From Friday this week, Puma will transform the Institute of Contemporary Arts on The Mall (right by the finish line) into The Nitro Lab, where runners can win exclusive prizes and curate customised kit. After the marathon on Sunday, medal winners can enjoy free pizza, beers and flash tattoos as well.
Head to the Puma London flagship store on the Sunday, Monday or Tuesday to get your medal engraved with your finish time for free.
Free Souvlaki Greek platter from The Real Greek
Every marathon runner who presents their medal can claim a free souvlaki grill with chips or rice, Greek salad, tzatziki and warm flatbread. There are plenty of Real Greek restaurants around the capital, the nearest to the finish line being Covent Garden, about a 10-minute walk from the finish line.
Free river cruise from City Cruises
After you’ve spent the day taking in the sights of London from the road, it might be nice to take it all in from a different angle – perhaps the water. Enjoy the London landmarks without the pressure of moving a muscle, with a free river cruise. You can present your medal at the City Cruise office on race day – or on the following Monday. Or you can book using the voucher code marathonfree. Supporters can also enjoy a 30% discount with the code marathon30.
Free burrito from Chipotle
Burritos might be the ultimate post-race meal, so why not head to a Chipotle store to claim a freshly made burrito after you’ve completed those 26.2 miles?
Free Basque cheesecake from La Maritxu
After you’ve indulged heavily in the main meal department, you’ll surely need dessert. Head to La Maritxu in Kingly Court (out the back of Carnaby Street in Oxford Circus) for a free slice of Basque cheesecake. There’s only 100 slices up for grabs though, so you’ll need to move quickly (if that’s possible after 26.2 miles).
Free socks from Happy Socks
It’s a niche freebie, we realise, but everyone loves socks, right? And you’ll undoubtedly have worn through the pair of running socks you’re wearing, so why not treat yourself to a (free) new pair? Happy Socks in Covent Garden will be giving out free pairs of socks on Sunday, while stocks last.
Free pint of Jubel beer from BOX
Runners of the London or Leeds Marathon can claim a pint of Jubel on marathon day (Sunday 26 April for London, Sunday 10 May for Leeds). The deal’s available at BOX Piccadilly and BOX Leeds City Centre on the respective dates.
Free matcha from Jenki bar
At the various Jenki branches – Spitalfields, Borough Market, Battersea Power Station and Covent Garden – you can grab yourself a post-run matcha.
Free print or a margarita from Grind
Enjoy a free pint or margarita cocktail from Grind locations at London Bridge, Greenwich, Shoreditch and Liverpool Street. There’s famously no such thing as a free drink – but for marathon runners on Sunday, there is.
Free burger from Bill’s
All you need to do to claim a free burger is buy a drink from one of the following Bill’s restaurants in London: London Bridge, Covent Garden, Greenwich, Kingston, Richmond, Wimbledon, Baker Street, Victoria, Soho and Westfield Stratford.
Free pint from Castle Pubs
There are plenty of Castle Pubs across London, so head to one of their pubs to grab a free draught pint of Camden Hells on Sunday. It’ll go straight to your head though – don’t say you weren’t warned.
Free glass of champagne from the Ivy
If you’re buying a main meal on marathon day at The Ivy, you’ll be able to claim a free glass of The Ivy Cuvée Champagne.
Free burger and fries from Côte Brasserie
You’ll need to bring along a non-marathon running friend to enjoy this deal. But if you manage to persuade someone to buy a main dish or set menu, you’ll get a free burger and fries on the house.
Free pint from BrewDog
Marathon runners could have an entirely free pub crawl with the number of free pints available to them this Sunday. If you head to BrewDog branches at Canary Wharf, Seven Dials, Tower Hill Outpost or Waterloo, you can kick back with a free pint of BrewDog’s Cold Beer, the brand’s craft lager.
Top image credit: Getty Images
