10:00
Age 18 & over
£77.50-£79.50
Scotland's biggest running festival!
40,000 people every year come to the event to enjoy the picturesque views, iconic landmarks and vibrant culture of its stunning capital.
The weekend celebration of running features a range of beautiful routes from the city centre's famous Holyrood Park, including fun runs and 5Ks right up to the headline marathon itself which sells out every year.
Runners and spectators can enjoy panoramic views over the city, Edinburgh Castle and along the East Lothian coastline too.
Edinburgh Marathon has previously been voted the fastest marathon in the UK by Runner’s World and is Scotland's largest mass participation sports event.
Enjoy a weekend in Scotland's beautiful capital city with events for all ages and abilities with an inclusive focus and uplifting crowd support.
With Edinburgh Castle as the stunning backdrop, the routes feature striking panoramic views of the city, historic buildings and the East Lothian coastline.
All events benefit from the capital's historic streets and stunning green spaces.
This event is part of Edinburgh Marathon Festival.
Dynamic Earth
Holyrood Road
Edinburgh
Edinburgh
EH8 8AS
UK
The Scottish capital is renowned for its heritage and culture, with medieval architecture and cobbled streets helping to create a spellbinding atmosphere. It's the perfect setting for an active festival of running, with each route taking full advantage of its stunning location.
The Edinburgh Marathon Festival offers an ideal opportunity to explore the historic streets on closed roads and enjoy a Bank Holiday weekend in the Scottish capital.
Racing through the historic heart of the Scottish capital by Holyrood Park and running down the Royal Mile, this 26.2-mile run enjoys the grandeur of Edinburgh's heritage before heading along the stunning East Lothian coast and finishing close to the world's oldest golf course in Musselburgh.
This is one of the most scenic and one of the fastest marathons in the world!
Starting on Potterrow with the picturesque backdrop of The University of Edinburgh’s McEwan Hall, this incredible city centre route takes you past many iconic sights of the city.
Turning the first corner you’ll make your way past Greyfriars Kirkyard, home to the statue of Edinburgh’s favourite dog who spent 14 years guarding the grave of his owner - Greyfriars Bobby.
Continuing on into the city's old town, you’ll cross over the Royal Mile, with St Giles Cathedral to your right and the iconic Edinburgh Castle to your left, before heading down the Mound into New Town.
You’ll run through the beautiful Princes Street Gardens where you will see the Scott Monument - a towering gothic monument dedicated to Sir Walter Scott.
The route then turns back up to the historic Royal Mile, heading past the breathtaking architecture of the Scottish Parliament building. From here you can look up and take in the spectacular Arthurs Seat & Salisbury Crags, as well as the Palace of Holyrood, before departing the Royal Park and heading east towards the coast, taking in the sea air of Portobello promenade.
As you reach Musselburgh, you’ll run past the oldest golf course in the world, where it’s documented that golf has been played as early as 1672, before heading further east on the flat to Gosford House, an imposing neo-classical mansion which was one of the last great architectural commissions of the celebrated Scots architect, Robert Adam.
As you turn and head back along the coast, you’ll see the beautiful finish line ahead, one of the greatest sights for any marathon runner!
With a descent of almost 90 metres to near sea level, it has been said that this is the fastest marathon route in the world!
There is a cut-off time of 6 hours 30 minutes for the full marathon (from when the back of the race crosses the start line).
This event is committed to minimising the impact it has on the local environment, implemented in the following ways:
These charities have places in the event. To secure your place, select a charity, complete the form and follow the instructions.
Free sign up
Cancer
No one should have to face cancer alone.
Sign up
FREE
Fundraise
£750
Cancer
The blood cancer research charity.
Sign up
£25
Fundraise
£500
Health and Medical
Rebuilding lives after stroke.
Sign up
£20
Fundraise
£495
Cancer
Helping the brain tumour community to feel less alone and more in control.
Sign up
£62.40
Fundraise
£500
Children
Creating life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.
Sign up
£30
Fundraise
£500
Cancer
Raise awareness, fund research and save lives.
Sign up
£25
Fundraise
£550
Health and Medical
Here for the cure; working with urgency to find new treatments to slow, stop and reverse Parkinson’s.
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£25
Fundraise
£500
Mental health
Supporting those affected by mental illness to change mental health for good.
Sign up
£25
Fundraise
£500
Children
Making dreams come true to bring joy to seriously ill children.
Sign up
£25
Fundraise
£500
Health and Medical
Find a cure and improve life for everyone affected by Parkinson’s.
Sign up
£45
Fundraise
£450
Health and Medical
Transforming the lives of people with epilepsy through world-leading research, advocacy and care.
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£25
Fundraise
£500
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Animals
For a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its needs.
Sign up
£25
Fundraise
£400
Children
Informing, educating, inspiring, and engaging to help young people with epilepsy.
Sign up
£50
Fundraise
£600
Health and Medical
For a world free from the effects of MS.
Sign up
£30
Fundraise
£500
Hospice
Giving people compassion and expert care to help them live the best life they can.
Sign up
£35
Fundraise
£500
Disability
Whizz Kidz creates opportunities for young wheelchair users to get the equipment, skills and confidence to go further.
Sign up
£35
Fundraise
£550
International
Providing clean water and decent toilets to everyone, everywhere.
Sign up
£20
Fundraise
£500
Children
Helping the hospital offer a better future to seriously ill children across the UK.
Sign up
£40
Fundraise
£500
Children
Every childhood is worth fighting for.
Sign up
£20
Fundraise
£450
Entry fee (Unaffiliated)
£79.50
Entry fee (Affiliated)
£77.50
... I really enjoyed the event. It was well organised and I liked the course which started up by the university and then had a 5 mile downhill run through the city to the coast, followed by an out and back coastal section which was pretty flat.
Really enjoyed this run. Beautiful settings and a fantastic atmosphere.
It's true that this is a perfect race for chasing PBs - I got one today and I hadn't trained as much as I should have.
Couldn’t have picked a better location for my first marathon! Amazing atmosphere with super helpful marshals and wonderful support from spectators especially the welcoming locals who utterly emmersed themselves in the event and were out in their hundreds. Topped off by lovely finish crew who didn’t mind being hugged and sobbed over ecstatically!! and the most beautiful medal and lovely (perfectly fitted) finishers shirt!
The route itself took you through lovely historical parts of the city and then out across the gorgeous coast before returning to the city for a rapturous welcome (despite the crazy headwind along the final four miles!). Terrific choice of route and I bet an experienced marathoner could get quite a pace as it’s relatively flat. A most excellent event and definitely one to recommend!
Reviews thanks to RaceCheck
