The Richmond Marathon / RUN-FEST: All You Need to Know 

The Richmond Marathon is one of the more unusual marathon experiences in London. Rather than taking runners through the centre of the capital, the Richmond RUN-FEST route combines Kew Gardens, the River Thames, historic Richmond and Hampton Court Palace before finishing at a music festival in Old Deer Park.

The 2026 Richmond Marathon takes place on Sunday 13 September 2026, starting at 8:00am. The race begins inside the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and finishes in Old Deer Park in Richmond. It is a flat, multi-terrain marathon and is officially measured, making it suitable for London Marathon Good for Age and Boston Marathon qualifying purposes.

If you are considering entering, travelling to Richmond for race weekend or simply want to understand the course before race day, here is everything you need to know.

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When Is the Richmond Marathon 2026?

The Richmond Marathon takes place on Sunday 13 September 2026, giving students who enjoy running an opportunity to combine their academic commitments with a memorable sporting event. However, anyone planning to attend should think carefully about their studies before making travel arrangements. By September, many students are returning to university, beginning new modules, completing reading assignments and adjusting to a busy academic timetable. It is therefore sensible to check your course schedule, deadlines and attendance requirements before travelling to Richmond.

Students who want to participate in the marathon or simply watch the event should plan their academic workload in advance. Completing important assignments early can make the weekend much less stressful. If several deadlines fall around the same time and you are struggling to manage your workload, you may also look for legitimate academic support online. Students choose to buy essay online when they need assistance with demanding writing tasks, giving them more time to focus on their studies, training and other commitments.

With good planning, students do not necessarily have to choose between their education and their interest in running. By organising coursework early, allowing enough time for travel and keeping track of university deadlines, they can enjoy the Richmond Marathon while continuing to stay on top of their studies.

Richmond Marathon Entry Fees

Entry prices for the 2026 Richmond Marathon varied according to when runners registered and whether they were members of an England Athletics club.

The published prices were:

• Early Bird club entry: £44.50 + £2.50 transaction fee = £47
• Early Bird non-club entry: £46.50 + £2.50 = £49
• Standard club entry: £49.50 + £2.50 = £52
• Standard non-club entry: £51.50 + £2.50 = £54
• Late club entry: £54.50 + £2.50 = £57
• Late non-club entry: £56.50 + £2.50 = £59

Club entry was available to registered England Athletics club athletes and provided a £2 discount before the transaction fee.

However, there is an important point for anyone hoping to run in 2026: public marathon entries have now sold out. The organiser says that official charity places are still available, so runners who have not already entered should check the charity-entry options rather than assuming general registration is still open.

What Is the Richmond Marathon Course Like?

The Richmond Marathon is a 26.2-mile multi-terrain course. It combines roads, paths, gravel and a small amount of grass, with much of the route following the Thames.

It is designed to be fast and relatively flat. According to the organiser’s 2026 course information, the route has approximately 160 metres of total climbing and 160 metres of descent over the full marathon distance.

One of the most interesting aspects of the 2026 race is the return to the original route along the Thames towpath. The towpath has been repaired, allowing the marathon and half marathon to return to the section between Kew and Richmond.

The race starts inside Kew Gardens before heading towards the Thames and continuing through some of the most attractive parts of south-west London.

The course includes views and landmarks around:

• Kew Gardens
• the River Thames
• Richmond Riverside
• Ham House
• Teddington Lock
• Kingston Riverside
• Hampton Court Palace
• Richmond Green
• Richmond Old Deer Park

The organiser describes it as a flat and fast course, although runners should remember that it is not a conventional closed-road city marathon. Some sections use towpaths and other multi-terrain surfaces.

Richmond Marathon Course Map

The official 2026 Richmond Marathon course map is available on the RUN-FEST website. The organiser provides an interactive Google Map showing the route, together with downloadable route files.

The 2026 course map is particularly useful for runners who want to examine the course before race day, identify landmarks or work out where supporters could watch the race.

Official Richmond Marathon Course & Elevation Map

The organiser has confirmed that the 2026 course returns to the original route now that the Thames Towpath has been repaired. The course page also provides the elevation information and downloadable KML and GPX files.

Richmond Marathon GPX Route File

If you train with a Garmin, COROS, Suunto, Apple Watch or another GPS-enabled device, downloading the Richmond Marathon GPX route can be useful.

The official course page provides a GPX download alongside the KML version. Loading the route onto a compatible watch or navigation device allows you to study the course before race day and, depending on your device, follow the route during training.

Download the Richmond Marathon GPX route from the organiser’s course page

There is also a third-party mapped version of the Richmond Marathon route available in GPX and several other formats. However, runners should treat the official RUN-FEST route as the definitive version, particularly if there are any late changes.

What Are the Aid Stations Like?

The organiser provides several water stations throughout the marathon.

The published 2026 locations are approximately:

• 4.5 miles
• 7 miles – water and electrolyte drink
• 8.7 miles
• 10.6 miles
• 13.1 miles – water and electrolyte drink
• 15.8 miles
• 18.6 miles – water and electrolyte drink
• 21.4 miles
• 24 miles

There are also toilets at the aid stations and other points along the course.

The electrolyte drink listed by the organiser for 2026 is Boost Sports Drink Orange flavour.

As always, runners should check the final instructions before travelling because operational details can change closer to race day.

What Makes the Richmond Marathon Special?

The biggest attraction is the setting.

Few marathons allow you to start inside one of London’s most famous botanical gardens and then spend much of the race following the River Thames.

The opening section takes runners through Kew Gardens. Among the sights associated with the route are the Palm House, Kew Palace, the Great Pagoda, the Temperate House and Queen Charlotte’s Cottage.

Further along the course, runners encounter historic riverside locations and landmarks before reaching the Hampton Court area.

The finish is another unusual feature. Instead of simply crossing a finish line and leaving, marathon runners finish in Old Deer Park, where RUN-FEST hosts a music festival and event village.

The race entry also includes free Kew Gardens admission for up to two adults and two children, although spectator entry is restricted to the morning window of 7:00am to 9:00am and is through Elizabeth Gate.

Things to See Around Richmond

If you are travelling to the area for the marathon, it is worth allowing extra time to explore Richmond and Kew.

Kew Gardens

The obvious choice is the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The gardens are home to an enormous collection of plants and several architectural landmarks, including the Palm House, Temperate House, Great Pagoda and Kew Palace.

For marathon spectators, the gardens are also part of the race experience because the event starts inside them.

Richmond Park

Richmond Park is another major attraction. It is famous for its huge open spaces, woodland, ancient trees and herds of red and fallow deer.

It is a good place for a gentle walk before or after the race, although marathon runners should probably resist the temptation to turn it into an additional training session on race weekend.

Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace is one of the major historic highlights associated with the marathon route. The former royal palace sits beside the Thames and is particularly well known for its Tudor history, state apartments and gardens.

Richmond Riverside

Richmond Riverside is ideal for a relaxed post-race walk. The Thames provides a scenic backdrop, with cafés, pubs and restaurants nearby.

Ham House

Ham House is a National Trust property on the Thames close to Richmond. Its historic interiors and riverside setting make it another worthwhile attraction for visitors staying in the area.

Where to Stay for the Richmond Marathon

Staying locally can make race morning considerably easier, particularly because the marathon starts at 8:00am.

Richmond and the surrounding area have a wide range of accommodation, from budget hotels to four-star properties and independent guest houses. VisitRichmond currently lists accommodation in Richmond, Kew, Teddington, Twickenham, Hampton and surrounding areas.

Some options to consider include:

• Richmond Hill Hotel is on Richmond Hill, close to Richmond Park and the famous Terrace overlooking the Thames.
• The Petersham is a four-star hotel overlooking the Thames and Petersham Meadows.
• Richmond Premier Inn is a more budget-friendly option on Lower Mortlake Road and is relatively close to Richmond town centre.
• Kew Gardens Hotel is in Kew Village and provides a particularly convenient option if you want to stay closer to the race start.
• Bingham Riverhouse sits beside the Thames on Petersham Road and offers a more boutique-style stay.
• Travelodge London Richmond Central is another practical option in central Richmond, close to shops, cafés and pubs.

Because marathon weekend can be busy, booking accommodation early is sensible. For the widest selection, check the current accommodation listings from VisitRichmond.

How to Get to the Richmond Marathon Start

The start is at Elizabeth Gate, Kew Green, Richmond, TW9 3AA. This is the only Kew Gardens entrance being used for the event.

Kew Bridge station is approximately 0.6 miles from Elizabeth Gate, while Richmond station is around 1.6 miles away.

For marathon runners, Richmond station can be particularly useful because the organiser notes that the first train into Kew Bridge from Waterloo is too late for the marathon start. The first train to Richmond is earlier, after which runners can take the 65 bus towards Kew Green or walk/jog to the start.

There are also bus services serving Kew Bridge, including routes 237, 65, 110 and 267.

If you are driving, plan carefully. Official event parking has sold out, and the Kew Gardens visitor car park will not be available on race day. The organiser recommends considering parking closer to Richmond, particularly because the marathon finishes in Old Deer Park.

What Happens After the Race?

The finish takes place in Old Deer Park, next to Pools on the Park in Richmond.

This is where the RUN-FEST finish festival takes over. Runners can collect their medal and enjoy the event village, music and post-race atmosphere.

The marathon package also includes a technical race shirt, medal, goody bag, post-race snacks and drinks, course entertainment, marshals and medical support.

The combination of a scenic course and festival-style finish makes the Richmond Marathon feel different from a traditional big-city marathon.

Is the Richmond Marathon a Good Qualifying Race?

The course has been measured by Olympic Games course measurer Hugh Jones on behalf of the Association of UK Course Measurers and is run under RUNBRITAIN rules.

The organiser states that the course can therefore be used for London Marathon Good for Age purposes and as a Boston Marathon qualifier.

The relatively flat profile makes it an interesting option for runners targeting a qualifying time, although the multi-terrain surface means it is worth training on more than just smooth tarmac.

Final Thoughts

The Richmond Marathon is a strong choice for runners who want something different from the standard London marathon experience.

The 2026 race starts inside Kew Gardens, follows the Thames through some of south-west London’s most attractive locations, passes historic landmarks including Hampton Court Palace and finishes at a festival in Old Deer Park.

For anyone planning to run, the key details are straightforward: 13 September 2026, 8:00am, 26.2 miles, a flat multi-terrain course and a finish in Richmond. Public entries have sold out, but charity places remain available according to the organiser.

Before travelling, runners should check the latest instructions, transport information and course details on the official RUN-FEST website, as race-day arrangements can change.

 

Last Updated on 12 August 2026 by the5krunner