10:00
£68
Age 18 & over
Scotland's biggest running festival welcomes 40,000 people each year 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 Holyrood Park Road with the picturesque backdrop of Holyrood Park, this incredible city centre route brings you past the impressive Surgeons' Hall, designed by William Henry Playfair in 1832.
This part of city is a fabulous mix of history and festival culture. You will run past Scotland's premier dance and opera house, the Festival Theatre, which comes alive with a variety of world-class productions, particularly during the summer festival months.
The route then turns right, and meanders down the historic Royal Mile, heading towards and past the somewhat controversial Scottish Parliament building. Here you can look up and take in the spectacular Arthurs Seat and Salisbury Crags, as well as the Palace of Holyrood, before departing the Royal Park and heading east towards the coast.
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 strict 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.
Granting magical Wishes to children with life threatening illnesses.
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£30
Fundraise
£500
Supporting those affected by mental illness to change mental health for good.
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£25
Fundraise
£475
Coronary heart disease is the UK's single biggest killer but the BHF is leading the fight against it.
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£25
Fundraise
£500
Supporting every baby, child, young person and family in Edinburgh's Children's Hospital to help make time spent in hospital better.
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£40
Fundraise
£550
Every childhood is worth fighting for.
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£20
Fundraise
£450
Providing information and support to sufferers of this incurable disease which could affect anyone of any age.
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£25
Fundraise
£600
The only UK-wide charity fighting for a life unlimited, when everyone living with CF can look forward to a long, healthy life.
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FREE
Fundraise
£500
Raise awareness, fund research and save lives.
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£25
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£500
Making dreams come true to bring joy to seriously ill children.
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£30
Fundraise
£450
Creating life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.
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£31.20
Fundraise
£500
The blood cancer research charity.
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£25
Fundraise
£500
No one should have to face cancer alone.
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FREE
Fundraise
£750
Challenging attitudes on mental health to help those severely affected by mental illness.
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£30
Fundraise
£500
Funding research to stop prostate cancer killing men.
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£20
Fundraise
£350
Find a cure and improve life for everyone affected by Parkinson’s.
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£45
Fundraise
£450
Running rehoming centres to save over 16,000 abandoned dogs annually.
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£30
Fundraise
£500
Providing clean water and decent toilets to everyone, everywhere.
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£20
Fundraise
£500
Funding world-class scientific research to make breakthroughs possible.
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£30
Fundraise
£500
Beating bowel cancer together.
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£35
Fundraise
£500
For a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its needs.
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£25
Fundraise
£400
Transforming the lives of people with epilepsy through world-leading research, advocacy and care.
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£25
Fundraise
£500
Improving lives. Curing type 1 diabetes.
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£40
Fundraise
£550
Giving people compassion and expert care to help them live the best life they can.
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£35
Fundraise
£500
Supporting cleft surgery and other forms of essential comprehensive cleft care.
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£20
Fundraise
£500
Rebuilding lives after stroke.
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£20
Fundraise
£495
Building brighter futures for vulnerable children in Malawi so they can grow up healthy and supported in a loving family home.
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£25
Fundraise
£600
For a world free from the effects of MS.
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£30
Fundraise
£500
Supporting people with dementia in Scotland to make sure nobody faces it alone.
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£30
Fundraise
£500
Entry fee
£68.00
... 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 sclong 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
