London and Berlin can both be a first Marathon Major for a UK runner. Start by comparing how you could enter, when you want to race and what each trip would require.
London may suit someone who wants a familiar UK destination. Berlin may suit someone who wants an overseas race weekend. Neither preference settles the practical questions on its own.
Compare actual entry routes
For the 2027 editions, the entry position is different. London's ballot-results page says results have been sent. If you do not already have a place, investigate another official route and its conditions.
Berlin's registration page lists its 2027 ballot window as 1 October to 12 November 2026. Results are scheduled for 3 December. These details were checked on 5 October 2026.
An open application window is an opportunity to apply, not a guaranteed place. Before booking either trip, investigate what confirms entry and whether success triggers a payment automatically.
Do not estimate ballot odds by dividing the whole race field by total applicants. The field includes people who enter through other routes.
Decide which season fits your preparation
London's 2027 event takes place across Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 April. The organiser describes this as a one-off double format. Berlin's 2027 race is on 26 September.
Those dates put the preparation period in different parts of the year. Look at your work calendar, family commitments and the months when you can train consistently. The more famous race is not automatically the one that fits.
For London, confirm your allocated day before arranging the weekend. If you are travelling with another runner, compare both confirmations. You can take part in only one in-person day. The published finish arrangements also differ between Saturday and Sunday, so check the rules for your allocated day rather than treating the two dates as interchangeable.
The London double-event FAQ is the place to check the current arrangements.
Map collection before choosing arrival
London's collection takes you to the Running Show at ExCeL. Its current notice says 2027 opening hours will be confirmed in the new year.
Berlin requires personal collection with the start card and photo ID under its current registration instructions. A travel package or a friend's willingness to help does not remove that requirement.
For each race, write down the earliest arrival that lets you complete collection comfortably. Do not compare a two-night London trip with a three-night Berlin trip without showing the difference.
Compare the start and the finish separately
The London Marathon guide helps you work through the start, finish and return journey. Your accommodation needs to work for both ends of the race.
The Berlin Marathon guide is the equivalent starting point for Berlin. Check the current entrance and runner-exit arrangements before assuming a hotel near a landmark is near the access you need.
Berlin's course page still labels its displayed map as the 2026 map pending a 2027 update. Use it as background, then revisit the new route and access instructions when published.
Put the two options on the same sheet
| Decision | London | Berlin |
|---|---|---|
| Race date | Your allocated day in April 2027 | 26 September 2027 |
| Entry | Your accepted place or another official route | Ballot or another official route |
| Collection | ExCeL; confirm 2027 hours | Personal collection; confirm final venue timetable |
| Travel | From your actual UK home | UK departure plus arrival transfer |
| Accommodation | Nights required for your assigned day | Nights required for collection and return |
| Supporters | Their viewing and reunion plan | Their viewing and reunion plan |
| Course evidence | Current edition's map and controls | Current edition's map and controls |
Fill the travel and room rows with quotes for the same party size and booking flexibility. Without those assumptions, a price comparison says little about your trip.
Choose the weekend you can commit to
If one race already has a confirmed place while the other is only an application, record that difference. It may decide which trip you organise first.
If both are possible, use the season, total cost and the group's preferences to choose. Check the Majors guide if you want the race to begin a longer series goal. Each event still requires its own official entry.
Related reading
Track the next entry steps in the Major applications calendar, then compare how the training calendar fits each race date.