London Marathon Packing List: Everything You Need Before, During, and After the Race

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Welcome to your final prep for the London Marathon! You’ve completed your training cycle, you’re enjoying the taper, and you finally found your passport after a panicked afternoon rummaging through every drawer in your house. Now it’s time to pack.

Traveling to London in April means your packing list might look different than your gear for a local race. Plus, you might not be able to get your go-to foods or race fuel once you get there, and we assume you’ll spend some time sightseeing before or after the race. There’s a lot to keep in mind, so we put together our ideal packing list that takes travel, the weather, and sightseeing into consideration.

“Weather in London can change quickly, so I often carry a small, packable umbrella, ultralight rain jacket, and sunglasses when I’m out for the day,” says Kassondra Cloos, a London-based writer with a focus on the outdoors. “I recommend bringing a small pack that’s waterproof, or at least water-resistant. Wear breathable shoes that won’t be overkill if the sun comes out, yet won’t leak the first time you misjudge the depth of a puddle.”

We also tapped London-based Ben Le Vesconte, Vivobarefoot’s head coach, who told us the vibes are great at this race and the aid stations are plentiful. Between Le Vesconte’s gear suggestions and Cloos’s local knowledge, we assembled a comprehensive gear list aimed at runners heading to London for the marathon.

But if you’re the accompanying party and you’re there to spectate, explore a new city, and avoid getting caught in the rain, parts of this list can apply just as well. We left out the shorts, running top, and shoes since most runners have their race day fits planned far in advance, but we’ve recommended some of our favorite race-day products, including a pocketed sports bra, easy-to-digest fuel, and touring clothes for walking around. For the day of the race itself, here’s a full checklist.

The 2024 London Marathon is scheduled to take place on Sunday, April 21. Check here for more information about the event.

Travel tips: For transportation into the city from Heathrow International Airport, the Heathrow Express is fastest, though significantly more expensive than taking the Elizabeth Line (a suburban commuter train) or the London tube. Both offer service directly from the airport. For getting around the city, Kloos recommends having Apple Pay or a contactless credit card handy versus buying a reloadable Oyster card to pay for public transit.

Getting There

Allpa 38 L Roller Bag

We are big fans of the Allpa backpack’s organization and separate shoe compartment, but the suitcase shape with backpack straps can make it uncomfortable to carry fully loaded, and you don’t want to wear yourself out lugging your carry-on around before the race even starts. The roller version of this pack is the perfect solution.

Like the Allpa pack, the Allpa roller bag has a split compartment design for organizing your gear, ideal for a trip where half your luggage will be for race day and the rest is for touring. It has multiple organization pockets and breathable mesh so it can be splayed open while allowing stinky clothes to dry, and after the race, you can separate your gross clothes from your clean clothes. It rolls easily and will be more comfortable to lug around during your post-race fatigue.

Modern Mountain Compression Crew Socks

Flying to Europe for a race is a big deal, and for those of us flying economy, the comfort of airlines leaves much to be desired. Keep your blood flowing with these lightened-up compression socks that landed at the top of our list for travel and recovery this year.

Fly back and forth with them on, and wear them after the race to optimize blood flow and help you recover faster. These are particularly comfortable for travel, made with a merino and alpaca wool blend that wicks sweat, with arch support and a reinforced toe for durability and fit. We listed the men’s pair here, but here’s another similar Sockwell option we love in a women’s model.

Portable 20,000mAh Power Bank

This is a travel no-brainer. Between unpredictable power sources, lousy inputs on flights, and the need to keep your phone, watch, headphones, and other electronics charged, this 20,000-mAh power bank is a good price and has plenty of power. It’s fairly lightweight, you can bring it in your carry-on, and it has enough charge to fully power a new-model iPhone at least four times. Don’t forget your specific cables for different items, and we also suggest packing a universal outlet adapter like this one in case your hotel has different wall outlets than the ones at home.

Digestive Relief Chews

Add a stomach soother to your travel toiletry kit and keep your stomach calm with pre-race nerves and whatever weird food you’re served on the plane. If you don’t like Pepto, travel packs of Tums or even ginger chews can help alleviate anxious stomach cramps, motion sickness, and the gut effects of jet lag. If you go for Pepto, bring the chews instead of the liquid so it doesn’t get confiscated at TSA.

Race Day

Liquid Energy

While your marathon fueling is entirely between you and your stomach, marathoner and ultrarunner Emma Horton swears by Gu Liquid gels.

“I take these in Coca Cola at aid stations,” she says. “They’re easier to mix in because they’re more liquid than other gels.”

This flavor pack comes with caffeinated and non-caffeinated flavors and provides a hit of electrolytes and carbs for sustained energy. However, you should only rely on nutrition or sports drinks if you’ve been training with them, so you know how your gut will react during high-intensity efforts.

Endurance Fuel

Le Vesconte told us there will be aid stations and plenty of hydration stations along the route, but if you want to bring your own to start with, we like Tailwind for its combination of calories and electrolytes.

This mix is made with cleaner ingredients than other hydration options out there, with a fairly light flavor—just enough to make hydrating easier and more palatable without wearing you out with punches of intense fruitiness. Options range from cola-flavored to fruit punch varieties, but our favorite are the citrus flavors.

Energy Chews

Made without waxes, oils, artificial colors, preservatives, or overdone flavors, these are easier on your gut than other energy chews. The sour sugar coating offers some texture which can make them easier to eat, as well as preventing the chews from sticking together. These have a dialed-in ratio of fructose to glucose for easier energy absorption, and avoid the weird aftertaste of other energy gels or snacks.

Le Vesconte recommends runners come prepared with their go-to snacks, as there is nowhere to buy snacks or breakfast near the start.

“Greenwich is your last chance [to get food] before you climb up to the park to the start line,” he says. “It can take longer than you think between your arrival time and your race start time, so eat and hydrate well in advance of your arrival.”

Zero Jacket

“Be prepared for any weather: you never know what the British weather will serve up at this time of year,” says Le Vesconte. Every runner and London-based person we spoke to recommended bringing some light running layer in case the weather necessitates that you run in a jacket.

On’s ultralight Zero Jacket feels like a wind layer but protects like a breathable rain jacket with mesh vents under the arms. It weighs just a few ounces and packs down so small you can stuff it in a pocket if you take it off, or just leave the half-zipper open for venting.

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GoCap

One running hat to rule them all. Whether you’re shielding your eyes from the sun or the rain (for this race, it could be either) this running-specific cap has a deeper paneling design than other running caps which helps it sit securely on your head, but still has the adjustability and interior banding to fit like a more low-profile running cap. The brim is pre-curved, it’s made with recycled fabric that wicks moisture, and it packs down nice and flat for travel.

Allston Bra

We’re not telling you to ditch your favorite sports bra, but we are suggesting you try one with pockets. Horton swears by the Lululemon Stuff Your Bra, which she says “is a stupid name but the best running bra I’ve ever worn.” Unfortunately for us, the Stuff Your Bra is discontinued, but Tracksmith’s Allston Bra is built for long-distance running with moderate compression that minimizes bounce without too much pressure, and has stash pockets for gels or hydration sticks.

Maxus Zero Tab Running Socks

You should definitely travel with a few spare pairs of socks in different heights—you never know what can happen and you don’t want to find yourself without socks on race day. While you’ll pack your own favorite socks, we went with our top pick from this year for softest cushioning, with reinforced toes and heels, and extra cushion underneath for long, pounding runs (like marathons).

This sock is also highly wicking and helps prevent blisters. We listed our preferred height with a non-intrusive tab that prevents them from sliding down, but running socks come in all heights and varieties, so bring a few pairs of whichever you prefer.

After the Race

Fjallraven High Coast Crossbody Bag

Carry your sightseeing necessities in this surprisingly high-capacity cross-body bag. I brought this on a recent five-country tour of Europe, and was able to stash room keys, my phone, a spare battery, my wallet, and even a packable layer in here. It has a secure inner pocket and an adjustable strap to keep it close to your body, and a high level of water resistance.

Heidelstein Insulated Jacket

You brought a big carry-on, which means you don’t have to wear your race-day raincoat for touring! April temperatures in London can vary, and this lightly insulated and fully waterproof parka-length coat hits both warmth and dryness while looking chic and put together for a day on the town.

Logger Moc 917 Boots

Kloos swears by her Danner Mountain 600 Leaf boots for walking around London, and I took it one step further with my own favorite travel shoes for trips that involve lots of walking around and sightseeing.

The Logger Moc 917 is a stylish shoe that combines the technical build of Danner’s super comfortable, supportive midsole with a grippy Vibram outsole and a slightly flared toebox for increased post-race comfort. These ankle-height boots look great with any outfit and are fully waterproof for puddle-splashing on your way to the Tube.

Caramel Wafers

Admittedly, this is less a packing item and more a must-grab-when-in-London. “For runners who want a very British sugar rush, Tunnock's wafers are hard to beat,” says Kloos. “You can buy them in any Tesco or other grocery store and they’re a great gift to bring home for friends and family.” Plus, you just ran a marathon—you deserve the treat.

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