Preston Park start · Seafront finish · Brighton · April
Brighton Marathon: a whole town with one road
Brighton is a seafront town, which means the good roads run east to west along the coast and everything else drops steeply down to them. Close the seafront for a marathon and you have removed the main artery from a town that does not have a spare one. That is the shape of the day.
Of the big British marathons to our patch after London itself. An hour from Tunbridge Wells and under two from most of Kent, which makes Brighton the marathon a Kent group can do as a day without anybody staying over.
What closing the front does
The geography of Brighton makes this different from an inland city marathon.
And the main road
Close it and the east-west artery is gone for the morning.
To the sea
Which limits the alternatives and pushes everything onto a few routes.
North of the centre
Runners assemble there. Supporters usually head for the front.
Comfortably
Under two hours from most of the county, across Sussex rather than through London.
Kent to Brighton
Across Sussex, the same run as our Amex Stadium and Hove journeys.
| Pick-up area | Distance | Journey |
|---|---|---|
| Tunbridge Wells & Southborough | 34 miles | 55–80 min |
| Sevenoaks & Tonbridge | 40 miles | 65–90 min |
| Maidstone & Aylesford | 47 miles | 75–100 min |
| Bromley & Orpington | 47 miles | 75–100 min |
| Ashford & Tenterden | 57 miles | 85–110 min |
| Dartford & Bluewater | 57 miles | 85–110 min |
| Gravesend & Northfleet | 61 miles | 90–115 min |
| Canterbury & Whitstable | 78 miles | 110–145 min |
How the morning runs
An early start from Kent, and the closures mean the drop-off point matters more than the postcode.
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 05:30–06:30 | Leave Kent. Early, because the closures go in first thing |
| 07:15–08:00 | Drop runners for Preston Park, north of the closures |
| 09:00 | Race starts |
| Late morning onwards | Finishers come through on the seafront |
| Afternoon | We collect at an agreed point back from the front |
| Evening | Home in Kent, and Brighton is worth an hour first |
A Brighton Marathon day
It works as a day trip, which London barely does
Under two hours from most of Kent and no London involved, which means a Kent runner can sleep at home, be dropped at Preston Park in good time and be back the same evening. Of the large British marathons this is comfortably the most practical from our patch, and it is the one we would suggest to a group entering their first.
The closures decide the drop-off, not the address
Giving us the start venue is not enough on marathon morning, because the roads that normally reach it are shut. We plan the drop from the north, outside the closure ring, with a short walk in. The exact point depends on that year's route and we confirm it with you in the days beforehand rather than guessing months out.
Supporters should pick one place and stay there
The temptation is to see the start, then dash to a mid-point, then reach the finish. On a closed seafront with a marathon crossing the town, that mostly produces a morning of walking and missed timings. Choosing a good spot on the front and staying put is a better day, and it makes the collection straightforward.
Build in an hour afterwards
Brighton in April with a marathon just finished is a genuinely good place to be, and a finisher usually wants food and a sit down before a ninety-minute drive. We are happy to set the collection later and there is no charge for the difference, provided it is agreed when you book rather than decided on the day.
Brighton Marathon questions
Closures, timings and getting home.
Is Brighton a day trip from Kent?
Comfortably. Under two hours from most of the county across Sussex, with no London involved. It is the most practical big marathon from our patch.
Where does the race start and finish?
It starts at Preston Park, north of the town centre, and finishes on the seafront. The closures follow the route through the town.
Where will you drop us?
Outside the closure ring, usually approaching from the north, with a short walk in. We confirm the exact point in the days before the race, since the route varies.
What time do we need to leave Kent?
Between half five and half six in the morning, because the road closures go in first thing and the approaches tighten quickly after that.
Where should supporters stand?
Pick one good spot on the seafront and stay there. Trying to see the start, a mid-point and the finish on a closed seafront mostly produces a morning of walking.
Can we stay in Brighton afterwards?
Yes, and we would recommend an hour at least. A finisher wants food and a sit down before a ninety-minute drive. Agree the later collection when you book.
Why is Brighton harder to close than an inland town?
Because the seafront is both the route and the main east-west road, and the town runs downhill to it. There is no spare artery.
Is the fare fixed?
Yes, agreed at booking, including the waiting and the collection point.
Running events and Sussex
Races within reach of Kent.