Blackheath · Greenwich Park · Charlton · Finish on The Mall · April
London Marathon Transfers – Fixed Price Quote, Book Online 24/7
The London Marathon begins on Blackheath and in Greenwich Park, which is to say twenty minutes from Dartford and about as local to us as a world-major marathon could possibly be. For Kent runners and their families, that is a considerable advantage on a morning when nothing else about London works.
From Dartford to the Blackheath start areas. While runners from the rest of the country are crossing London before dawn on a restricted rail network, Kent runners have the shortest journey to the start line of anyone in the field.
Why Kent runners have it easiest
The start is in south east London. Almost everything about marathon morning follows from that.
The start areas
Minutes from Lewisham, Bexley and Dartford, and a short run from most of north Kent.
Assembly from before dawn
Runners are in their pens a long time before they cross the line. Plan the drop accordingly.
Decides your area
Red, green and blue start in different places. Check your number and tell us.
Miles from the start
Which is the whole logistical problem of the day for anyone meeting a runner.
Kent to the start areas
Very early on a Sunday, so these are close to the fastest journeys we ever run.
| Pick-up area | Distance | Early Sunday journey |
|---|---|---|
| Bexleyheath & Welling | 6 miles | 15–25 min |
| Sidcup & Bexley | 7 miles | 15–25 min |
| Dartford & Bluewater | 9 miles | 20–30 min |
| Bromley & Orpington | 9 miles | 20–30 min |
| Gravesend & Northfleet | 15 miles | 25–40 min |
| Sevenoaks & Tonbridge | 22 miles | 35–50 min |
| Rochester & Chatham | 25 miles | 35–55 min |
| Maidstone & Aylesford | 28 miles | 40–60 min |
| Canterbury & Ashford | 52 miles | 65–90 min |
Supporters: the hard part
The runner has one job. Everyone meeting them has a considerably more difficult one.
| Problem | What we do about it |
|---|---|
| Central London is closed | Wide closures along the route all morning. Driving across it is not possible |
| The finish is not the start | Meeting a runner at The Mall means an entirely separate journey |
| Runners are exhausted and cold | And carrying a kit bag. Being collected matters more than usual |
| Phones do not work well in crowds | Agree a meeting point in advance, not on the day |
| We collect outside the closures | On the south side, and we agree the point when you book |
Marathon morning
Runners: we drop you early and close
The start areas at Blackheath and Greenwich Park are minutes from most of our patch, which means a Kent runner can leave home at a civilised hour and still be in the pen in good time, without a train, a tube or a walk across a closed city. Tell us your start colour, since red, green and blue assemble in different places, and we will set the drop to match.
Supporters: plan the meeting point before the day
This is where marathon Sunday goes wrong for families. Central London is closed along the route, the finish on The Mall is a long way from the start, and mobile networks struggle in dense crowds. Agreeing a specific collection point with us in advance, outside the closures, is worth more than any amount of improvising with a phone that will not connect.
Runners need collecting more than most passengers
Someone who has just run twenty-six miles is cold, stiff, carrying a kit bag and in no state to negotiate a rail network at capacity. It is the single strongest case for booking transport we can make: the run is the achievement, and the journey home should not be part of the challenge.
Book early, because we are local
Our patch supplies a large share of the runners on this course, and marathon Sunday fills our diary earlier than almost any other single date. If you have a place, arrange the morning as soon as you know, particularly if you want a specific early drop time.
London Marathon questions
Starts, finishes and closures.
Where does the London Marathon start?
On Blackheath and in Greenwich Park, in south east London, which is minutes from most of our patch and the closest any world-major marathon start could be to Kent.
What is a start colour?
Runners are assigned red, green or blue starts, which assemble in different areas. It is on your number, and telling us means we set the drop-off in the right place.
How early do runners need to arrive?
Well before the start, since assembly and pen entry take a long time. We plan the drop from your assembly time rather than your start time.
Can you drive us to the finish?
Not directly. Central London is closed along the route all morning. We agree a collection point outside the closures, usually on the south side, before the day.
Why agree a meeting point in advance?
Because mobile networks struggle in dense crowds and a runner who has just finished is in no state to work out logistics. A point agreed at booking is far more reliable.
Do you collect runners after the finish?
Yes, and it is one of the strongest cases for booking us. A finisher is cold, stiff and carrying a kit bag, and the rail network is at capacity.
How far ahead should we book?
As soon as you have a place. Our own patch supplies a large share of this field and marathon Sunday fills earlier than almost any other date in our year.
Is the fare fixed?
Yes, agreed at booking, including the collection arrangement and any waiting.
Running events and London
Races and the closures around them.
Travel guides
London closure days and shutdown dates
Closest airport to London Marathon
Birmingham Airport is the closest airport to London Marathon, roughly 16 road miles and about 38 minutes by car outside the peaks. East Midlands Airport is the next closest at around 48 miles (94 min), and is often the better choice depending on where you are flying from.
| Airport | Road distance | Drive time | Fixed-fare taxi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham Airport (BHX) | 16 miles | about 38 min | Get fixed fare · BHX transfers |
| East Midlands Airport (EMA) | 48 miles | about 94 min | Get fixed fare · EMA transfers |
| Manchester Airport (MAN) | 77 miles | about 142 min | Get fixed fare · MAN transfers |
| Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL) | 85 miles | about 156 min | Get fixed fare · LPL transfers |
| Bristol Airport (BRS) | 101 miles | about 183 min | Get fixed fare · BRS transfers |
Best airport for London Marathon: which one to fly into
Distance is only half the answer. Pick the airport with the right flight, then let us handle the road: every Rushxo airport taxi to London Marathon is a fixed fare agreed before you book, the driver tracks your flight and meets you in arrivals with a name board, and waiting time for a late landing is built in. Popular searches: taxi from Birmingham Airport to London Marathon, taxi from East Midlands Airport to London Marathon, taxi from Manchester Airport to London Marathon.
Airport taxi to London Marathon: how it works
- Fixed price per car, not per person, saloon to V Class minibus
- Meet and greet in arrivals, live traffic routing, name board
- Drop-off and pickup charges included in the fare
- Child seats and wheelchair-accessible vehicles on request
- Return to the airport after the event at the same fixed price
- 24/7, pre-booked, TfL and council licensed drivers
Vehicles and drivers
Choose a saloon for up to four passengers, an executive car for business travel, an MPV for families and luggage, or a minibus for groups of up to 16. Every driver is TfL-licensed and DBS-checked, and every vehicle is insured for private hire.
Frequently asked questions
Is the price for London Marathon Transfers fixed?
Yes. Every Rushxo journey is a fixed price agreed before you travel, whatever the traffic or time of day: no meter, no surge pricing, no hidden extras.
How do I book London Marathon Transfers?
Request a quote online, by WhatsApp or by phone, 24 hours a day. Confirm the pick-up time and address and you receive the driver details before the journey; business accounts can book on monthly invoice.
Is Rushxo a licensed operator?
Yes. Rushxo journeys are operated by Get London Transfer Ltd, a TfL-licensed private hire operator (licence 11588). Rushxo Ltd is registered at Companies House (16464640), with DBS-checked drivers and insurance up to £10m.
London Marathon: events, venues, airports & the wider network
Rushxo runs fixed-price transfers from London Marathon to events and venues, every major airport and cruise terminal, and towns and cities right across London and the South East. Every journey is a fixed price agreed before you book.
Event & venue transfers
O2 Arena · Wembley Stadium · Twickenham Stadium · Emirates Stadium · Ascot Racecourse · Epsom Derby · Download Festival · Brands Hatch
Airports & cruise terminals
Gatwick Airport · Heathrow Airport · Stansted Airport · Luton Airport · London City Airport · Southend Airport · Cruise transfers
Popular towns & cities
London · Brighton · Canterbury · Chelmsford · Cambridge · Oxford · Guildford
Explore the network
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