In short
The 2027 adidas Manchester Marathon is on Sunday 18 April, a week before London, and runs point to point from Old Trafford in Trafford to Oxford Road outside the University of Manchester, about 2 miles apart. Runners should stay in Manchester city centre or near Oxford Road, a direct tram ride from the start and within a 20-minute walk of the finish, or at Salford Quays or Old Trafford to walk to the start. Supporters can follow the race on the Altrincham tram line, with stops near the course in Stretford, Sale and Altrincham at halfway. Public places sold out within 10 days of opening on 21 April 2026 and the organisers expect their biggest edition yet, so book a room with free cancellation now.
Course sheet In race order, not to scale
- Bridgewater Way, Old TraffordStart under the Trafford Arch, entered through the E2 car park at the stadium
- Deansgatemile 1 (km 2)The Supporter Send Off, about a mile in
- Stretfordmile 6 (km 10) · cheer spotChester Road through Stretford, miles 5 to 7, and Stretford again near mile 21
- Altrinchammile 13.1 (km 21) · cheer spotHalfway in the town centre, with bands and choirs, then the turn back to the city
- Sale and Broad Roadmile 18.5 (km 30) · cheer spotMiles 18 to 19 on Broad Road, a short walk from Sale tram stop, where tired legs need a cheer
- Chorlton-cum-Hardymile 22 (km 35)Barlow Moor Road around mile 22, home of the Jet2 Runway cheer zone in 2026
- Hulmemile 24 (km 39)Stretford Road by the Hulme Arch, about mile 24 (runners also pass at mile 2)
- Oxford RoadThe finish, outside the University of Manchester
Race morning
Take the Metrolink tram: in 2026 runners arriving before 09:30 used Old Trafford or Trafford Bar stops, a 10-minute walk from the start area, and later waves used Wharfside or Exchange Quay so they did not have to cross the course. In 2026 everyone entered through the E2 car park at Old Trafford stadium, where bag drop and toilets were, and runners using bag drop were asked to arrive 45 minutes before their wave's entry time. Trams ran from 07:00, the elite race started at 09:00 and the last wave at 11:30. TfGM expected marathon day to be its busiest day of the year on the trams in 2025, and there was no official parking in 2026, so allow plenty of time.
Where to stay
Pick an area to see hotels and rentals there at live prices.
Start Finish Acheer spot Course
Live map · Old Trafford and Trafford BarHotels and rentals at live prices, Fri 16 Apr to Mon 19 Apr
Open the live map for Old Trafford and Trafford Bar ↗
Prices and availability come from booking sites through Stay22. Change the dates on the map if you are staying longer.
Watch the race
Stay on the Altrincham tram line: Stretford around mile 6, halfway in Altrincham, then Sale at miles 18 to 19, and a direct tram back to the city to meet your runner on Oxford Road.
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mile 6 (km 10)
Stretford
Runners come along Chester Road through Stretford between miles 5 and 7. Use Stretford tram stop, about 5 minutes on foot from the course; spectators cannot enter the start area, so this is a good first sighting.
Stays near Stretford ↗ -
mile 13.1 (km 21)
Altrincham
From Stretford, take a tram towards Altrincham, 6 stops to the end of the line. Runners reach halfway in the town centre, with bands and choirs, before turning back; a runner on 10-minute miles takes about 70 minutes from mile 6 to here.
Stays near Altrincham ↗ -
mile 18.5 (km 30)
Sale
From Altrincham, ride 4 stops back towards Manchester to Sale; runners come along Broad Road, a few minutes' walk from the stop, at miles 18 to 19, where support matters most. A runner on 10-minute miles takes about 55 minutes from halfway to here.
Stays near Sale and Broad Road ↗ -
Meet your runner
The organisers ask supporters to avoid the finish line itself. In 2026 the meeting point was the coloured flags on Oxford Road, from just past the Mancunian Way bridge up to Charles Street: from Sale a direct tram takes you 7 stops to St Peter's Square, then walk about 10 minutes south. Runners left the finish area about 500 m past the line, and the organisers warned it could take them up to 20 minutes.
The official hotels, explained
Marathon Tours & Travel is the official accommodation option for 2027: packages at The Reach by Piccadilly (or similar) from one night, and with public entries sold out it is one of the few ways left to get a place (charity places are another), at £105 on top of a package. Hyatt Hotels Manchester, right by the finish, was the official hotel in 2025 and 2026 but is not listed for 2027, and the race site also has a Stay22 map of other hotels.
| Official hotel offer | Our maps | |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs it | Marathon Tours & Travel | Every hotel and rental near each area |
| Prices | From £115 per person sharing for Saturday night, plus £105 for a guaranteed race entry (2027 packages) | Live prices from several booking sites |
| Minimum stay and cancellation | From one night. A deposit is taken at booking; under the standard conditions you lose the deposit or 30% if you cancel more than 84 days before arrival, then 50%, 75% and the full price from 28 days, and race entry is never refundable. | Filter for free cancellation |
| Need to buy a package? | No | No |
See the official hotel offer ↗ · We link to the official option and explain its terms, so you can compare before you book.
When to book
- NowBook a room with free cancellation near the start.
- Your cancellation dateKeep or cancel before it passes.
- Sun, 18 Apr 2027Race day.
Free guide
The Unofficial 2027 Manchester Marathon Where to Stay Guide
Every area, the race morning plan and the booking dates in one place, updated every year.
Questions
Where should I stay for the Manchester Marathon?
Runners: Manchester city centre or around Oxford Road, with direct trams to the start at Old Trafford and a short walk from the finish, or Salford Quays and Old Trafford to walk to the start. Supporters: Sale or Altrincham put you on the course and on the tram line that follows it.
Is it better to stay near the start or the finish?
The start at Old Trafford and the finish on Oxford Road are about 2 miles apart. Most runners do best near the finish or in the city centre: three tram stops from St Peter's Square to Trafford Bar in the morning, and a walk back after the race, with your bag taken from the start to the finish for you.
How do I get to the start of the Manchester Marathon?
By Metrolink tram. In 2026 runners arriving before 09:30 got off at Old Trafford or Trafford Bar (a 10-minute walk), and later arrivals at Wharfside or Exchange Quay; everyone entered through the E2 car park at the stadium. Trams ran from 07:00 and were very busy. There was no official parking in 2026, but the organisers suggested the Ladywell and Parkway park and ride sites, with trams towards the start.
Where are the best places to watch the Manchester Marathon?
The Altrincham tram line follows the course: Stretford (miles 5 to 7), Altrincham (halfway) and Sale (miles 18 to 19) are all next to tram stops. Hulme sees runners at miles 2 and 24, Chorlton is lively around mile 22, and the Supporter Send Off on Deansgate is about a mile in.
When is the Manchester Marathon 2027?
Sunday 18 April 2027, a week before the two-day London Marathon on 24 and 25 April. 2027 start times are not out yet; in 2026 the elite race started at 09:00 and the last wave at 11:30.
Can I still get a place in the 2027 Manchester Marathon?
Public places sold out within 10 days of opening on 21 April 2026. You can still run for one of the official charities, or buy a guaranteed entry (£105) together with a Marathon Tours & Travel hotel package; there is no ballot.
Official race site ↗ · Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29