London Marathon 2026 freebies: Claim roast dinners, pints and more – UK Times

The London Marathon is back this weekend, but if you’re taking part, I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that. While you’re dealing with the pre-race jitters, I’m sure you’re thinking of all the treats that await you at the finish line. From free roast dinners to sightseeing cruises, there’s so much up to grabs, and we’ve rounded up the best of the best here.

First, let’s start with a less-exciting perk, but an important one. On race day itself – Sunday 26 April – marathon runners and race officials can travel for free on TfL services (excluding the IFS Cloud Cable Car and river services) from 4.30am until 8pm. All you have to do is present an official running number, course photo ID or course pass.

It’s not just TfL that’s giving out freebies, though. Whether you’re looking to refuel at a major chain like Burger King or a local pub, there are meals, pints and even shower products to be redeemed across the capital this weekend. Read on for the best London Marathon freebies for 2026.

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Get yourself to Burger King before 8pm and show your medal to get a free whopper or plant-based whopper. This freebie is only available on race day at The Strand and Leicester Square branches.

If you miss out, Burger King is also running a buy one get one free whopper deal to anyone who shows their medal on Sunday, 26 April and Monday, 27 April. This deal is available at 12 London branches: Queensway, Egham, Lewisham, Stratford, Canary Wharf, Rotherhithe, Surrey Quays, Strand, Leicester Square, Gloucester Road, Marylebone, Tottenham Court Road and Bexleyheath.

The health-conscious, Asian-inspired chain restaurant itsu is giving away free gyozas to anyone who shows their London Marathon medal on race day. Choose from chicken and vegetable gyozas served with the brand’s signature tangy dipping sauce – prices usually start from £6.25.

Based in Soho, Cutter & Squidge is a bakery and café run by two sisters, which uses 100 per cent natural ingredients. Celebrate your race with a free brownie when you show your medal. Vegan and wheat-free brownies will also be available (while stocks last).

Bring your medal into any Chipotle branch in London on Sunday 26 April or Monday 27 April to claim your choice of burrito, taco, salad or bowl. These meals are customisable and there’s lots of protein options, from plant-based sofritas to braised beef barbacoa.

Once you’ve finished the race, take a stroll from the finish line to Trafalgar Square for a free Sunday roast at Kitty Hawk. This rooftop restaurant offers views of London’s skyline. Booking is not required as part of the free roast offer – just show your medal on the day.

If you would prefer something a little different for your Sunday lunch, LAVO at The BoTree is offering London Marathon finishers a free, reimagined roast dinner. Tuck into beef striploin, corn-fed chicken, porchetta, or roast cauliflower alongside roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables and panino semidolci.

Booking is required, so grab a slot between 12pm and 5pm and remember to show your medal upon arrival.

Personally, if I ran 26.2 miles, the last thing I would be eating is a salad. But if you want to reward your body with the good stuff, atis is offering London Marathon finishers a free standard-size salad bowl at any of their London locations.

There’s a range of options to choose from, including plant-based bowls and atis’s limited-edition marathon salad bowl in collaboration with Runna, which is pictured above and contains sweet potato, black beans, wholegrain rice and a cashew satay dressing. Any extras will be charged separately.

Show your medal in person on either Sunday 26 April or Monday 27 April to redeem your bowl.

The Emilia’s Pasta team will be at the finish line of the London Marathon giving out medal-shaped tokens for a free meal. Until Tuesday 30 June, you’ll be able to claim any bowl of pasta, with options including pistachio pesto casarecce, carbonara, cacio e pepe and more.

Visit Black Tap Soho to get a free burger and chips when you show your medal – but you’ll need to buy any other food item or drink from the menu to claim this one. You’ll be able to choose from the all-American burger, hot chicken, crispy chicken and falafel burger.

If you’re sick of lean protein, treat yourself to a free stack of pancakes at Polo Bar on race day. Runners can choose from a variety of generous toppings, including fresh berries and cream, Biscoff banoffee, and cookies and cream. Just show off your medal to a member of staff.

Free chaat from Cinnamon Bazaar in Covent Garden and Cinnamon Kitchen in Battersea

Enjoy traditional Indian street food on race day with free chaat for London Marathon medal holders. Chaat is a popular fried dough dish that’s both sweet and tangy. This freebie is available at both Covent Garden and Battersea.

If you’re around Carnaby after the race, it’s worth popping into La Maritxu at Kingley Court, as it’s giving away a free slice of basque cheesecake to the first 100 runners who show their medals. This is a San Sebastián-style burnt cheesecake that’s creamy and crustless.

You don’t need to book this one, but you will need to race your fellow runners for a second time to get your hands on this treat.

If you’re sticking around in London after race day, visit Fremantle Bar & Kitchen and you’ll be able to choose a free item from its breakfast menu as well as a hot drink. Choices include classics like breakfast bowls, avocado on toast and pancakes.

Free bakery item and iced coffee from Fred’s Bakery

Treat yourself to something sweet at Fred’s Bakery when you show your medal between race day and Friday 1 May – plus you’ll get an iced coffee to wash it down. This freebie is available at both the Holborn and Oxford Circus branches.

Free pint and chicken (or chick’n) sandwich at KERB social club

Old Spitalfields Market near Shoreditch is full of tasty food, clothes and antiques. Visit on race day and you’ll also get your post-marathon meal – either a chicken or vegan ‘chick’n’ sandwich – with a freshly-poured pint for free.

You can get a free steak dinner from any of Gaucho’s 11 London restaurants – but a non-medal holder in your party will need to buy a main. Choose from the restaurant’s signature cuts: sirloin, ribeye, rump and fillet. You’ve got until Wednesday, 29 April to claim this one.

Ave Mario, Gloria Shoreditch and Barbarella are all giving away free margherita pizzas to London Marathon runners this year. All you need to do is turn up and show proof of participation.

Runners, you can get a free barista-made drink from Roasting Plant Coffee when you show your medal. Choose from a range of options such as the lemon curd iced matcha latte and iced rose Dubai chocolate mocha.

Nothing beats a smoothie after a long run, so if you happen to be in Mayfair on race day, show your medal to get a refreshing beverage with banana, berries, coconut water, orange juice and greek yogurt.

Pretty Decent is an independent East London brewery with locations in Victoria Park, Forest Gate and Walthamstow. Runners who show their London Marathon 2026 medal can get a free pint on race day, plus, there will be £4 pints available all day.

Mr Fogg’s Taverns offer a traditional Victorian pub experience. Racers, you can choose from a free pint of Stella Artois, Camden Hells, Modelo, Guinness or Aspall when you show your London Marathon medal. There are branches across London – find out more by clicking the link below.

Vinegar Yard is an outdoor bar located near London Bridge station, and it’s offering a free hard seltzer to any London Marathon finishers who show their medal on race day. To help you refuel, there’s also street food available to buy, including tacos, burgers and pizza.

Sport London has pubs across the city. Pop in between 5pm and 7pm on race day and show your medal to get a free pint of Heineken – no booking required.

Enjoy a draft pint of Camden Hells at Castle Pubs across London when you show your medal on Sunday 26 April. Locations include The Gipsy Moth in Greenwich, The Sun Inn in Barnes, The White Horse in Parsons Green and The Engineer in Primrose Hill.

Free pint or glass of bubbles from The Brush East London Grand Café

This Shoreditch pub is giving London Marathon medal-holders a free pint or glass of bubbly on race day. It’s probably a good idea to book this one, which you can do below.

Pop into The Lamb in Bloomsbury and get a free pint or small glass of house wine when you show your medal on race day. This pub is based in central London, so it’s worth booking, to avoid disappointment.

Head to Bow Street Tavern in Covent Garden to get a free pint of Jubel on race day. Again, it may be worth booking to avoid disappointment in busy central London.

Free massage balm and shower jelly from Lush

Head to Lush’s stores on Oxford Street, Covent Garden, Victoria and Paddington and get the exclusive ‘ouchy’ magnesium massage balm and the ‘good hour’ shower jelly when you show your medal. Invented by a 35-time marathon runner, the magnesium balm contains uplifting peppermint, bergamot and wintergreen oils as well as anti-inflammatory ingredients such as turmeric.

Explore London in style with a free sightseeing cruise when you show your medal at City Cruises’ ticket office. You can also show your confirmation email, meaning that you’re entitled to this freebie even if you didn’t finish the race in full.

If you’d prefer to purchase your ticket online, you can get the discount using the code ‘marathonfree’. Friends and family can get a 30 per cent discount with the code ‘marathon30’.

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