The Race
| Next Race Date | 11 October 2026 (autumn edition) |
|---|---|
| Course type | Out-and-back: a single route sharing one start and finish point at Green Park, Bath, running out along the Bristol & Bath Railway Path to a turn point around 21 km and retracing the same course back |
| Registration | Open, direct online entry via the official Relish Running Races site, no ballot |
| Ballot Opens | Not applicable: open entry, no ballot |
| Total finishers | Not confirmed |
| Avg race-day temp | Not confirmed. Climate averages for Bath show an October mean temperature of around 11°C with higher rainfall than September, but this is a general climate average, not race-day data |
| Cutoff time | A 3.5-hour cutoff to start the marathon’s return leg, with an overall target finish time of 7.5 hours |
| Free race-day transport | Not applicable. There is no on-site parking at Green Park and no dedicated race shuttle; drivers are directed to the Charlotte Street, SouthGate and Avon Street car parks or Bath’s Park & Ride service, and Bath Spa railway station sits approximately 900 m from the start/finish |
| Course certification | Not independently verified. Official materials describe routes as measured with a measuring wheel and “accurate to the distances quoted,” but no independently located UKA/England Athletics licence record or AIMS certificate was found |
An Out-and-Back on a Working Heritage Railway Path
This is not a closed-road marathon. The course runs along the Bristol & Bath Railway Path, a shared public route on the National Cycle Network used daily by walkers and cyclists, and it crosses an active heritage railway line near Bitton, where runners may be briefly stopped if a train from the Avon Valley Railway is passing. The out-and-back format means the return leg retraces the outward route exactly, including a second pass through Staple Hill Tunnel, where GPS watches can lose accuracy. No bottled water is provided at any of the eight feast stations: marathon runners are told explicitly to carry their own water and refill it on course, a genuinely different kit requirement from a standard road marathon and one worth planning for rather than discovering on race morning.
History
The Bath & Bristol Railway Marathon is one distance within the wider Bath & Bristol Railway Races event, organised by Relish Running Races (Relish The Great Outdoors Ltd) and run twice a year, in spring and autumn, from Green Park, Bath. The marathon distance carries its own event-specific name, “Marathon - Eastville Return Ticket,” a nod to the railway theme that runs through the whole event, since the course follows the Bristol & Bath Railway Path, a former railway line converted into a shared walking, cycling and running route on the National Cycle Network. The event should not be confused with two other, separate races: the Bath Marathon (also known as the Two Tunnels Railway Races), a different Relish-organised event using a different route through Bath’s Two Tunnels Greenway, and the Bristol + Bath Marathon, an unrelated road marathon concept that last ran in 2015 and has since been discontinued.
The course
The Bath & Bristol Railway Marathon starts and finishes at Green Park, Bath, run as a single out-and-back route rather than a loop or point-to-point course. The route leaves Green Park following the River Avon out of the city, crosses onto the Bristol & Bath Railway Path, and continues past Bitton and Warmley toward Eastville, turning around 21 km and retracing the same course back to Green Park. The surface is essentially all tarmac, with a small amount of grass at the start and finish, and the official route page records 89 m of elevation across the full route, a genuinely low-relief course by UK marathon standards. This is not a closed-road event: the Bristol & Bath Railway Path remains open to its normal public users throughout, and runners are told explicitly to keep left and share the path with cyclists and walkers. The course also crosses an active heritage railway line near Bitton, where runners may be briefly stopped if a train from the Avon Valley Railway is passing.
Eight feast stations serve the marathon distance, with water, electrolyte, bananas, oranges, cookies, flapjack, crisps, Haribo, vegan bars and gluten-free bars, plus flat coke for the second half of the route. No bottled water is provided at any station: marathon runners are explicitly asked to carry their own water and refill it at aid stations from the non-plastic cups and containers provided.
Logistics Map
The map below shows the out-and-back route from Green Park along the Bristol & Bath Railway Path to Staple Hill Tunnel and the turn point, then back the same way. Tap a marker for details.
A narrow opening 500 m, then the river path with narrow bridges, before a short residential-road link onto the Bristol & Bath Railway Path itself.
A long, largely flat stretch past Bitton and Warmley, including an active heritage-railway crossing where runners may be briefly stopped for a passing train, and a short rise over the A4174 at around 16 km.
A roughly 450 m tunnel where GPS can lose accuracy, followed shortly by the turn point around 21 km.
Retraces the outward route exactly, including a second pass through the tunnel, before a long, gentle downhill back to the finish at Green Park.
Pacers
Not confirmed. No official pacer programme has been sourced across the official route, event-information, FAQ or results pages reviewed. The out-and-back format and low elevation make independent pacing genuinely straightforward, since the return leg retraces exactly the same ground as the outward leg.
What to wear
Mid-October in Bath is generally autumnal and often wet: climate averages put the mean temperature at around 11°C with higher rainfall than September. Only bone-conducting headphones are permitted under the event’s UK Athletics-referenced rules, a rule tied to the course remaining open to other path users throughout. Since no bottled water is provided on course, runners should plan to carry a handheld or vest for the full distance rather than relying entirely on aid-station refills, a genuinely different kit requirement from a standard road marathon. There are no changing tents at Green Park, so runners are told to arrive already changed and race-ready.
Entry
Entry is direct and online only via the official Relish Running Races site, with no ballot. The 2026 marathon distance is listed online at £60, with on-the-day pricing shown as £60 for UK Athletics-affiliated runners and £62 for unaffiliated runners, subject to availability. Numbers are collected on race day only, by wave; race packs are not posted. Relish’s standard terms allow a runner-to-runner name transfer or a change of distance up to 14 days before race day for a £5 admin fee, or a transfer to another Relish event on the same terms if the destination event has live entries. A deferral is possible up to 30 days before race day, also for a £5 admin fee, functioning as an IOU claimable within 12 months. Races are otherwise non-refundable, though optional Refund Protect insurance is offered at the point of booking. No Good for Age, championship, elite or charity-place entry pathway was found; entry is open to all at the standard fee.
Fast Runner / GFA Standards
Not applicable. The Bath & Bristol Railway Marathon has no dedicated fast-runner or Good for Age entry pathway.
Race Weekend
Expo
There is no expo and no postal race-pack option. Number collection happens on race day only, at Green Park, organised by wave. Runners should plan to arrive with enough time to collect their number, use the portaloos at Green Park, and drop bags at the manned bag-storage tent before their wave’s briefing.
Race Morning
Race morning centres on Green Park, Bath, with number collection by wave, portaloos, a manned bag-storage tent for a static bag drop, and bike racking for runners cycling in with their own lock; there are no changing tents, so runners should arrive race-ready. There is no on-site parking and no dedicated race shuttle: official materials direct drivers to the Charlotte Street, SouthGate and Avon Street car parks, all within roughly half a mile, or to Bath’s Park & Ride service. Bath Spa railway station sits approximately 900 m from Green Park, making rail a genuinely convenient option for runners without a car. Course toilets have previously been sited around 6.75 miles and 19.6 miles. Prams are permitted on the route, asked to start at the back of their wave.
Nutrition on Course
Eight feast stations serve the marathon distance, offering water, electrolyte, bananas, oranges, cookies, flapjack, crisps, Haribo, vegan bars and gluten-free bars, with flat coke available on the second half of the marathon-distance route. Liquids are served in non-plastic cups and refill containers rather than bottled water; marathon (and half marathon, 25 km and 50 km) runners should carry their own water and use aid stations to refill rather than expecting bottled water to be handed out.
Spectating
The official event-information PDF recommends spectators stay at Green Park rather than attempting to follow the course, since the route is an out-and-back on a relatively narrow shared path, and a spectator would need to move at least as fast as the runners themselves to see them both heading out and returning to the finish. Green Park itself, as the shared start and finish point, is realistically the only practical viewing location for most spectators without a car and detailed knowledge of the railway path’s access points.
Itinerary: Remain at Green Park, Bath for the whole event, covering both the start and the eventual finish at the same location. Reach Green Park via the roughly half-mile walk from Bath Spa railway station, or from one of the nearby car parks (Charlotte Street, SouthGate, Avon Street).
Post-Race Food
Green Park itself is a repurposed railway station now home to food and drink businesses, making it a practical first stop immediately after finishing. For a fuller meal in central Bath, a short walk from the finish, the wider city centre offers a substantial choice of restaurants and pubs.
Where to Stay
The Bath & Bristol Railway Marathon starts and finishes at the same point, Green Park in central Bath, so there is no separate start-versus-finish trade-off; every accommodation option here is judged on proximity to that single venue.
Central Bath, around Green Park and Bath Spa station
The simplest race-weekend base, letting runners walk to the start, avoid the event’s own warning that there is zero on-street parking around the venue, and stay within easy reach of restaurants and post-race attractions. Bath Spa station itself sits roughly 900 m from Green Park, making this area equally convenient for runners arriving by train.
Queen Square and the Royal Crescent side of the city
Bath’s most recognisably Georgian quarter, offering a more premium weekend setting with its own concentration of hotels and restaurants, while remaining a walkable distance from Green Park.
Widcombe
A quieter residential area south of Bath Spa station, offering a village feel while staying walkable to both the station and the start, a reasonable alternative for runners wanting some distance from the city centre’s weekend crowds without sacrificing proximity to the race itself.
Bristol
Connected to Bath by a short and frequent train service, only worth considering as a base if a runner is deliberately combining the race with wider Bristol travel; it adds a genuine dependency on Sunday morning train timings against the runner’s own wave, a risk not worth taking purely for cheaper accommodation.
Recommended areas
The lowest race-day friction option, within easy walking distance of the start and finish, and close to Bath Spa station for arrivals by train. No specific property has been sourced with confidence for this guide.
Bath’s most recognisably Georgian quarter, with a concentration of premium hotels and restaurants, while remaining a walkable distance from the start. No specific property has been sourced with confidence for this guide.
The most practical choice for runners arriving by train, given the short walk from Bath Spa station to the start. No specific property has been sourced with confidence for this guide.
A quieter, village-feel area south of Bath Spa station, still walkable to both the station and the start. No specific property has been sourced with confidence for this guide.
Booking timeline
There is no ballot for this race, so demand builds through the standard entry window rather than spiking around a single results date. Bath is a major leisure destination year-round, and weekend pricing at central hotels and spa properties can run high regardless of the marathon itself, so runners should book as soon as their entry is confirmed rather than assuming late availability. Runners planning to drive should note the event’s own warning that there is no on-street parking around Green Park, making an early hotel or car-park booking, rather than a same-day arrival, the safer plan.
See & Do
These attractions sit close to the shared start and finish at Green Park, in central Bath, or directly on the course itself.
The Roman Baths
Central Bath, within easy walking distance of Green Park. Central Bath’s flagship Roman site and the city’s best-known single attraction, a natural pre- or post-race visit given its central location.
Bath Abbey
Adjacent to the Roman Baths in central Bath. A compact, easy add-on next to the Roman Baths, suited to a low-effort visit either side of race day.
Thermae Bath Spa
Central Bath. A genuinely practical post-race recovery option, with a rooftop pool and natural thermal waters, a distinctive alternative to a standard hotel spa.
The Royal Crescent and The Circus
Central Bath, a short walk from Green Park. Bath’s best-known Georgian architecture, a flat, low-effort walk well suited to legs recovering from the marathon, and a strong pre-race sightseeing option for anyone arriving the day before.
The Bristol & Bath Railway Path
Runs directly along much of the course itself. The 13-mile, largely traffic-free former railway line that the marathon itself follows out toward Eastville, part of the National Cycle Network, worth understanding as a place in its own right since it is shared daily by walkers and cyclists rather than existing solely for race day.
Read Before you Run
Persuasion
Jane Austen
Austen’s final completed novel is set substantially in Bath, and its portrait of the city’s social world, its walks, its assembly rooms, gives runners a genuine sense of the place beyond the railway path the marathon itself follows, a fitting companion for a race weekend spent largely in the city centre.
After the Race
The Bath & Bristol Railway Marathon runs in mid-October. These itineraries stay close to Bath itself or reach nearby West Country towns by rail, suited to legs recovering from an out-and-back course with no closed roads to navigate.
The Roman Baths, Thermae Bath Spa, Bath Abbey and the Royal Crescent, all within walking distance of Green Park, the simplest possible extension for runners not travelling further.
An easy city add-on covering Bristol’s harbourside, street art and food scene, plus the Clifton Suspension Bridge, all reachable without a car.
Two low-effort West Country day trips, both reachable by rail without needing a car, suited to a gentle day after the marathon.
Frequently asked questions
Should I stay near the start or the finish?
They are the same place. The Bath & Bristol Railway Marathon starts and finishes at Green Park in central Bath, so there is no start-versus-finish trade-off.
How far in advance should I book a hotel?
As early as possible. Bath is a major leisure destination year-round, and central hotel pricing can run high on any given weekend regardless of the marathon itself.
Is there free transport to the start?
No. There is no on-site parking and no dedicated race shuttle; the event’s own materials warn there is zero on-street parking around Green Park. Bath Spa railway station, roughly 900 m away, or one of the nearby pay car parks, are the practical options.
What is the best area to stay?
Central Bath, close to Green Park and Bath Spa station, offers the lowest race-day friction and the shortest walk to the start.
When does the expo open, and what do I need to bring?
There is no expo. Number collection happens on race day only, at Green Park, organised by wave; race packs are not posted, so runners must collect in person before their own wave’s briefing.
What is the race day weather typically like?
Not confirmed for race day specifically. Mid-October in Bath is generally cool and often wet, with climate data showing a mean temperature around 11°C.
How do I get from the airport?
Not confirmed. Bristol Airport is the geographically plausible nearest airport, but no specific transfer route to Bath has been sourced for this race.
Is there a bag drop?
Yes, a manned bag-storage tent operates at Green Park for a static bag drop.
Should I bring a throwaway layer?
Sensible given the mid-October date and Bath’s generally cool, often wet conditions at that time of year, particularly for runners in later marathon waves who may wait longer before their own start.
How do I get back to my hotel after finishing?
Runners staying in central Bath can walk back from Green Park. Runners staying further out, including anyone based in Bristol, will need to check Sunday train times in advance, since there is no organiser-run shuttle beyond the race venue itself.