Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon
Leeds, United Kingdom · May · Independent
Why people love it
- Racecheck reviewers say crowd support is huge: villages, sweets and hosepipes.
- Start and finish at Headingley Stadium, with a car-free section through Golden Acre Park.
- Hilly route through Adel, Bramhope and Otley with Chevin views.
- Eight aid and toilet stops about every 5 km (3 mi).
- Open entry, about GBP 68 (about USD 90); 5,500 ran the marathon in 2026.
Watch out for
- Marathoners merge with half-marathon runners around 34 km (21 mi) and lose time.
- Hills begin early and the Chevin climb comes late, around 27 to 32 km (17 to 20 mi).
- Warm sun in 2025 caught runners out; May heat is possible.
- Toilet queues before the start and a slow exit from the stadium.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 28% of the overall score.
Toughness: Very tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved4.0
Racecheck shows 117 reviews at 4.3 out of 5, with 2026 lower at 3.95. Crowds are widely praised; the late merge and heat drew complaints. · High confidence
- OrganizationAdequate3.4
Navigation (4.8) and safety (4.6) score highly, but congestion is 3.5 out of 5, with a crowded merge near 34 km (21 mi) and queues. · High confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.2
Over half the 2025 field were first-timers and support is huge, but most reviews mention hills, and warm May sun and the merge slow runners. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialSlow2.4
Most reviewers mention hills and 54% call it challenging, with the Chevin climb near 27 to 32 km (17 to 20 mi). · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful3.8
Reviewers praise the mix of city and countryside through Adel, Bramhope and Otley, plus a quiet car-free stretch in Golden Acre Park. · Medium confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points2.8
Racecheck congestion is 3.5 out of 5 from 85 ratings. Marathoners meet slower half runners on narrow roads from about 34 km (21 mi). · High confidence
- Road surfaceGood4.0
Road race on city streets and country roads; no surface complaints found. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed4.2
Closures run from 07:30 over the whole route, with roads reopening on a rolling basis until about 16:45. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessRolling2.5
Hills feature in most reviews. No official gain figure; hills start on Eccup Lane and the Chevin climb is late. · Medium confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Loop course. One runner enjoyed a downhill finish after the late climb. · Medium confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSome waiting3.2
Reviewers cite long toilet queues before the start and shuttle buses; free parking and a park-and-ride are offered. · Medium confidence
- Pacers and timingSome pace groups3.4
Pacing advice for the hills is praised, but a 2026 reviewer reported a timing-mat fault and missing chip timing. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportElectric4.6
Nearly all reviewers mention a huge festival atmosphere: spectators hand out sweets and drinks, villages turn out and hosepipes cool runners. · High confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.6
Eight water and toilet stops about every 5 km (3 mi). Water is generally adequate, but the 34 km (21 mi) stop is busy. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindMostly calm3.5
No wind complaints in reviews; the route crosses open ground near Bramhope and Otley. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant3.5
Mid-May 09:00 starts are usually 8 to 18 °C (46 to 64 °F), but 2025 was sunny and hot, and some runners struggled. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.0
Reviews describe hot conditions in 2025; May in Yorkshire is variable. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.9
Spectator hubs with transport at Otley and Bramhope plus the stadium start and finish. One runner wanted spectators allowed to stay at the finish. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.6
Leeds sits at about 80 m (260 ft) above sea level. · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.0
Large city with many hotels, though they fill on race weekend. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.6
City-centre and Headingley hotels at typical UK city rates. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.5
Headingley hotels are walkable to the stadium; others use public transport or the park-and-ride shuttle. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.0
Leeds has a major rail station and is about 13 km (8 mi) from the airport. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.4
One start and finish at Headingley Stadium with a shuttle option, but a slow stadium exit and toilet queues. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood4.0
Leeds city centre has a large food and drink scene, and the Yorkshire Dales are close. · Medium confidence
Entry
How hard it is to get a place, and what you get for the fee. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Getting inEasy4.0
Open entry at a large, growing event (5,500 marathoners in 2026); not a ballot. · Medium confidence
- Value for moneyGood value3.5
General entry is about GBP 68 (about USD 90); one reviewer disliked paying extra for the t-shirt. Charity places cost GBP 20 to 50. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Leeds, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
- Typical month
- May
- Latest or next date
- 9 May 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 5,500 athletes
- First held
- 2023
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- loop
- Start time
- 09:00
- Surface
- Closed city roads and rural roads, with a car-free section through Golden Acre Park
- How to get in
- open
- Entry fee
- About $90
- Air temperature
- 8–18 °C (46–64 °F)
- Humidity
- Moderate; temperate
- Altitude
- 80 m (260 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA), 13 km (8 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Headingley, Leeds city centre
- Booking
- Hotels fill in Headingley and the city centre on race weekend. Organisers recommend public transport and the Stourton Park and Ride with a shuttle to the stadium.
What racers and reviewers say
- Racecheck (Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon)Raced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
117 reviews at 4.32 out of 5 overall (2026: 3.95). Runners agree the crowd support is exceptional and the course is hilly, with the Chevin climb around 27 to 32 km (17 to 20 mi). The main complaint is a congested merge at about 34 km (21 mi) with slower half-marathon runners, plus toilet queues, a busy aid station, a slow finish exit and a heat in 2025.
“Great event, terrible logistics from 21 miles.”
- runABC (2025 race report)Raced 2025 · article · Positive
Report on the third edition: spectators lined the streets with music, banners and tributes to Rob Burrow, Kevin Sinfield sent a video message, and a half marathon ran alongside with separate results. Run For All organised it for the MND charities.
“carnival-like”
- Eccleshill Road Runners (2023)Raced 2023 · blog · Positive
A club report on the inaugural race: over 12,000 signed up, more than half were running their first marathon, and it was the first Leeds marathon in about twenty years. It describes the circular route through Hyde Park, Woodhouse Moor, Adel, Eccup, Bramhope, Arthington and Otley, with the last 14 km (9 mi) back along Otley Road, music groups and cheer stations.
“best of Leeds”
- Eccleshill Road Runners (2025)Raced 2025 · blog · Mixed
A club report on the third edition: sun from start to finish made conditions tough for marathoners and the half started an hour later in even warmer weather; Yorkshire spirit, cheer stations and an emotional atmosphere, with over 12,000 signed up.
“sun shone from start to finish”
- Ilkley Harriers (Ilkley Gazette report)Raced 2023 · article · Positive
A club report on the inaugural race calls it a challenging hilly course from Headingley through Adel, Bramhope and Otley and back, with the day special for runners who finished.
“challenging hilly course”
Show 2 more
- Discover Leeds guideRaced 2026 · article · Positive
A visitor guide describes the course, hills starting at Eccup Lane with a second series after Otley, a quiet car-free Golden Acre Park section, eight water and toilet stops about every 5 km (3 mi), road closures from 07:30 and park-and-ride advice.
“car-free highlight”
- Yorkshire Evening Post (2026 race day)Raced 2026 · article · Positive
Race-day coverage: 5,500 ran the full marathon and over 11,500 the half marathon, with Kevin Sinfield addressing runners; the winner finished in 2:26:33.
Raced Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
Training for Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.