Good Spot to Watch London Marathon

[EvianBaby]

My sister is running the London marathon and we'd like to go and show our support to her and all the other runners. (I know there's a good chance we won't actually see her)

I think my Dad would like to go but he really struggles with walking any distance at all (think he may have arthiritis) so we would need to find a spot either very close to a tube station or somewhere we could access by car very easily and park close by. He'll take a little camping chair to sit on while we are there.

I'm not bothered about where in the course it is so could anyone recommend a place that would be suitable to set ourselves up?

[AB Editor]

Afternoon, found this after a little trawl:

http://www.generatorh...atch-london-marathon/

[DTCwordfan]

Any of you in the family or friends who work for a company with offices on the route? An approach and they may let you in and lend you a car parking space.....needs some quck research and planning though.

[EvianBaby]

Thanks Ed, Docklands and The Highway look like good options. Will see if I can work out how close transport links are.

Not really DT. She works at Bupa and I know her office is in London somewhere but not a clue where.

[Old_Geezer]

Good spot ? Surely at the bar of your local pub, with its TV on showing it ?

Best of luck to your sis.

[EvianBaby]

Lol OG, and thanks.

I'd really like to actually be sitting by the side, cheering them all on.

[T&S]

I'll be watching it on TV with a pie in my hand!

Good luck to all entrants.

[Davethedog]

If I was you I would go a bit down the course, possibly Bermndsey Station or over the river at DLR Westferry.

This is an interactive map, hope its of some help.

http://www.virginlond....com/interactive-map/

[TheNovice]

The Highway. five minute walk from Shadwell DLR and Shadwell London Overground enables you to see the runners twice, once heading towards Canary Wharf (this is not far from the hlaf way point) and again when they're heading back towards the Tower of London. Never overly packed and subways enable you to cross the road with ease.

[EvianBaby]

Great link, thanks Dave!

Novice, I think I might take your advice and go for The Highway. Like you say, we'll get to see them twice and mile 22 looks close enough to tube/DLR. Can take a slow amble with Dad down to mile 13 if he wants and he can just stay there and wait for the rest of us if not.

Thanks for your help everyone!

[TheNovice]

it's literally across the road, think it's the only stretch of road on the whole route where both sides of the road are used. Take the Cable Street exit from Shadwell, cross Cable Street (it's a single lane road) cut down the side street opposite and you arrive at the Highway. Turn left and the subway is about 5 mins away. The opposite side of the road is the first one they use before doubling back. You also get the benefit of seeing the front runners heading back towards the finish while the fun runners are heading down into Docklands. Have fun and hope your sister does well.

[EvianBaby]

That looks like a great spot to watch from. We can just pitch up and stay there all day and because it's a later part of the course we won't have to get up early to head over. Plus it looks like getting there will be pretty simple. We will park at her place on Finchley Rd, get the tube up to Hampstead then looks like a simple overground train the whole way to Shadwell. (unless you could suggest a better way, tube maps are not my forte).

[EvianBaby]

Meant West Hampstead, not Hampstead.

[TheNovice]

looks the best route to me

[Cathyhuns]

You will have to change Overground trains at Highbury and Islington or Canonbury in order to get to Shadwell but I would recommend the Highway. plenty of shops near Shadwell station but not too many pubs or shops actually on the Highway so you may want to take drinks with you or buy some while at Shadwell.

If you ahve a smart phone I think you can follow individual runners using the link Davethedog provided. I haven't tried it myself but I know someone who was able to follow his girlfriend last year.

[EvianBaby]

Ah, thanks Cathy. I'd only just looked on the map so I'll take a proper look into the route before we go.

Thanks for the heads up about being able to follow her to. That would be great.