Manchester Marathon guide: parking, route and start times for the 2024 race

Around 32,000 runners are getting ready to get off their marks in the adidas Manchester Marathon 2024 this weekend and the city-region is set to be busy, with thousands more expected along the route to cheer them on.

Athletes and spectators attending on Sunday 14 April are being urged to plan their travel in advance and leave plenty of time, with a string of road closures affecting those driving or planning to catch a bus or grab a cab.

With the marathon start times scheduled from 8.55am for elite wheelchair athletes and 9am for elite athletes, it will be an early start. The rest of the runners will set off in staggered waves after that, according to the bib colours they have been allocated, up to 11am (see below). The fastest finisher in 2022 was Liverpool Harriers’ Jonny Mellor in two hours, 10 minutes and 46 seconds.

The 26.2-mile route for 2024 starts and finishes in Old Trafford. This year, once again, the marathon route will cruise into the vibrant city centre, Stretford, Sale, Timperley, Altrincham, Chorlton, and Hulme. We’ve produced a guide to the best places to watch the marathon.

Transport for Greater Manchester are advising people to ‘travel smart’ and leave the car at home to avoid expected congestion on the roads, or to use park and rides and travel to their destinations by tram. If you’re out and about, TfGM are encouraging you to download the Bee Network app.

Where can I park for Manchester Marathon 2024?

Marathon organisers recommend you use public transport such as Metrolink trams to get to the event as there will be many road closures in place. The nearest stop to the start line for the marathon is Old Trafford, located on the Altrincham line which will be running longer trams at double capacity, or you could also use Trafford Bar or Imperial War Museum for the start line, and you can use contactless payment to touch in/out on your journey. You can check out our full guide to public transport including trams, buses and roads here.

However, if you plan on driving, you can use one of the park and rides across Greater Manchester to get you there and parking is free with a valid Metrolink tram ticket. These include:

• East Didsbury with 302 spaces.
• Brooklands with 108 spaces.
• Navigation Road with 81 spaces.
• Sale Water Park with 300 spaces.
• Ladywell with 250 spaces.
• Parkway with 360 spaces.