London Marathon

Apr 26th - Apr 28th 2025

Saturday April 26th 2025

Home to Canary Wharf

Quiet start to the morning. Did our packing and left home around 10:00 for the drive down to Docklands. Roads weren’t too bad at all apart from a 50mph restriction on the M25 for some sign testing.

Got to Canary Wharf just before Midday and parked in the Saba Car Park opposite the hotel. I’d pre-booked it and we found a disabled space on floor 2 right by the lift. We walked across to the hotel and went to reception. Obviously we were far too early for check-in but got all the formalities done and dusted so we just needed to pop back later for our room key. They gave us a key for the Club Lounge. While we were at check-in, a woman in a huge Big Ben costume came in ready for tomorrow’s Marathon! I guess it’s easier to wear it than to carry it!

Went back out on to West India Quay with some thoughts of lunch. I like the Browns right opposite the hotel so we went there. Lovely to be able to sit outside and eat. Weather was nice and we even put sunglasses on. Saw a few Marathon runners walking by! We had a Baked Sourdough for the table (Huw) and then Nikki had a vegan Coronation Cauliflower which was delicious. I had a starter and a side - Mozzarella & Tomato salad alongside a bowl of chips with aioli dip. Rather good!

We lingered for a bit over lunch and then walked up the quayside looking at the other restaurants. At the top it turns into cobbles so we gave up on that and headed back down.

I’d always wanted to see London City Airport so we went back to the West India Quay DLR next to the hotel and went there via a change at Poplar. Very quiet when we arrived - and when the doors to airport wouldn’t open - we were informed that it closes between Midday on Saturday and Midday on Sunday. So we were locked out - an airport with a front door that locks - that’s a first!

We went back to the hotel and sat in the Club Lounge with a cold Pepsi Max for a while. The lady in charge there told us our room was ready and did our key cards for us. We were in 512 - it’s the very last room on the 5th floor and is right above the DLR. Amazing views across the Canary Wharf and fascinating watching the DLR trains coming and going.

Nikki had a doze while I reclined on the chaise and watched a bit of TV. Around 17:30 it occurred to me that we could go and see a show as we had nothing planned for the evening. I decided on Hamilton - so gave the disabled line a call and amazingly they had tickets! The chap I spoke to was more surprised than I was! After a quick bit of travel research I figured if we left by 18:00 we could go on public transport and get to the theatre.

We walked over to Canary Wharf and found the Jubilee Line. Worked out how to get to the ticket hall and tracks with various lifts and stayed on the tube through to Westminster. After a short wander we found the lift to take us to the District Line for a couple of stops to Victoria Station.

Once there we had about 20 mins to kill and realised we hadn’t had any dinner so grabbed a very forgettable sandwich on the concourse at Victoria Station before crossing the road to the Victoria Palace Theatre. Chap at the door came over to us and escorted us around the side to the wheelchair entrance. Literally through the door and the first left was into our BOX! 

The chap on the booking line had said these were lovely seats but I didn’t imagine what we got. It was a box for 4 people right at the back of the auditorium - and we were the only ones there. PLUS it came with a butler. Not bad for £45 each. Maybe leaving it to the very last minute is the way to do it!

Amy, our butler, came and asked what drinks we fancied. We both had a J2O and a box of Maltesers for the box (Huw). Amy also asked if we wanted to pre-order anything for the interval - Nikki went for a rose wine. Nikki stayed in her chair and they moved the other two chairs out of the way so we had a very generous space to enjoy the show - including a plug to charge my power-deprived phone.

Only slight negative of our seats was we couldn’t quite see the top of the set. There were some performers on a raised area that we couldn’t see above the waist but luckily 90% of the show is on the main stage.

At half-time Amy was there within seconds with Nikki’s drink. I went off to the loo and was delighted to return to the quiet of our box!

At the end of the show we went back out through the side entrance and immediately bumped into an empty London Taxi - the return via public transport wasn’t possible because of an out of order lift. Driver was very helpful and, as it turned out he was on his last run of the day - and lived down in East London so he was happy. He went around Buckingham Palace, down to Parliament and then up the Embankment all the way to Docklands. We were driving along tomorrow’s Marathon route so all the barriers and advertising banners were out ready.

Got back to the hotel around 23:15 and after a quick bit of reading in bed - lights out!

Sunday April 27th 2025

Canary Wharf

Superb night’s sleep in a wonderful Marriott bed. Woke up around 07:00 and had some room coffee before heading down for breakfast.

I have a favourite table at breakfast from our previous stay - it’s halfway between the food stations and by the door so there’s a lovely breeze - and, unprompted, they put us on that very table. Good start to the day. Both had some fruit and then Nikki had a cooked offering with the gorgeous Marriott hash-browns and I went for some bread.

Very surprised by the number of Marathon runners at breakfast. We’d spoken to one in the lift and he said he’d been in his room eating bagels for an hour before heading out. In my mind I imagined they’d all be at the start line by the crack of dawn!

Back up to the room to put the Marathon on the TV and watch the various starts before hitting the street. I’d figured out that if we went down to the end of Hertsmere Road there would be a part of the course around the 20 mile mark - and then if we walked for 3 minutes down Garford Street we’d be on the course at 15 miles.

Top area was quiet so we walked down to 15 miles and first saw the male wheelchair athletes coming through including Marcel Hug and David Weir - the Weirwolf! We stayed for the Elite Women including the race winner Tigst Assefa plus  the Brit Eilish McColgan and then caught the leading female wheelchair athlete Catherine Debrunner.

Both getting a bit sunburned at this point so after 2 hours we came back to the hotel for well needed drink in the Club Lounge. Put the Marathon on the TV so we could keep up with what was happening. 

Back out to the course where the crowds had really increased for the masses - couldn’t get to the barriers so peeped between the spectators. Decided it was getting close to lunch time so we’d planned to go up to Westfield. Got on the DLR at Westferry before realising we weren’t just on the wrong line - but we were going in the wrong direction. Trains were packed as well. Did have a good view of the Marathon as we went over it on a bridge!

Got off at Limehouse planning to go in the right direction to Poplar - but the lift wasn’t working. So back on the train to Shadwell before managing to switch direction. We decided to give up at this point as the overcrowding was crazy. Got off at Canary Wharf and went into the shopping centre to find some food. We were on the wrong level so asked for help to find the lift but the person who knows where the lift is was on his day off. Found it eventually and got ourselves some sandwiches at Paul and returned to the Club Lounge for some lunch!

The late part of Sunday afternoon was spent in the room relaxing and watching the world go by out of the window! While in the lift we chatted to a chap who’d just finished the Marathon and he said he was planning a shower and then out for a meal with friends. He did think it would hit him later on!

We decided to aim for Burger King in Canary Wharf for tea but right next door to it was a Zizzi. Went there instead and really glad we did. We jumped onto the set menu - I had Bruschetta, a pizza and a lemon ice cream - Nikki had roasted aubergine meatballs, a lentil ragu and some ice cream. Very nice meal indeed.

Back to the hotel and a quick look at the TV before hitting the sack just before 22:00

Monday April 28th 2025

Canary Wharf to Home

Woke up around 07:40 and lingered in bed watching the TV and enjoying some room coffee. Went down to breakfast at 08:50 expecting it to be quite busy but it was deserted.

Got my favourite table again. Both had melon to start - Nikki had poached eggs and I had an omelette. Most enjoyable sitting there watching the world go by on West India Quay.

Back to the room for showers and packing and by 10:00 I took the case down and went to get the car. Went back up for Nikki and we got the car loaded and headed off around 10:30. Got a bit lost coming out of Canary Wharf but once we found the right road it was plain sailing.

Got home by 12:10 after a quick pit stop for some rolls in Aylesbury. Sat outside and enjoyed the warm weather.

Excellent weekend.