Britain's Ocean City Running Festival 2027 guide

If you have been eyeing a race to put on your 2027 calendar, Britain's Ocean City Running Festival is the one to build around. The next edition is set for Sunday 16 May, and it is billed as Devon's biggest running event and the largest mass participation day in the region, pulling in over 10,000 runners and 30,000 spectators. It is run by Run Plymouth and takes over Plymouth Hoe, the Grade II registered historic park that looks out over Plymouth Sound, Drake's Island and Mount Edgcumbe over in Cornwall.

The appeal is really in the range on offer, so you do not have to be a seasoned club runner to get involved. The 10km is the flagship distance, taking you through the historic city centre past the Mayflower Steps, the Hoe and the Barbican, while the 5km is a shorter version of the same city-centre loop. For those who would rather not commit to a full race, there is a 2km fun run, a 100m sprint and a Primary School's Challenge, and in some years a 10-mile race and the Tamar 10k are added to the bill. The 2km and the sprint are the obvious choices if you are bringing the family along.

Beyond the distances, the festival has built a reputation for being genuinely inclusive. It is run with a friendly, community atmosphere, with volunteers, music and a welcome that suits all ages and abilities, and you do not need any special membership to take part. Entry starts at £16.00, and you sign up online through the official festival website, which also carries training guides and preparation tips to help you get ready.

Part of what makes the event is the backdrop you run past. The Barbican, the city's historic waterfront and original port, sits on the western and northern sides of Sutton Harbour and is one of Plymouth's oldest neighbourhoods, with narrow cobbled streets and around 100 listed buildings. Within it are the Mayflower Steps, the final English departure point of the Pilgrim Fathers who sailed on the Mayflower in 1620, though the steps you see today are a commemorative portico built in 1934. The Hoe itself is packed with history: the Royal Citadel, a 17th-century fortification; the Mayflower Museum; the National Marine Aquarium; the Plymouth Gin Distillery, home of Plymouth Gin since 1793; Smeaton's Tower, the top of the Eddystone Lighthouse dismantled in 1882 and moved here; and the statue of Sir Francis Drake, which has stood on the Hoe since 1884. Round the water you will also find the Tinside Lido, a restored 1935 art deco sea-water pool, and West Hoe Park.

Whether you are chasing a PB on the 10k or just want to trot the 2km with the kids, it is an easy one to build a training plan around. With the 2027 date now confirmed for 16 May, there is plenty of time to get the miles in before you head down to the Hoe.