The road to your own record
Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.
About London Marathon — what makes it special
ABOUT THE RACEA day you'll remember,
A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.
Cheer zones are set up all along the route, with live bands and DJs providing entertainment.
Add the cheer points run by charities and local running clubs, and it is hard to find a quiet stretch over the full 26.2 miles.
The TCS London Marathon is a World Athletics Platinum Label road race.
The 2027 event takes place over two days, 24 and 25 April, with the marathon held on both days.
The start is in Greenwich.
As the event has grown, start areas have been spread across several locations by colour,
and runners starting from different areas first merge in Woolwich just before 3 miles.
The first 3 miles are wide and downhill, so it's easy to get carried along.
This makes the section particularly risky.
The race’s pacers advise runners not to try to move out to either side or speed up on the downhill section near 3 miles,
but to hold a straight line and settle into their marathon pace.
The bend around Cutty Sark between miles 6 and 7 is also lined with thick crowds.
From mile 4 to mile 14, the course is relatively flat with a gentle net descent, followed by one slightly awkward climb just before Tower Bridge.
Once you cross the bridge over the River Thames, you are exactly at the half marathon point.
From here, the course heads east towards Canary Wharf.
Miles 15 to 20 are the real test of this race.
Tall buildings, narrow streets and the Westferry underpass can make your GPS jump, so it is better to use the mile markers as your distance reference.
The buildings can create a tunnel effect that channels the wind, and there are several turns.
From mile 21 onwards, the crowds build again.
The final stretch from Tower Hill to Victoria Embankment is well suited to tired legs,
and after the final turn in front of Buckingham Palace, the finish on The Mall opens up.
The hardest part of the race actually comes before the start line.
The ballot for the 2027 race opens on 24 April 2026 and closes on 1 May, leaving only one week to apply.
If you miss the dates, you have to wait another year.
The entry fee is £79.99 for UK runners and £275 for international runners.
There is also a qualifying route.
Championship entry requires a time of 2:38 for men and 3:10 for women, with 1,200 places available.
Meeting the standard only makes you eligible to apply, however;
if applications exceed the limit, places are allocated to the fastest applicants.
Race-day refreshments are plentiful.
Water is available every 3 miles from mile 3 to mile 12, then every 2 miles through mile 24, while toilets are available at every mile from mile 1 to mile 24. If you run with a bottle,
separate refill points are available at miles 5, 10, 14, 17 and 20.
One thing must be planned in advance.
Your bib can only be collected at the Running Show at ExCeL London, and race-day collection is not available.
If you cannot attend in person, someone else may collect it for you according to the procedure in the Participant Guide.
Either way, it is safest to reserve a day for the expo in your itinerary before planning the rest of your trip.
When the city cheers
Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.
The trip that follows the run
Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.
