London Marathon
The Lowdown
The London Marathon, first run in 1981, has grown into one of the world’s most celebrated road races and a cornerstone of the World Marathon Majors. Held each spring, the event combines elite competition with mass participation and a huge charitable ethos—raising hundreds of millions of pounds for good causes over its history. The 2026 race on 26 April continues that legacy, attracting top international athletes, wheelchair racers, and tens of thousands of recreational runners for a festival of sport and community in the heart of the United Kingdom. The course is famously fast and largely flat, starting on Blackheath/Greenwich and weaving through riverside and historic London. Runners pass the Cutty Sark and Canary Wharf early on, cross the iconic Tower Bridge, and run along the Strand and past St Paul’s Cathedral before the final stretch along the Embankment and a dramatic finish on The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace. Spectator support is enormous along the route, with bands, local communities and themed cheering zones creating an electric, carnival-like atmosphere that lifts runners from start to finish. The race is AIMS-certified, a World Athletics Label road race, a recognised Boston Marathon qualifier, and remains one of the most sought-after marathon entries in the world.
Race Day
Weather Forecast
Elevation
Terrain Profile
Relatively flat course
Participants
Field Size
World-class event
Crowd Rating
Spectator Support
Excellent spectator turnout
This race qualifies for the Boston Marathon
Race Weekend
Other distances available
Notable Landmarks
Blackheath
The race starts on Blackheath in southeast London, a historic open heath where thousands of runners set off
Greenwich and the Cutty Sark
Early in the course runners pass the maritime quarter of Greenwich and the famous 19th-century clipper ship, the Cutty Sark
Canary Wharf
The route runs through the Docklands financial district with its skyscrapers and wide boulevards, a lively mid-race section
Tower Bridge
Runners cross the iconic bascule bridge over the Thames, one of the most photographed points on the course
The Tower of London and London Bridge area
The course runs beside the historic Tower of London and through the riverside area near London Bridge
Westminster and Big Ben
In the later miles competitors pass the Houses of Parliament and the Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben) along the Thames
The Mall and Buckingham Palace
The finish is on The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace, a grand ceremonial conclusion to the marathon
London, United Kingdom
GB
Based on nearby accommodations
The race offers a booking portal with partner hotel options
- Be at least 18 years old on race day (2026-04-26)
- Enter via the official ballot, Good for Age programme, charity place, club entry or elite invitation as published on the event website
- Good for Age and elite entry require submission of verifiable qualifying times as specified by the organisers
- Wheelchair and handcycle competitors must hold the appropriate classification and meet the organisers' entry requirements
- International entrants must hold valid travel documents and any required UK visa
- All entrants must provide accurate personal and emergency-contact information; entries are non-transferable
- Participants should be medically fit to run a marathon; medical clearance is recommended for anyone with health concerns
- Competitors must accept and comply with the event rules and any decisions of the race organisers and medical team
- Photo ID (passport or driving licence)
- Proof of age (passport, birth certificate or driving licence)
- Proof of qualifying time (official race result within the qualifying period)
- Medical certificate or doctor’s note (if declaring a medical condition or applying for a medical/evidence-based exemption)
- Paralympic/IPC classification documentation (for para athletes)
- Proof of charity place acceptance/fundraising agreement (if entering via a charity place)
- British Athletics membership or equivalent verification (if required for a specific entry route)
- Public Ballot
- Good for Age (time qualifying)
- Charity Entry
- International Tour Operator
- Club/Team Entry
- Elite Invitation
Cancellation & Refunds
Policy details
Entries are non-refundable
Entries are non-transferable to another runner
Deferrals are not normally permitted; exceptions for serious medical reasons may be considered with supporting documentation and at the organiser's discretion
If the event is cancelled by the organisers, options include a full refund or transfer/entry to an alternative/virtual event as offered by the organisers
The race starts in Blackheath and finishes on The Mall, taking runners past landmarks including Tower Bridge, the Cutty Sark, the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace.
The event is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors and attracts a deep elite and wheelchair field alongside tens of thousands of mass-participation runners.
All finishers receive a commemorative finisher medal and a technical finishers' T-shirt, and there is a large post-race celebration area with food and medical support near the finish.
Race weekend includes the London Marathon Expo at ExCeL London where participants collect race packs and can shop for gear, and the TCS London Mini Marathon for younger athletes is held on the same weekend.
Public transport is strongly recommended (many roads are closed), there are well-stocked aid stations approximately every 2–3 miles, and popular spectator spots include Tower Bridge and the stretch along The Mall.
Community
Stories, tips, and race-day snapshots from runners who have tackled this course.
Community Reviews
Learn from fellow runners and share insights that will help the next person toe the line.