London Marathon
The Lowdown
The TCS London Marathon, first run in 1981, has grown into one of the world's most celebrated road races and a cornerstone of the Abbott 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 2027 race on 24 April continues that legacy with an innovative two-day format dubbed 'The TCS London Marathon Double: Two Days. One Event. 100,000 People.' 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.
Race Day
Weather Forecast
Elevation
Terrain Profile
Relatively flat course
Participants
Field Size
World-class event
Crowd Rating
Spectator Support
Excellent spectator turnout
2027 TCS London Marathon: date confirmed, ballot closed
Jun 24, 2026The 2027 TCS London Marathon is confirmed for Saturday 24 April 2027 in a novel two-day format ('The TCS London Marathon Double: Two Days. One Event. 100,000 People.'). The public ballot was open from 24 April to 1 May 2026 and has now closed; ballot results are expected by early July 2026. Charity, Good-for-Age, and international entry routes remain available.
Boston Qualifier
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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
Average rate for 3-star accommodations near the start line
Eligibility
- Be at least 18 years old on race day (2027-04-24)
- Enter via the official ballot (now closed), 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
Required Documents
- 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)
- Proof of charity place acceptance/fundraising agreement (if entering via a charity place)
Entry Methods
- Public Ballot (closed for 2027; results expected July 2026)
- Good for Age (time qualifying)
- Charity Entry
- International Tour Operator
- Club/Team Entry
- Elite Invitation
Cancellation & Refund Policy
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
The 2027 race introduces a novel two-day format: 'The TCS London Marathon Double: Two Days. One Event. 100,000 People.'
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.
Race weekend includes the London Marathon Expo at ExCeL London where participants collect race packs.
Public transport is strongly recommended (many roads are closed).
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Community
Stories, tips, and race-day snapshots from runners who have tackled this course.
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