The prestigious race takes place across the capital.
The London Marathon will take place on Sunday 26 April. The route is 26.2 miles and weaves through iconic landmarks, from Tower Bridge to Buckingham Palace. The event has welcomed sporting heroes including Kelvin Kiptum, Mo Farah and Paula Radcliffe. Here’s everything you need to know about the London Marathon.
How it started
The London Marathon is one of the world’s most popular marathons. The race is one of six Abbott World Marathon Majors – the others include Berlin, Boston, Chicago, New York and Tokyo. In 1981, the event was founded by athletes Chris Brasher and John Disley.
The marathon has several parts, including the main mass race for the public, professional races for long-distance runners, elite-level wheelchair races, and a three-mile mini-marathon event for under-17 athletes.
There is also a philanthropic aspect to the event, with the runners raising over £1 billion since it was first founded. In 2025, The London Marathon raised £87.3 million overall.
How to enter the race
The ballot to enter the marathon opens in May, and once open, you’ll have five days to decide whether you want to confirm your entry. The selection process is a random draw, and you won’t know if you’ve got a place until October. If you aren’t lucky enough to win a place via the ballot, charities have a number of places ready to snap up, on the condition that you commit to raising a minimum amount of donations for them.
Runners are also eligible for a day of free travel on the day of the London Marathon. All you have to do is show your bib number and in you go. These free journeys run until 6.30pm on the day of the race. If you’re looking to join next year’s marathon, the ballot will open on Friday 25 April, which is the day before this year’s marathon. The ballot will close on Friday 2 May.
Hugh Brasher, Event Director, said: “It’s wonderful to be opening the ballot for the 2026 TCS London Marathon at our unique digital display of Marathon Memories at Outernet, as part of the celebrations of this year’s 45th edition. I can’t wait to see the images of some of those 1.3 million finishers who have so far completed the London Marathon since our first year in 1981."
The London Marathon route
The route will start in the borough of Greenwich, then head into Surrey Quays, Rotherhithe and Tower Bridge for the halfway mark. Runners will then head towards the Isle of Dogs and Canary Wharf, before going back through Shadwell and Embankment, running along the Thames. The route will then turn right onto Birdcage Walk and for the homestretch, to The Mall, ending right in front of Buckingham Palace.
For a more specific breakdown of the landmarks: mile six is at Cutty Sark, mile 12 is at Tower Bridge, mile 18 is t Canary Wharf, mile 22 is at Tower of London, mile 25 is at The London Eye, and mile 26 is at Buckingham Palace.
How to watch the London Marathon
If you’re a bystander, cheering on a friend or just there to enjoy the atmosphere, we’d recommend getting there as early as possible to secure a good watching spot. Elite runners start around 8.30am, and the rest of the participants have staggered starts.
If you want to be near the crowds, set up camp at the halfway point near Tower Bridge or the finish line at The Mall. If you’re looking for a calmer experience, sit by the Deptford, Isle of Dogs or Mudchute.
Find a great spot, get comfortable, bring plenty of food and drink, and enjoy the thrill. Local establishments along the route will also likely have great spots to watch, many with outdoor seating or terraces.
If you’d rather keep updated on the marathon from the comfort of your own home, you can watch live coverage on BBC One, BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.
Where: Across London
When: Sunday, 26 April 2026 at 8:30am
Contact: www.londonmarathonevents.co.uk