The London Marathon 2025 will weave by way of the streets of the capital from Greenwich to Westminster this Sunday, 27 April, and thousands of spectators are going to be lining the route for a glimpse of their running friends.
Over 56,000 people are expected to take on the mammoth tour of London landmarks, together with Buckingham Palace, Cutty Sark and Tower Bridge, in simply three weeks.
For the reason that inaugural 26.2 mile occasion in 1981, the fundraising race has raised thousands and thousands for charities every year, and, with the solar shining in April for now, celebrations of the charitable and bodily feat will happen throughout the town.
Right here’s every part it’s worthwhile to know to plan the day in the event you’re operating or supporting this yr’s London Marathon.
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London Marathon 2025 begin time and date
The London Marathon 2025 will happen on Sunday 27 April.
Staggered begin instances for elite races are scheduled from round 8.50am, with the lots setting off in waves from 9.35am earlier than all begin strains shut at 11.30am.
The end line on The Mall closes at roughly 7.30pm and is then moved to St James’s Park till midnight.
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London Marathon route
Largely unchanged since 1981, the beginning line for the race is in Blackheath on the prime of Greenwich Park.
From right here, a leg to Woolwich, jog previous the Cutty Sark and stretch round Bermondsey takes runners to cross the river over Tower Bridge.
After a hoop across the Isle of Canines, it’s a comparatively straight stretch alongside the Thames by way of the Metropolis of London to the Westminster end line on The Mall.
Will there be practice and tube strikes?
Fortunately, there are at the moment no deliberate practice or tube strikes on 27 April.
Substantial highway closures throughout the capital to make approach for the race begin from 7am on marathon day. Spectators ought to journey on foot or by tube – roads will reopen as and when all runners have cleared the realm.
Marathon contributors will obtain free journey house as much as 6.30pm on marathon day on the London Underground and Overground, buses and DLR by exhibiting their race bib.
TfL normally runs a modified DLR service from 5.30am between Tower Gateway and Lewisham to assist runners arrive on time to the beginning line.
The very best spots to observe the London Marathon in particular person
If the dwell BBC protection received’t reduce it and also you’re coming to help from the sidelines, spectators can watch alongside most components of the route, together with The Freeway in Wapping, the place runners will go twice.
In keeping with organisers, Rotherhithe Peninsula presents an gratifying two-mile stretch of the route with a number of bands and a “Neighborhood Cheer Zone” in 2025.
To be within the coronary heart of the motion, the midway level of Tower Bridge at mile 13, and the end line at The Mall are certain to be thrilling however busy. For a quieter spot to cheer, keep east and line up in Deptford or the Isle of Canines.
Marathon organisers advise that some areas, together with these by the Cutty Sark, Tower Hill and St James’s Park, are more likely to be very busy on the day.
5 accessible viewing areas additionally dot the course for these with disabilities: Cutty Sark, Canary Wharf, Rainbow Row, Tower Hill and Victoria Embankment.
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The place to have fun alongside the route
London has loads of pubs and bars to quench the post-marathon thirst, whether or not you’ve been operating or cheering.
In Greenwich, The Gipsy Moth has Cutty Sark views, The Angel in Bermondsey sits on the Thames and midway pub, the Tower Bridge Arms, raises pints of IPA to passers-by.
Moist your palate in Wapping’s native Turner’s Outdated Star, journey the excessive at Pergola on the Wharf for metropolis views, or refuel at Hung, Drawn & Quartered in Tower Hill with pies and ales.
At Victoria Embankment, board pub boat Tattershall Citadel to cheer runners on for the ultimate mile and savour a chilly one at The Westminster Arms simply earlier than the end line.
As soon as the race has been run, St James’s Cafe in St James’s Park is right for a light-weight chunk or head into Mercato Mayfair for a road meals occasion in a restored church.
The place to remain
For these travelling to the capital to tackle the race, a lodge close to the beginning or end line is essential to pre-race preparation and post-race room service.
Radisson Blu Canary Wharf sits a brief distance from the beginning line with the lodge’s East River Spa a super sanctuary to unwind with Moroccan steam chambers, mud rituals, and ESPA remedies.
Tuck into citizenM’s Tower of London web site to get pleasure from runner views over the midway mark from the lodge’s rooftop bar.
For an elevated post-marathon restoration, Hotel Café Royal has a spread of in-room wellness experiences for rest and rejuvenation and a menu of therapeutic massage remedies and facials within the Akasha Spa.
Elsewhere, nhow London has launched a two-night marathon package deal that features tailor-made breakfasts, race-day vitality packs and prolonged check-outs for the last word runner’s keep.
Attempt The Clermont Victoria, a 10-minute stroll from the buzzing end line, to dodge public transport, fill a flute of prosecco and revel in some trendy R&R.
The way to monitor London Marathon runners
Observe family and friends who’re collaborating utilizing their marathon quantity on the TCS London Marathon app to greatest place your self to catch them on the go.
Seek for the runner by identify or bib quantity, and add them to your monitoring record to comply with their progress on the course map.
The app will notify you at every 5K marker and the midway level, providing you with a runner’s predicted end time primarily based on their registered tempo.
How to enroll in the London Marathon 2026
After a file variety of folks signed up for the 26.2-mile race in 2025 – 840,318 candidates in response to occasion organisers – subsequent yr’s London Marathon is certain to be one other widespread occasion.
To tackle the problem, entry is on the market by way of a poll, worldwide tour operators, charity areas and athletics golf equipment.
The general public poll for the 2026 TCS London Marathon opens on Friday 25 April, and can keep open till 2 Could. Winners will probably be drawn at random and emailed in July forward of the 2026 marathon.
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