TCS London Marathon 2027 Complete Guide — Course, Tower Bridge, Logistics and How to Train For It

By Ramon Curto · Updated 2026-05-06

On April 25, 2027 London hosts the 47th edition of the TCS London Marathon — one of the six World Marathon Majors, the most charity-driven marathon in the world (over £1.4 billion raised for good causes since 1981) and the event that every year draws 600,000+ applications for just 50,000 bibs. Nearly flat, festive, urban from start to finish: from Greenwich Park to the "right onto The Mall" in front of Buckingham Palace, with Tower Bridge at the halfway point as the definitive postcard of road running. This guide covers what the official site doesn't quite spell out: how to get in (ballot, Good for Age, Charity, Championship), how not to blow up on the Embankment between km 35 and 40 when the Thames headwind hits you square on, what to do during the two hours before in Blackheath, and how to manage the final stretch down Birdcage Walk and onto the red carpet finish.

📑 Table of contents

1. Key data
2. About the race
3. Course
4. History and roll of honour
5. Entry and pricing
6. Getting there and parking
7. Where to stay
8. Weather and forecast
9. How to train for it — 16-week plan
10. Splits calculator
11. Personalised race plan
12. Race plan
13. Nutrition
14. Gear
15. FAQ
16. Comparison with other marathons

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The TCS London Marathon is one of the six World Marathon Majors (alongside Boston, NYC, Berlin, Chicago and Tokyo), the most charity-driven marathon in the world and the most photogenic event on the international calendar thanks to its route through the heart of London. It gathers ~50,000 finishers each year, attracts 600,000+ ballot applications to share just 50,000 bibs, and combines a nearly flat profile (~50 m net descent) with iconic sections — Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf, Embankment, The Mall — that make it one of the most complete experiences an amateur marathoner can live.

London is a marathon to run hard. The nearly flat course, 50,000 runners pushing forward, mass atmosphere and the world's best marathon organisation create favourable conditions for a PB as long as you don't make the classic mistake: getting carried away by the Tower Bridge euphoria at km 19 and paying for it on the Embankment between km 35 and 40. The difference between London and Berlin or Valencia (the world's two fastest flat marathons) lies in the turns, the small undulations in the first half and, above all, the Thames headwind on the final stretch.

• If you've recently run sub-3:30 in another marathon: aim for 3:25–3:35 here. London is 1–3 minutes slower than Berlin given equal fitness, but it's still one of the five fastest marathons in the world.
• If you're stepping up from half marathons but have never done 42K: yes, it's a good debut marathon as long as you go in for the atmosphere, not the time pressure. The organisation is impeccable and the crowds push you for 4 straight hours.
• If you want your first marathon with a memorable experience: great fit. Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf, The Mall — these are memories for life.
• If you want a pure PB with no risk: Valencia (December) and Berlin (September) are 1–3 minutes faster; but London has the atmosphere, the Major status and is the most likely setting for a clean clocking if you train into the headwind.
• If you're training for another Major (Boston, NYC, Berlin): London is the best "Major-ramp" — friendly profile, unbeatable organisation and an honest pacing test before the more demanding ones (Boston and NYC).

See other international marathons →

The TCS London Marathon course is point-to-point from Greenwich Park (Blackheath) to The Mall, in front of Buckingham Palace. The net elevation drop is just ~50 m (you start about 35 m above sea level and finish near Thames level), which makes it one of the fastest marathons on the global calendar. But "almost flat" doesn't mean "monotonous": there are three different starts that merge at km 4, a short climb to Cutty Sark, the crossing of Tower Bridge at km 19, an incursion into Canary Wharf between km 22 and 25, and a final stretch along the Embankment that is where the marathon is won or lost.

The start happens from three different points in Blackheath, near Greenwich Park: the Red Start (men's elite + championship), the Green Start (women's elite + Good for Age + sub-elite) and the Blue Start (general public + ballot). The three starts merge around km 4, so for the first 4 km you're running tighter than it looks and the pace is dictated by the pack around you. Forget hitting 4:50/km in the first 2 km if you're in the Blue Start — you can't, even if you want to.

From the merge the route heads east along Woolwich Road before turning north toward the river. The first visual landmark is the Cutty Sark climb at km 9 — a short ramp (200 m) past the historic ship that is the day's first mental test. It's where the Greenwich crowd (dense, loud) reminds you the marathon has truly begun. After that the route runs through Surrey Quays and aims north through Bermondsey until reaching the icon of the race: Tower Bridge at km 19.

Tower Bridge km 19 — the marathon postcard. You cross the bridge with the crowd on both sides, the towers high to your right and the City ahead. Course health is measured at this point: if you arrive with legs and have paced the first half well, the second half marathon is gifted to you by the atmosphere. If you've gone out hard, this is the moment you'll feel it — because the climb up the bridge is short but real (3% over 300 m).

Crossing Tower Bridge you enter the north bank of the Thames and head along the Embankment axis to the east for 1 km, before turning left toward Canary Wharf at km 22. The Canary Wharf section (km 22–25) is the glass-and-silence zone of the marathon: tall skyscrapers, strange echoes, fewer spectators and the sense that the pace turns viscous. This is where runners who arrived strong start to feel their legs grow heavy.

From km 25 the course turns west back through the City — Tower of London on your left at km 33 — and lines up the most symbolic and dangerous stretch: Embankment km 35–40, the long straight along the Thames that ends at Big Ben and Westminster before the final turn down Birdcage Walk to The Mall. This section is where the marathon is won or lost because (a) you already have 35 km in your legs, (b) there's usually a NE headwind whipping along the river and (c) the geometry is deceptively flat — it looks easy, but seconds per km bleed away without you noticing.

🚨 Where the race breaks

The final 1,500 m are ceremonial: leaving the Embankment, passing under Big Ben, turning down Birdcage Walk, seeing Buckingham Palace at the end, right onto Spur Road, left onto The Mall, the final 400 m on the red carpet with crowds wall to wall, the finish line. It's one of the most cinematic finishes in world road running.

Course data for Strava / Garmin: the organisers publish the official GPX a few weeks before the race on their website. To recce the Embankment, search Strava for the segment "Embankment Westbound" — it's the same profile you'll suffer on race day.

The London Marathon has been run since 1981, founded by Chris Brasher (Olympic gold medallist in the 3000 m steeplechase at Melbourne 1956) and John Disley after running the New York City Marathon in 1979. Their founding mission was simple: bring a popular marathon experience with charity spirit to London. Forty-six editions later, the race has raised over £1.4 billion for charitable causes, making it the most charity-driven single-day sporting event in the world. TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) has been title sponsor since 2022, replacing Virgin Money.

Roll of honour and race data (recent editions):

Verified winners and times for the 5 most recent editions:

Data verified against the public archive of London Marathon (Wikipedia EN).

The TCS London Marathon is the hardest Major to get into: ~600,000 people apply for the public ballot each year for just ~17,000 spots (~3% success rate), which has led the organisers to design six different entry routes depending on runner profile, personal best and willingness to fundraise. Entry for the 2027 edition opened in late April 2026 (public ballot), with results notified in July 2026.

Indicative info based on the 2026 edition. Always confirm on the official entry site — fees and standards are updated there each year.

If you have a recent verifiable marathon time, the Good for Age route is the most cost-effective. The (indicative) standards are:

Standards are confirmed at tcslondonmarathon.com/enter/good-for-age. The qualifying time has to be from a certified marathon within the previous 26 months.

If you don't get in via the ballot and don't meet Good for Age, the charity route is essentially guaranteed in exchange for committing to raise between £500 and £2,500+ for a registered charity. The big charities (British Heart Foundation, Macmillan, Cancer Research UK, MIND, Alzheimer's Society) hold guaranteed Gold Bond places each year; smaller ones distribute theirs by lottery among applicants.

The reality of fundraising: raising £2,000 from outside the UK isn't trivial. Most people combine (a) donations from family and friends, (b) JustGiving online shared via LinkedIn / social media, (c) local events (charity dinner, raffle, charity coffee morning) and (d) employer match (some companies double what you raise). The commitment is signed by contract and monitored — if you don't reach the target, you may be forced to top up the difference out of pocket.

Bib pickup happens at the TCS London Marathon Running Show held at ExCeL London (Royal Victoria Dock, east London) from Wednesday to Saturday of race week. No bibs are handed out on race day: you have to pick yours up in person before the Running Show closes on Saturday at 18:00.

You'll need:

• Proof of entry (printed or on your phone)
• A valid photo ID (passport if you're coming from outside the UK)
• Your confirmation magazine (mailed to you 2–3 weeks before)

Nobody else can collect on your behalf except in very exceptional cases with official authorisation — this is stricter than Madrid or Valencia. Allow at least 90 minutes for the visit: ExCeL is huge and queues at peak times (Saturday afternoon) are long.

The most practical way to reach the start of the TCS London Marathon is by surface train + Tube. The three starts (Red, Green, Blue) are in Blackheath, next to Greenwich Park, in southeast London. Useful stations are Blackheath (National Rail from London Bridge), Greenwich (DLR + National Rail) and Maze Hill (National Rail) — none have public parking on race day.

To get to the start (Blackheath / Greenwich) on race morning:

• From the City / Westminster: National Rail from London Bridge → Blackheath (15 min), or from Cannon Street → Blackheath (18 min). Trains run every 10–15 min from 06:30.
• From the east: DLR to Greenwich or Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich (10–25 min depending on origin), then 15 min walking to your assigned start.
• From Heathrow / Gatwick: leave with time. Heathrow + Tube transfer + train = 90–120 minutes to Blackheath. Plan a night in central London or near London Bridge.

Special services on race day: TfL (Transport for London) boosts train frequency to Blackheath, Greenwich and Maze Hill from early morning. Check your race confirmation magazine — it includes a map with your assigned start (Red, Green or Blue) and the recommended station for each.

To get back from the finish (The Mall / Westminster): the closest stations are Charing Cross, Embankment and Westminster. But after crossing the line, the finisher flow is massive and queues to access the Tube run 20–30 minutes. Consider walking 15 minutes toward Trafalgar Square or Piccadilly before heading underground.

Bag drop / kit check: the organisers transport your bag from Blackheath to The Mall in trucks identified by bib number. Tag your bag with the kit sticker, drop it 30–45 minutes before your wave, and pick it up in the finishers' zone after crossing the line. Don't put valuables in — there's staff but no ID check at pickup.

Don't drive in. London has the Congestion Charge (£15/day), the ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone, £12.50/day for non-compliant vehicles) and essentially zero free parking in zones 1–2. Streets in the centre are closed all Sunday morning. If you're coming from elsewhere in the UK, leave the car at a National Rail station on the outskirts (Bromley, Sevenoaks, Orpington) and come in by train.

For a marathon runner in London, staying within 20 minutes by public transport from the start or the finish isn't luxury: it's logistics. The marathon dumps you at The Mall around 12:00–15:00 depending on goal — you go back to the hotel sweaty, hungry, with cramps building. The difference between sleeping well with an early breakfast and walking 5 minutes to the Tube to Charing Cross versus making two transfers to Hammersmith can cost you 1–2 minutes on the clock and twice that in mental stress.

• Breakfast before 06:30 (or bagged the night before). In London, 4–5 star hotels open breakfast at 06:30; boutiques and midmarket properties often at 07:00. Ask when booking and, if not, prep the night before with bagels + banana + sports drink.
• Late check-out until 15:00–16:00. In a marathon you finish later than in a half — you need margin for shower, food, rest. Marriott / Hilton usually accept; boutiques are stricter.
• Bathtub for ice baths / contrast post-race. More useful after 42K than 21K. Filter on Booking ("bath with bathtub") — in London a high % of rooms are shower-only (especially modern boutiques).
• Independent, working air conditioning. For Sunday afternoon recovery. Heads up: many old British hotels don't have AC — ask before booking if you're going in a warm April.
• Inner room or high floor. Saturday night in Soho / Westminster is loud — don't gamble with your pre-marathon sleep.
• Real distance to the Tube. <500 m: easy walk. 500–1,000 m: acceptable. >1,000 m: in a rainy April, a no.

• Distance to the finish (The Mall): 0.5–1.5 km on foot (5–18 min). The most comfortable Sunday at 13:00.
• To the start: 30–40 min by train from Victoria → Blackheath, or from London Bridge → Blackheath.
• Pros: unbeatable logistics for the finish, 24h dining, link to Heathrow via Heathrow Express from Paddington.
• Cons: expensive tourist zone — high rates on race weekend.

• Distance to the finish: 1–2 km on foot (12–24 min).
• To the start: 35–45 min via Tube + train to Blackheath.
• Pros: atmosphere, top-tier dining, walk to the finish on Sunday. Theatre district if you want entertainment on Friday.
• Cons: Saturday night very loud (Soho until 03:00).

• Distance to the start (Blackheath): 1.5–3 km on foot (18–35 min) or one stop by train.
• To the finish: 40–60 min via DLR + Tube to Charing Cross.
• Pros: quiet wake-up, walk to the start, no dependency on early public transport. Greenwich Park, market and maritime museum for a light tourism Saturday.
• Cons: mandatory transport on Sunday afternoon to get back to the finish or central London.

*Indicative weekend rate for race weekend (last Sunday of April). Varies depending on booking lead time, availability and current promotions. Booking before November of the prior year saves 30–50% versus April.

The weather in London in late April averages 6 °C low and 14 °C high with variable conditions — race week can swing from continuous rain to spring sun depending on the dominant system. The probability of measurable precipitation on a given day is 35–40%, average wind is 15–20 km/h (variable), and relative humidity rarely drops below 60%. It's ideal weather to run hard — cool, no thermal stress — as long as the NE wind doesn't show up at the wrong moment.

The variable to watch is the wind. For the marathon, the risk isn't heat (rarely >18 °C in April) but the NE wind that hits you head-on along the Embankment for the final 7 km. A calm start and a 25 km/h NE wind on the Embankment can cost you 30–60 seconds per km in the final section. Check the wind forecast for Saturday night and Sunday at 12:00 specifically — that's what defines your plan B.

Plan by forecast:

• <10 °C high + rain: "British classic" marathon. Thin thermal layer + light windproof outer. You'll start cold, warm up by km 5 and want to ditch the layer by km 10. Conservative starting pace.
• 10–14 °C + sun or cloud (the most common): optimal conditions. Most personal bests are set here. Technical T-shirt + disposable arm sleeves + thin cap.
• 14–18 °C + sun: look at the water from km 5 onwards. Start hydrating before you're thirsty. Singlet + visor.
• >18 °C + sun: rare in London April but it happens. Drop the goal pace by 5 seconds per km. Carry your own bottle if you're going longer than 4h.
• NE wind >20 km/h: tuck into the pack from km 30, especially on the Embankment. 3–5 runners ahead save you 10–15% of the aerodynamic effort.

Bring a throwaway layer (old T-shirt or disposable poncho) for the 90 minutes in Blackheath before your wave — it breaks the cold and the organisers collect the abandoned clothing for charity. Disposable arm sleeves are London's most useful accessory: if it gets warm by km 5, you push them down; if it cools again at km 35, you pull them back up.

The recommended training block for the TCS London Marathon is a 16-week cycle with peak volume in weeks 11–13 (between 50 km and 130+ km per week depending on goal), one long run per week and a three-week taper. The key for London: train goal pace under pack conditions (because you'll be running surrounded by 200 runners for the first 10 km), and at least two long runs into a real headwind to get used to the Embankment feel.

Treat London as a fast marathon with a budget of ~50 m of net elevation, not as a rolling marathon. Pick your goal and follow the table — these are peak volumes (weeks 11–13), not averages across the whole cycle.

How to read the table and build the cycle:

• These are peak volumes (weeks 11–13). The 16-week block average will be roughly 65% of the row you choose.
• One long run per week, no more. It's the session that builds the most aerobic fitness. The two final peak long runs (weeks 11 and 12) hit 32–36 km.
• The rest of the volume is easy runs at conversational pace.
• Standard distribution: 80% easy / 20% hard, measured in total time.
• One quality session per week is enough up to a 4h00 goal; from there on, two.

Three sessions worth gold for London:

1. Tempo at goal pace in an urban zone (weeks 4–10). 8–12 km at goal pace on a circuit with turns, traffic lights and other runners. Learn not to fall apart in small accelerations / decelerations — London has 30+ turns before km 25.
2. Long run into a real headwind. At least 2 of the long runs in the block should include 5–8 km at goal pace into a headwind >15 km/h. London doesn't forgive legs that have only run in calm conditions.
3. Long flat intervals at marathon pace (weeks 8–13). 5–8 × 1.5 km at goal pace with 60 seconds jog recovery. You learn to "find the pace" after every interruption.

The taper is three weeks, not two. Week 14 at 80%, week 15 at 60%, week 16 at 40% maintaining race pace in short pickups. The two final long runs (in weeks 11 and 12) are the ones that fill the cup.

Don't know what realistic goal time you have for London? Cross your best recent half marathon with the "London marathon" factor (which assumes the nearly flat profile and a moderately windy day):

How to read it: the "flat" column is the unadjusted Riegel conversion (your half × ~2.11). London adds a 1–3% adjustment for possible wind and turns — that gives you the realistic range. If you've done long runs into the wind and your form holds, aim for the lower end of the range. If your last hour falls apart, the upper end.

Find another marathon near you →

Once you have your goal time, this calculator gives you the required average pace (in min/km and min/mi) and the cumulative splits at 5K, 10K, 15K, half marathon, 30K and finish. Change the goal time in the field below and the table updates instantly:

The calculator above gives you the pace. But a real race plan answers more questions: what strategy do I start with? How many gels do I carry? When do I take the caffeine? What do I do if at Tower Bridge I'm 30 seconds over goal?

Set up your goal, strategy and fuelling plan. The planner generates a personalised plan by segment (with paces, HR zones, mental cues and fuelling minute by minute), a race-morning checklist, and a Plan B for surprises. Download it as a PDF to take with you on race day.

You're at the corral. You did the 16-week plan. What separates a good training block from a good time is what you do over the next 4–5 hours.

The race plan for London should combine conservative pacing in km 1–10 (3 starts merging + Cutty Sark km 9), goal pace between km 10–30, and push or hold from km 30 to 42 depending on how you arrive at the Embankment. Each goal time (sub-2:45 to finish) has a specific split pattern.

• Wake up: 4 hours before your wave (06:00 if your start is at 10:00).
• Breakfast: 3 h before. What you've practised in long runs, no experiments. 80–100 g of carbs.
• Hotel exit: 2 h before. Trains to Blackheath fill up from 90 minutes out.
• Arrival at your start (Red / Green / Blue): 75 minutes before the gun. Portaloo queues spike in the final 30 minutes.
• Warm-up: light. A 5–10 minute jog + 4 strides of 50 m. If you're going faster than sub-3:30, add 10 extra minutes.
• Corral: enter 30 minutes before the gun. The marathon starts in waves and corrals close 10 minutes before.

• Km 1–4 (merge): the three starts converge. Don't fight for space. Accept 3–5 seconds per km over goal during the first 4 km. It's a predictable toll.
• Km 4–9 (Cutty Sark): run goal pace. Don't get carried away by the Greenwich crowd. Cutty Sark is a short ramp — give up 5–8 seconds on the climb and recover them on the immediate descent.
• Km 9–19 (cruise to Tower Bridge): goal pace at a heart rate you can maintain while talking in short phrases. Drink at every aid station, gel on your cadence. Tower Bridge is mental: breathe, look, keep going.
• Km 19–25 (post-bridge + Canary Wharf): the treacherous zone. After the bridge euphoria, Canary Wharf is silence + glass + viscous pace. Hold the cadence, not the watch.
• Km 25–32 (push or hold): the key segment. If you arrive at km 30 with legs, hold the pace. If you arrive on the edge, hold the effort (not the pace).
• Km 32–42 (Embankment + Westminster + The Mall): the final 10 km are nearly flat but the wind can show up. If there's wind, tuck into the pack. If you arrive with energy, splits hold. If you arrive empty, you'll lose 30–60 seconds per km in the final 5 km.

• Km 5: drink even if you're not thirsty. It's the most underrated aid station.
• Km 11 (official gels — Lucozade Sport): carry your own as well — the gel-table queue is a bottleneck.
• Km 19 (Tower Bridge): don't eat here. The crowd pushes you, the ramp demands and the stomach doesn't process well with so much stimulus. Gel at 18 or at 20.
• Km 25 (Canary Wharf): critical zone. If you're going slower than 3:30, take a gel + drink.
• Km 30 (critical aid station): if you're hurting, walk 30 seconds and rehydrate; you lose less than you'd lose by collapsing at km 35.
• Km 35–40 (Embankment): the last ones. If you've got glycogen left, jump on it. If not, drink + a quick gel. Don't stop walking for more than 10 seconds or the wind will chill you.

It's where the marathon is decided. Three anchors:

1. Name the next three points: Big Ben (km 39), Westminster (km 40), The Mall (km 42). As long as you've got a next point, you're going.
2. Count down kilometres from km 35: "seven km, six km, last 5K". The brain takes small numbers better than long distances.
3. Pace from your feet, not your watch: hold the cadence (170–185 spm). The watch can lie; the cadence won't. And if there's wind: stick to a group. It's the difference between 4:35/km and 4:50/km.

• Don't stop. Keep walking 10–15 minutes. Stopping cold is the recipe for dizziness + cramps.
• Hydrate before eating. Isotonic + water in the first 10 minutes.
• Foil blanket: the organisers hand it out at the finish. Use it — the Thames wind is treacherous after crossing the line in soaked clothes.
• Very light stretching: hamstrings, calves, quads. 30 seconds each, no bouncing. Better to walk softly than stretch aggressively.
• Stop your watch when you cross the finishers' zone, not before. Your official time is by chip.
• Family meeting point: the organisers assign letters (A, B, C…) in the post-finish zone near Horse Guards Parade. Agree on it before the race. With saturated mobile coverage and thousands of finishers, finding each other by sight is impossible.

Save this event on SportPlan →

The nutrition strategy for a London marathon pivots on 60–100 g of carbs per hour depending on goal, with 5–8 gels spread every 25–30 minutes from km 8 onwards. Carb loading in the 3 days before should be 8–10 g/kg/day, and Saturday dinner light and familiar (pasta or rice). Extra sodium if the forecast goes above 16 °C or the wind picks up.

Saturday dinner is light, familiar and on the early side (eaten before 21:00). Pasta or white rice with grilled chicken or fish, bread, fruit. Zero experiments. London tempts you with pubs and curries — leave them for Sunday night, not race eve.

Race-morning breakfast depends on whether you wake up hungry. The safe option: toast with honey/jam + banana + coffee (if you drink it normally). 80–100 g of carbs, eaten 3 hours before the gun. If your stomach closes up with nerves, swap for a sports drink with 80 g of carbs. Ask the hotel to serve you breakfast at 06:00 or pack a bag the night before.

What the organisers put on the course:

• Liquid aid stations every ~3 km (denser than at many European marathons). Water and Lucozade Sport (UK official isotonic).
• Official gels at at least one point (km 11 historically). But the queue is long — carry your own.
• Cold-water sponges at at least one point if the forecast is warm (>16 °C).
• Solid food at the finish: isotonic, water, snack bar, fruit.

Carb plan by goal:

Three mistakes you see every year at the London Marathon:

• Using Lucozade Sport for the first time on race day. If you've never had British orange isotonic before, carbs are tested in at least 3 prior long runs; intestinal disbiosis hits at km 30, not km 5.
• Skipping the km 5 aid station because "it's cool and I'm not thirsty". London can start at 8 °C and rise to 16 °C in three hours; the wind dehydrates you without you noticing. Drinking early avoids the bottleneck of km 25–32.
• Relying only on the official gels at km 11. It's one point in 42 km and the queue is slow. Carry your own: 5 gels for sub-4h, 7 for sub-3h.

Hydration and sodium by forecast:

• Cold (<10 °C high): water + isotonic every 3–5 km. Optional extra sodium from km 25.
• Mild (10–16 °C, the most common): isotonic at every aid station. Electrolyte salts every hour from km 15 if you're going longer than 4h.
• Warm (>16 °C, rare but possible): electrolyte salts every 45 minutes. Carry a 250 ml handheld bottle if you're going longer than 4h.
• NE wind >20 km/h: add 1 extra electrolyte salt to the plan — wind increases invisible sweating and sodium loss.

Post-finish recovery — the first hour counts more than in a half:

• First 5 minutes: isotonic at the finish + water.
• 0–30 minutes: foil blanket + light walking + second isotonic.
• 30–60 minutes: real food with protein + carbs. Aim for 30 g of protein and 80 g of carbs in this window.
• 2–4 hours later: full normal meal. The celebration pint goes here, not in the first 60 minutes. The pizza / curry / Sunday roast pair perfectly with your medal still on.

The best shoes for the TCS London Marathon are carbon-plated race for sub-3:30 (Vaporfly 4, Adios Pro Evo, Metaspeed Sky), carbon plate or super-trainer between 3:30–4:00 (Saucony Endorphin Speed, Hoka Mach X), and protective daily trainer for slower than 4:00 (Nike Pegasus, ASICS Cumulus, Brooks Ghost). What's critical isn't the brand but that they're already broken in and don't exceed 250–350 km of use.

Unlike Madrid or Boston, in London the pure speed factor weighs as much as muscular endurance. The nearly flat course rewards light, fast carbon plates; but if it rains, the same model can slip on some Embankment paving stones. Weigh up the weekend weather before choosing.

Recommendations by goal:

Check this before leaving the house:

• Mileage on your shoe. A carbon plate loses bounce after 250–350 km. If you used it for your March half and you've done long runs in it, it'll arrive in London worn out.
• Drop and footstrike style. Don't drop below your usual drop "to gain 30 seconds" — soleus and Achilles will charge you for it from km 25 onwards.
• Tested in at least two long runs of >25 km — preferably one in the rain.

• Top: technical singlet if the forecast is >14 °C, normal short sleeve if 8–14 °C, thin thermal long sleeve if <8 °C. Materials: polyester or thin merino, never cotton.
• Bottoms: 5–7" shorts with gel pockets. 3/4 tights if start temperature is <6 °C or it's raining hard.
• Socks: thin technical, no toe seams, already tested in at least 5 long runs. Avoid blisters with thin technical socks — and if it rains, fold a dry pair into your kit bag.
• Sports bra: high support, already tested in a long run.
• Anti-chafe: Vaseline or BodyGlide on nipples, armpits, groin, sports bra zone. More marathoners finish with bloody nipples than with cramps.

• GPS watch with battery >5 h. Models with barometric altimeter (Garmin Forerunner 265+, Coros Apex, Apple Watch Ultra) are useful even though the actual elevation is small.
• Set goal pace + total time as the main screen. GPS distance can read +1–2% in skyscraper zones (Canary Wharf especially, also the City).
• Hydration belt / vest: optional in London — aid stations every 3 km are dense. Only if you're going longer than 4h or the forecast is >16 °C.
• Phone: optional. If you carry it, in an arm sleeve or pocket belt. Useful for the post-finish meeting point — Horse Guards Parade has saturated coverage but it usually works.

• Thin cap or visor: for spring sun and light rain. Visor over full cap if forecast is >12 °C.
• Sunglasses: yes if there's sun; optional if overcast. Better to have them and not use them.
• Throwaway layer: an old T-shirt or a disposable plastic poncho (£3 at any Westminster shop). For the 90 minutes in Blackheath before your wave. The organisers collect abandoned clothing for charity.
• Disposable arm sleeves: the most useful accessory in London. If it warms up by km 5, push them down; if it cools again at km 35, pull them up. £5 at ExCeL.
• Gel belt: to carry 5–7 of your own gels. Don't underestimate the space you need.
• Electrolyte salts: capsules or tablets to take every 45–60 min in warm or windy conditions.
• Clear bag for kit check: the organisers hand one out at ExCeL — use it. Non-transparent bags are not accepted at the truck.

Compare with other international marathons →

How much does the London Marathon really climb?

Just 50 m of net descent over 42.2 km — it's one of the flattest marathons on the international calendar. There are three short ramps (Cutty Sark climb at km 9, Tower Bridge climb at km 19, Tower Hill pass at km 33), but none exceeds 300 metres in length or 3% in gradient. The course is essentially flat: what counts is the NE wind on the Embankment, not the geometry.

How do I get in if I'm rejected from the ballot?

You have five alternative routes: (1) Good for Age if you have a recent certified time that meets your age standard; (2) Championship if you've run sub-2:45 (M) or sub-3:15 (W) on a certified marathon in the previous 36 months; (3) Charity Gold Bond by committing to fundraise £500–2,500+ for a registered charity; (4) Club Place if you're a member of a UKA-affiliated club with allocation; (5) Travel Partners by buying an international travel package with bib included (£1,500–3,500+). The most likely route for an international without an elite mark is Charity — if you react quickly after the ballot rejection in July.

Is there a time cut-off?

Recent editions close the marathon at 8 hours from the last wave, equivalent to about 11:00 min/km. Walking is allowed; the course has rolling partial closures (streets reopen to traffic after the last runner of each zone passes). London Marathon is one of the few Majors with such a generous cut-off — the organisers are very patient with anyone walking the whole course.

Can I pick up my bib on race day?

No. Pickup is restricted to the Wednesday-to-Saturday Running Show at ExCeL London. No bibs are handed out on race day under any circumstances, and nobody else can collect on your behalf except in very exceptional cases with official authorisation. Plan your arrival to allow at least one ExCeL visit before Saturday at 18:00.

Where do I leave my bag during the race?

The organisers transport your bag from Blackheath to The Mall in trucks identified by bib number. Tag your bag with the kit sticker, drop it 30–45 minutes before your wave, and pick it up in the finishers' zone after crossing the line. Only clear bags issued by the organisers (at the Running Show) are accepted — opaque or personal bags are not. Don't put valuables in.

Are headphones allowed?

Yes, headphones are allowed at the TCS London Marathon. That said, the urban atmosphere of the course is one of the appeals of the race — bands, the Tower Bridge crowd, PA systems in Canary Wharf, the "come on!" shouts every km — so many runners prefer to run without headphones. The most useful section for music is Canary Wharf (km 22–25), where the crowd thins out and the skyscrapers create a strange echo.

How does the Thames wind affect a marathoner?

The NE wind on the Embankment (km 35–40) is the most volatile variable of the day. In calm editions, you don't notice it. In editions with NE winds of 20–25 km/h, it can cost you 30–60 seconds per km in the final 7 km. The trick is to tuck into a pack — 3–5 runners ahead save you 10–15% of the aerodynamic effort, according to studies from Eindhoven University. If you're running solo and there's wind, look around: if you find a runner just slightly faster than you, slip into their draft for 1–2 km and rest.

How do I get to the start on race morning?

Train from London Bridge → Blackheath (15 min) or DLR to Greenwich + 15 min walking. Trains start running around 06:30 with frequency boosted by TfL for marathon day. Check your race confirmation magazine — it includes a map with your assigned start (Red, Green or Blue) and the recommended station for each. Leave the hotel 2 hours before your wave, no exceptions.

What shoes are best for the London marathon?

For sub-3:30, a protective carbon plate (Nike Vaporfly, Adidas Adios Pro, ASICS Metaspeed Sky). For 3:30–4:00, a carbon plate or super-trainer (Saucony Endorphin Speed, Hoka Mach X). For slower than 4:00, a protective daily trainer (Nike Pegasus, ASICS Cumulus, Brooks Ghost). What matters most isn't the brand but that they're already broken in and don't exceed 250–350 km of use — and that you've tested them at least once in the rain if the forecast is classic British.

How does London compare to Boston, Berlin, NYC or Valencia?

London is the most festive and most charity-driven of the Majors, and the second fastest after Berlin. Berlin (September, flat) is 1–2 minutes faster than London given equal fitness — it's the world-record marathon. Boston (April) is point-to-point downhill with Heartbreak Hill — unique atmosphere but slower because of the climbs. NYC (November) is 5 bridges and 5 boroughs — the most diverse marathon but also the slowest of the Majors. Valencia (December, not a Major) is flat like Berlin and the fastest marathon in Spain. For a first Major, London is the best combination of "fast + festive + entry is hard but possible".

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The TCS London Marathon is the best combination of speed + atmosphere + status among the World Marathon Majors. If you're chasing a pure PB without wind, Berlin is 1–2 minutes faster; if you want the most symbolic marathon of any race, Boston is the bet; if you want a first Major, London is the ideal ramp.

All are marathons (42.195 km), so the choice depends on month, course profile, entry difficulty and what you're looking for:

See all World Marathon Majors →

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