United Kingdom · World Marathon Major
London Marathon 2027
Saturday 24 April 2027 · confirmed date
183 days to go
Key facts
- Race day
- Saturday 24 April 2027
- Confirmed by the organisers
- Start
- 09:35
- local time
- Course
- Mostly flat · Point to point
- Greenwich Park and Blackheath to The Mall
- Course record, men
- 1:59:30
- Sabastian Sawe, 2026
- Course record, women
- 2:15:25
- Paula Radcliffe, 2003
- Finishers
- 59,830
- in 2026
- Time limit
- 8h00
- First held
- 1981
The race
About the London Marathon
The London Marathon was first run in 1981 and is one of the World Marathon Majors. In 2026 it set a world record for the most finishers in a marathon, and on the same day Sabastian Sawe ran 1:59:30, the first sub-two-hour marathon in a competitive race. In 2027 it will be held across two days, for the first and only time.
Beyond the elite races, London is known for its charity runners, costumes and crowds that barely thin out from Greenwich to Westminster. The course is mostly flat and passes many of the city's best-known sights. It suits first-timers, charity runners and anyone after a fast time on a well-supported course.
Course
The London Marathon course
Runners start from three areas around Blackheath and Greenwich Park, and the routes merge just before 5 km in Woolwich. The course then heads west through Charlton, Greenwich and Deptford, loops around the Cutty Sark at about 10 km, and crosses Tower Bridge at around halfway.
The second half heads east along The Highway into the Isle of Dogs and Canary Wharf, where tall buildings can upset GPS readings, then returns past the Tower of London and along the Victoria Embankment. The last stretch passes the Houses of Parliament, Birdcage Walk and Buckingham Palace before the finish on The Mall. The profile is mostly flat; the main challenges are the crowded early miles and the twisting Docklands section.
Race-day weather
Late April race mornings in London are usually around 9–14°C at the start and warmer by the finish, with a chance of showers; a warm, sunny day is always possible.
Train
Training for the London Marathon 2027
26 weeks to go. A marathon plan runs 12 to 24 weeks and ends on race week. Here is when each one starts.
| Plan | Starts on |
|---|---|
| 24 weeks | Monday 9 November 2026 |
| 20 weeks | Monday 7 December 2026 |
| 16 weeks | Monday 4 January 2027 |
| 12 weeks | Monday 1 February 2027 |
For this course
London falls in late April, so your plan runs through winter and early spring. Long runs in cold, wet and windy weather are normal; complete them rather than cutting them short. Because the start is crowded and the course twists through Docklands, practise running even splits by effort and expect your watch to read long. Spring can turn warm suddenly, so do a few runs in extra layers late in the plan and decide in advance how you will adjust your pace on a warm morning.
See the marathon pace chart or a sample sub-4 plan.
Print a pace band for the London Marathon, with the race clock at every kilometre.
Entry
How to get a place
Entry is mainly through the public ballot, which drew more than 1.3 million applications for 2027. Other routes include charity places, Good For Age and Championship entries based on qualifying times, places allocated through British Athletics clubs, and international entries through official tour operators.
2027 lottery From 24 April 2026 to 1 May 2026 · closed
Every marathon lottery date for 2027 → Which marathons have no lottery? →Organised by London Marathon Events
Official websiteQuestions
Frequently asked
When is the London Marathon 2027?
The London Marathon 2027 is on Saturday 24 April 2027. The organisers have confirmed the date.
When should I start training for the London Marathon?
Count back from race day: a 16-week plan for the 2027 edition starts on 4 January 2027, a 20-week plan on 7 December 2026. Most runners need 16 to 20 weeks; 12 is the shortest block worth doing.
How do I get into the London Marathon?
Most runners enter the public ballot, which is heavily oversubscribed. Other routes are charity places, Good For Age and Championship entries for runners with qualifying times, club places through British Athletics, and international entries through official tour operators.
Is the London Marathon course flat?
Yes, mostly. There are no major hills; the main challenges are the crowded first miles and the winding section around Canary Wharf.
What is the time limit for the London Marathon?
You have eight hours. Runners who fall behind that pace can continue on the pavement as the roads reopen.
Why is the 2027 London Marathon held over two days?
For 2027 only, the organisers are spreading the race over Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 April to welcome around 100,000 runners. Each runner takes part on one of the two days.
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