TCS London Marathon

Overview

Field size

~50,000 finishers — one of the largest fields anywhere

Course type

Point-to-point, flat

Cut-off time

Generous — course open around 8 hours

Aid stations

Frequent water and Lucozade stations, dispensed as bottles

Course intelligence

Profile

Flat with only gentle undulations — a genuinely fast course

Highlights

Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge at halfway, Canary Wharf, the Embankment, finishing on The Mall

Note

Early miles are congested — seed yourself realistically to avoid weaving

Registration

How to enter

Public ballot, a 'Good For Age' or championship time, or a charity place

Ballot odds

Roughly 1 in 15 or worse and tightening — charity places are the common backup

Registration opens

Ballot opens in spring for the following year's race

Race weekend

Expo

ExCeL London — in-person bib pickup, no race-day collection

Start

Three colour-coded starts in Greenwich and Blackheath that merge on course

Travel & logistics

Best airport

Heathrow (LHR); Gatwick and Stansted also serve London

Getting around

Tube, DLR and rail — get to the start early as trains fill quickly

Where to stay

Central London near a Tube line, or Greenwich for start proximity

Runner tips

• Collect your bib at ExCeL before race day — there is no race-morning pickup.
• Tower Bridge at halfway is the loudest point on the course — don't get swept into a surge.
• Stations dispense bottles, not cups; take small sips and carry one between stations.