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Bucket List / Fitness Goals / Complete The World Marathon Majors

London Marathon

Running it in April 2027

Twenty-six miles past the Cutty Sark, over Tower Bridge and down The Mall, with London cheering every step.

London Marathon
Photo: DanHuddleston, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The adventure

London's marathon is famous for its crowds. From the start in Greenwich and Blackheath, the noise builds through Deptford and Rotherhithe before you turn onto Tower Bridge just before halfway, where the sound is so loud you can feel it in your chest. Then comes the long loop out to the Isle of Dogs and Canary Wharf, where the race really starts to bite.

The last miles along the Embankment are pure London, with the Thames on one side, the London Eye across the water and Big Ben getting closer with every step. Turning past Buckingham Palace onto The Mall, with the finish ahead and the grandstands full, is a moment of real pride. Add the fancy-dress runners and the charity fundraisers, and it is a race with a heart unlike any other.

Why it’s epic

  • First run in 1981, it was founded by Olympic steeplechase champion Chris Brasher and John Disley.
  • The 2025 race set a Guinness World Record for the most finishers of any marathon, with more than 56,000.
  • It is recognised as the largest annual one-day fundraising event in the world.
  • In 2027 the race runs over two days for the first time.

What it is

London’s marathon starts in Greenwich and Blackheath and finishes on The Mall, passing the Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge and Big Ben. In 2027 it runs over two days for the first time.

How to do it

Enter the public ballot, which opens straight after each year’s race, or take a charity place. Fast runners can enter with a good-for-age time.

Top tip

Crossing Tower Bridge around halfway is the loudest part of the course, so soak it up and don’t get carried away with the pace.

Need to know

  • The public ballot opens straight after each year's race and attracts more than a million applications.
  • Charity places guarantee entry if you commit to a fundraising target.
  • Trains to the Greenwich and Blackheath starts are packed on race morning, so leave early.

Make it happen

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Why it’s on my list

I’m running London in April 2027 for Shelter, the housing charity, with a target of £3,000. You can sponsor me here.

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