Mile-by-Mile Guide To London Marathon 2026
If you are here, congratulations; you have probably bagged a spot in the 2026 London Marathon. At FitKit, we have a wealth of experience in the fitness industry, and we are here to guide you through the London Marathon mile by mile.
We will also answer some questions that spectators will appreciate, so grab a protein shake and buckle in for FitKit’s comprehensive guide on the London Marathon 2026.
Contents
- When is the London Marathon?
- What time does the London Marathon start?
- How long is the London Marathon?
- How many people run the London Marathon?
- When was the first London Marathon?
- How much does it cost to enter the London Marathon?
- London Marathon route
- What is the closest pub at the end of the London Marathon?
- London Marathon landmarks
- Mile-by-Mile Guide to the London Marathon
When is the London Marathon 2026?
The London Marathon will take place on Sunday, 26th April 2026.
What time does the London Marathon start?
The timings for the 2026 London Marathon are yet to be confirmed; however, the mass participation race typically starts at 9:30 am. Wheelchair and Elite performers usually start the London Marathon at 8:30 am with staggered start times.
How long is the London Marathon?
The London Marathon is one of the six World Marathon Majors and is a standard marathon length of 26.2 miles. Along the route, you will see blue lines that guide users towards the most direct route(these are called the racing line); however, this is usually reserved for the fastest elite athletes. Other runners will have to weave around other runners and take wider routes around bends, so the length will vary slightly from person to person. GPS tracking can also be affected by tall buildings in cities, so don’t be upset if your Strava shows a different route length.
How many miles is the London Marathon?
The London Marathon is 26.2 miles long.
How many kilometres is the London Marathon?
The London Marathon is 42.195km.
How many people run the London Marathon?
In 2025, the London Marathon raised the most money ever in a single day with a record total of £87.3 million. To raise that, there was a record number of finishers, with more than 56,000 people crossing the finish line. More than 840,318 people applied for the 2025 TCS London Marathon, setting a new world record for marathon applications.
Two-day London Marathon plans
Due to the demand for the London Marathon, the event is in advanced talks to stage a two-day event in 2027. This would allow even more hopeful applicants to run, and even more money for charity to be raised. So, if you haven’t been successful for 2026, watch this space, as you could be at the starting line in 2027.
When was the first London Marathon?
The first London Marathon took place on 29th March 1981, and the inaugural race saw around 22,000 runners apply to take part. However, due to capped numbers for safety reasons, 7,741 runners crossed the finish line.
How much does it cost to enter the London Marathon?
TCS London Marathon is a ballot event, and if you successfully secure a place, you will need to pay the entry fee of £79.99 for UK entrants. International placements are slightly more expensive at £225. Within this fee, £26 will be invested in certified projects to balance CO2 emissions from International entrants’ travel. These prices are correct for the 2026 London Marathon but could vary depending on the year of entry.
What is the London Marathon route?
The London Marathon route has remained very similar for over 40 years since the first race. Details of the exact route can be found on the TCS London Marathon course page and viewed in Strava.
Where does the London Marathon start?
For the 2026 London Marathon, there will be five Assembly Areas, which is a new addition to the previous years’ three.
| Bib | Assembly Area | Nearest Station |
| Blue numbers on a white background | Blue | Blackheath: 10-minute walk away |
| Green numbers on a white background | Green | Blackheath: 10-minute walk away |
| Pink numbers on a white background | Pink | Maze Hill: 10-minute walk away |
| Red numbers on a white background | Red | Greenwich: 10-minute walk away |
| Red numbers on a white background | Yellow | Blackheath: 10-minute walk away |
Free travel to the Start
Participants in the London Marathon 2026 have free travel on Southeastern train services from London stations to the Start, as well as on the Docklands Light Railway, London Underground and buses. All you have to do to receive free entry is present your bib. Make sure you do not tap in or out at any London stations.
Spectators should not travel to the Start as it is for participants only. There are many different spots you can head to if you want to cheer on your runner.
Drink stations at the London Marathon 2026
| Buxton Natural Mineral Water | Water Refill Station | Lucozade Sport in compostable cups | Lucozade Sport Gels |
| Mile 3 | |||
| Mile 6 | |||
| Mile 7.5 | Mile 7.5 | ||
| Mile 9 | |||
| Mile 12 | |||
| Mile 13 | |||
| Mile 15 | Mile 15 | ||
| Mile 16 | |||
| Mile 17 | |||
| Mile 18 | |||
| Mile 19 | |||
| Mile 20 | Mile 20 | ||
| Mile 21 | |||
| Mile 24 | Mile 24 |
Where does the London Marathon finish?
The London Marathon finish line is right in the city centre, on The Mall. Runners approaching the finishing line will turn right at Westminster onto Birdcage Walk and cross the line at St James’ Park.
What is the closest pub at the end of the London Marathon?
If you are looking for a celebratory pint at the end of the London Marathon, there are a few pubs you can pop into close to the finish line:
- King’s Arms – 25 Roupell Street, London SE1 8T
- The Princess of Wales – 27 Villiers St, London WC2N 6ND
- The Lyric – 37 Great Windmill Street, London W1D 7LT
- The Green Man – 36 Riding House St, London W1W 7EP
What landmarks should I look out for on the London Marathon?
There are a few iconic landmarks you should look out for when running the London Marathon; some of these include:
- Tower Bridge – Runners of the London Marathon are often spurred on at Mile 12 when they run across Tower Bridge. When Tower Bridge was completed in 1894, it was the largest bridge in the world and took 432 workers almost 8 years to complete.
- Canary Wharf – An iconic part of the London skyline, Canary Wharf sits at Mile 18
- London Eye – The London Eye is the fourth-largest Ferris wheel in the world and offers great views of London. You will find The London Eye at Mile 25.
- Big Ben – One of the most famous UK landmarks features on the London Marathon route, and you can expect to see it at Mile 25, just before you finish.
- Buckingham Palace – Almost at the finish line, you will pass Buckingham Palace and the London Marathon’s final stretch is situated at the Mall.
Is the London Marathon flat?
As marathons go, the London Marathon route is fairly flat. Many runners like to try to set a PB at the London Marathon due to its flat course. You can factor this into your training and feel safe knowing you won’t have to climb steep inclines. The map below shows the route’s elevation as you progress through the course.
Can you walk the London Marathon?
You can walk the London Marathon, and many runners opt for a strategy that combines walking and running. This is called Jeffing and is a technique created by US Olympian and author Jeff Galloway. If you were to walk the full length of the Marathon, it would take around 8-9 hours, but for some, it could take up to 12, so it still requires some level of training prior.
Best fancy dress costumes at the London Marathon
Some participants like to run for the London Marathon for charity and to raise awareness and money for their chosen organisation. This means that many runners like to dress up in fancy dress costumes; here are some of our favourites:
Mile-by-Mile Guide to The London Marathon 2026
1-3 miles
Expect the start of the Marathon to be very busy! Head down to grab your spot early, and adhere to your allocated location and bib colour. From miles 1-3, you will pass the start line in Blackheath and through Charlton if you are on the Red start line. You will then merge with the Blue and Green runners at mile 3.
Avoid going too quickly here, as you want to pace yourself (you have a long way to go), but also don’t go so slowly that you trip other people.
At the 3-mile cusp into the fourth mile, this race segment is downhill, so don’t worry if you are shaving off seconds on your average pace, but still be mindful of your energy expenditure.
4-7 miles
This stretch spans through Woolwich, past Woolwich Dockyard and into Westcombe Park. At around mile 6, runners will enter Greenwich. During this segment of the marathon, the crowds of spectators can press in on the runners, but feel free to soak up the glory and high-five people along the route. You are around a quarter of the way through!
8-13 miles
The course heads into Deptford by mile 8 and on to Surrey Quay by mile 9. The race then heads closer to the Thames through Rotherhithe and onto Bermondsey before reaching Tower Bridge. Many runners find this part of the route bland, so make sure you have some uptempo music to keep you pushing through. The excitement will start to build as you head over Tower Bridge, a segment many runners claim is one of the race highlights.
14- 21 miles
At this point, you are probably hurting, but it is time to knuckle down and push through. You will pass through Isle of Dogs and Canary Wharf, which still have supporters cheering but can feel like a slog. Power through! You are almost there.
22-23 miles
You are almost on the home stretch and will be running through Shadwell. Try to get some energy from the crowd and focus on putting one foot in front of the other.
24-25 miles
This is the most picturesque segment of the race, and there are plenty of landmarks to look at as you go. Take out your headphones and soak in the glory and support from the crowds. You will run through the Blackfriars Underpass, where many people take a moment to throw up, cry or go to the toilet (so watch out where you are treading). The last mile is upon you.
Buckingham Palace will be ahead of you. Turn the corner onto the Mall, and the finish line will be in sight.
Congratulations! You are a London Marathon finisher!
How do you track runners at the London Marathon?
If you are a supporter and want to track a runner, you can do so! The best way to track a London Marathon runner is by downloading the London Marathon Tracker app. You can then search for them using their bib number or name. The app will track the runner’s 5K split and give you a predicted finish time.
How do you find runners at the finish line of The London Marathon?
The finish line at The London Marathon will be hectic, as 40,000 people pass through, and you won’t find your runner instantly. At the end of The Mall, you will find meeting zones that are alphabetically labelled. Try to arrange a meeting spot with your runner before the race begins, and it will make the reunion embrace even sweeter.
What is the closest tube to The London Marathon finish?
If you would rather not meet anyone at the finish line and head straight home to soak in the bath or lie on the sofa, there are several tube spots near the finish line to head off home.
The closest tubes to the finish line are:
- Charing Cross
- Westminster
- St James’s Park
- Piccadilly Circus
Train for your next marathon with FitKit
Once you have finished The London Marathon, the last thing you will want to consider is running another. This feeling will soon go away, and before you know it, you’ll be back on the road training for your next one. Whether you prefer to train in the gym or on the road, check out our blog for all the latest information and resources. We also have a wide range of treadmills that can be used in commercial gyms or home gym setups. Congratulations, you’ve done it once; train with us and do it faster next time!
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