The London Marathon, a regular feature of the spring sports calendar, returns this weekend after a record number of participants in the 2023 edition.
The race will be the first London Marathon to be held since the death of Kelvin Kiptum, last year’s men’s winner and world record holder, in a car crash in Kenya.
When is the London Marathon 2024? Time and date
The London Marathon 2024 takes place next Sunday, April 21.
The elite and wheelchair races will start at staggered times, with the elite men’s and women’s wheelchair races starting at 9.05am (BST). The elite women’s race starts at 9:25 am, while the elite men’s race starts at 10:00 am. Masses also start at 10am, in waves until 11:30am.
The London Marathon route for 2024: where does it start and end?
The London Marathon route follows the usual route, starting in Greenwich and Blackheath, where participants are split into three lines meeting at the three mile mark. The route heads east to Woolwich and then back west towards Greenwich town centre, via Rotherhithe and Bermondsey. From there the route crosses north over Tower Bridge, marking about the halfway point. Athletes then complete a circuit around Canary Wharf and Isle of Dogs before the course heads west along the north bank of the Thames past the Tower of London towards Trafalgar Square and onto the Mall where it ends in front of Buckingham Palace.
To download a map of the trail, click here.
Some of London’s most famous landmarks are on the track.
What are the best viewing spots?
The busiest places on the track are usually Greenwich, Tower Bridge and Westminster. There are normally far fewer spectators from miles 9-12 (Rotherhithe and Bermondsey) and miles 14-21 (Canary Wharf and Isle of Dogs). To watch the runners pass by twice, head to The Highway at Wapping, which is used first from west to east and then again from east to west, although this is usually a popular viewing point.
How many people run the London Marathon?
Last year, 49,272 runners started the race, of which 43,965 finished (that’s 5,307 people who didn’t complete the course).
Prize money for the London Marathon
This year, for the first time, equal prize money will be offered for the wheelchair and able-bodied races. The winner of each elite race will take home £43,500.
Hugh Brasher, event director of the London Marathon, said: “We have made great progress in recent years towards our ambition to make the London Marathon the most diverse and equitable marathon in the world and this is another important step in the toward achieving that goal.”
Which TV channel is the London Marathon on?
The London Marathon will be shown on BBC as well as BBC iPlayer and the Red Button. This year’s broadcast starts at 8.30am on BBC One before moving to BBC Two from 2pm to 3pm. Highlights can be seen on BBC Two at 6pm.
The BBC iPlayer shows footage from 11.30am to 6pm. There will also be two live streams from Tower Bridge (11:30am – 2:30pm) and the finish line (1:00pm – 6:00pm) on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport app.
BBC commentators include Andrew Cotter, Steve Cram, Paula Radcliffe and Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, while Steve Brown, JJ Chalmers and Jeanette Kwakye report from the route.
About 200 people, 40 cameras and six engines are involved in the production. Several helicopters are used to broadcast the elite races.
Stars to look out for in this year’s London Marathon
Celebrities such as comedian Romesh Ranganathan, musician Tom Grennan and actor Phil Dunster will make their debut at the London Marathon on Sunday. They are joined by Birmingham City interim manager Gary Rowett, EastEnders stars Emma Barton and Jamie Borthwick and Sky Sports’ Natalie Pinkham.
Returning contestants include: James Cracknell, Mark Wright, Adele Roberts, Louise Minchin and Chris Robshaw.
What is the average marathon time in London?
Last year, participants completed the London Marathon in an average time of 4 hours 6 minutes, an improvement of 12 minutes on the 2022 average of 4 hours 18 minutes.
Who is in the men’s and women’s elite races?
Ladies (20)
Tigist Assefa (Eth) 2:11:53
Brigid Kosgei (Ken) 2:14:04
Ruth Chepngetich (Ken) 2:14:18
Tigist Ketema (Eth) 2:16:07
Almaz Ayana (Eth) 2:16:22
Megertu Alemu (Eth) 2:17:09
Peres Jepchirchir (Ken) 2:17:16
Joyciline Jepkosgei (Ken) 2:17:23
Yalemzerf Jehualaw (Eth) 2:17:23
Sheila Chepkirui (Ken) 2:17:29
Tsige Haileslase (Eth) 2:22:10
Susanna Sullivan (USA) 2:24:27
Manon Trapp (Fra) 2:25:48
Becky Briggs (GB) 2:29:04
Alice Wright (GB) 2:29:08
Anya Culling (GB) 2:34:45
Rachel Hodgkinson (GB) 2:34:46
Helen Gaunt (GB) 2:35:38
Mhairi Maclennan (GB) debut
Lucy Reid (GB) debut
Men (43)
Kenenisa Bekele (Eth) 2:01:41
Mosinet Geremew (Eth) 2:02:55
Alexander Mutiso Munyao (Ken) 2:03:11
Tamirat Tola (Eth) 2:03:39
Dawit Wolde (Eth) 2:03:48
Kinde Atanaw (Eth) 2:03:51
Leul Gebresilase (Eth) 2:04:02
Geoffrey Kamworor (Ken) 2:04:23
Seifu Tura (Eth) 2:04:29
Daniel Do Nascimento (Bra) 2:04:51
Addisu Gobena (Eth) 2:05:01
Milkesa Mengesha (Eth) 2:05:29
Henok Tesfay (Eri) 2:07:12
Emile Caairess (GB) 2:08:07
Callum Hawkins (GB) 2:08:14
Hassan Chahdi (Fra) 2:08:19
Mahamed Mahamed (GB) 2:08:40
Brian Shrader (USA) 2:09:46
Weynay Ghebresilasie (GB) 2:09:50
Andrew Heyes (GB) 2:13:52
Alexander Lepretre (GB) 2:15:01
Hiko Tonoas Haso (Irl) 2:15:01
Norman Shreeve (GB) 2:16:17
Alex Milne (GB) 2:16:30
William Mycroft (GB) 2:17:02
David Bishop (GB) 2:17:06
Adam Bowden (GB) 2:17:18
Kieran Walker (GB) 2:17:30
Alexander Lawrence (GB) 2:17:41
Daniel Hamilton (GB) 2:17:59
Dominic Jones (GB) 2:18:15
Fraser Stewart (GB) 2:18:34
Tom Frith (GB) 2:18:35
James Hoad (GB) 2:18:38
Ryan Thomson (GB) 2:18:46
Martin Hoare (Irl) 2:18:57
Charlie Sandison (GB) 2:19:22
Paulos Surafel (GB) no time
Daniel Mateiko (Ken) no time
Jacob Allen (GB) debut
Kieran Clements (GB) debut
Marc Scott (GB) debut
Sean Tobin (Irl) debut
Who will win the London Marathon in 2023?
Kelvin Kiptum won the men’s race last year, breaking the course record with a time of 2 hours, 1 minute and 25 seconds. Kiptum, 24, died in a car accident in February. The London Marathon will honor the Kenyan this Sunday with a series of tributes.
The women’s winner in 2023 was Sifan Hassan, who ran her debut marathon. Hassan lost contact with the leading group when she stopped to stretch, but caught up with them again and prevailed in a sprint finish.
Marathon records in London
Kelvin Kiptum broke the course record last year with a run of 2 hours, 1 minute and 25 seconds. Paula Radcliffe holds the women’s course record with a time of 2:15:25, set in 2003.
When was the first London Marathon?
The first London Marathon took place on March 29, 1981. Inspired by the launch of the New York City Marathon in 1970, Olympic Spire medalists Chris Brasher and John Disley created the London edition with the hope of ‘providing some happiness and a sense of achievement in a troubled world’. ”.
Just 7,741 runners set off from Greenwich Park for the first London Marathon, a fraction of the more than 50,000 runners expected to cross the starting line this Sunday.
How to participate in the London Marathon
There are six ways to get a place in the London Marathon 2025: through the ballot paper, charity entry, Good Age entry, British Athletics Club entry, deferred entry or through a tour operator, for those who live abroad.
The TCS London Marathon MyWay also allows people to complete a 26.2 mile route of their choice, wherever they are in the world.
London Marathon ballot: when is it and how does it work?
Hopeful candidates for the London Marathon can enter through the ballot, with successful candidates selected at random. The 2025 draw starts on Saturday April 20 and closes on Friday April 26. The winners will earn a place in next year’s race, which will be held on April 27, 2025.
Unsuccessful applicants are automatically entered into a second ballot where they are twice as likely to secure a spot.