London vs New York City Marathon — Which Major First?

London vs NYC Marathon compared: flat Tower Bridge spectacle vs hilly 5-borough giant, brutal 2-3% ballots, and which bucket-list Major to chase first.

Quick Comparison

Feature 2027 TCS London Marathon - Apr 25 2026 NYC Marathon - Nov 1
Country/RegionEnglandUSA
MonthAprilNovember
Avg Temperature8-14°C5-12°C
Course TypeMostly FlatHilly
Elevation~50m~250m total
Field Size56,00059,000
EntryBallot + CharityLottery + Time + Charity
World MajorYesYes
BQ CourseYesNo
Crowd SupportExceptionalLegendary

Detailed Comparison

Two icons, two completely different days

London and New York are the two largest marathons on Earth, and for most runners they share the same job: a once-in-a-lifetime Major on the bucket list. But the day itself feels nothing alike. London is a tight, fast, spectator-walled procession through a thousand years of city — Cutty Sark at 10K, the roar across Tower Bridge near halfway, then Embankment, Big Ben and a finish on The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace. It is a slingshot of a course: mostly flat with a slight net downhill, the kind of road that quietly hands you a personal best.

New York is the opposite kind of theatre. You start on the upper deck of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, alone above the harbour, then descend into Brooklyn for ten miles of the loudest neighbourhood support in the sport. The Queensboro Bridge near mile 15 is famously silent and grinding — the real wall of the race — before First Avenue explodes with noise. Five bridges and roughly 250 metres of rolling climb mean New York runs 10-15 minutes slower than an equivalent flat day. You do not come here for a time; you come for the city.

Entry strategy: two of the hardest ballots in running

Both ballots are brutal, but they are brutal in different ways. London runs the largest ballot in the sport — a world-record field of more than 840,000 applicants in 2025, and even larger since — for only a sliver of public places, leaving ballot odds around 2 percent. If you live in the UK and run fast, London's own Good For Age standard (roughly sub-2:52 for men 18-39, sub-3:38 for women) and the Championship standard (sub-2:38 men, sub-3:10 women) are guaranteed pathways the ballot never offers. Otherwise, around 15,000 charity places are the most reliable way in.

New York's general drawing is even tighter — under 3 percent, and worsening, from a pool above 200,000 — because only a few thousand spots are pure lottery. The realistic routes are time-qualifying, a charity bib (typically $2,500-5,000 raised), or the famous 9+1: run nine NYRR races and volunteer at one within a calendar year for guaranteed entry the next. The catch is that 9+1 only works if you live near New York and can race the qualifiers, so for most international runners it is the lottery or charity.

Weather, timing and the start-line wait

London's late-April slot delivers mild spring running, usually 8-14°C — close to ideal for racing, with the occasional warm year being the only risk. New York's early-November date is colder, 5-12°C, which is great for running but punishing before the gun: you bus to Staten Island before dawn and wait for hours in an exposed athletes' village, so throwaway warm layers are non-negotiable. Plan that morning with our What to Wear tool. The two races sit six months apart, so an autumn New York and the following spring's London is a comfortable, popular double — recover from one and build into the other without cramming.

Travel and making the trip count

Both are easy international trips relative to far-flung Majors, with direct flights from most major hubs and English on every course sign. New York's pre-race friction is the early Staten Island ferry-and-bus pilgrimage; London's is a sprawling, busy expo at ExCeL that is worth arriving early to clear. London rewards a few extra days for the obvious reasons; New York lets you fold the marathon into a classic city break, with the finish dropping you straight into Central Park. Whichever you pick, dial in goal pace on the right profile with our Race Time Predictor and Pace Calculator — do not pace New York off a flat-course PB.

Who should pick which — and in what order

If you are chasing a personal best or a Boston qualifier, London is the clear pick: the flat, fast, net-downhill course is built for time, while New York's bridges make it one of the hardest Majors to run quick on. If you are a Six Star collector or bucket-list runner who wants the single most electric day in the sport, New York is unmatched and worth saving as a celebration rather than a time trial. For a first big-city Major, London is gentler on a debut — flatter, warmer, no dawn ferry — so a common and sensible order is London first for the time and the confidence, then New York later for the spectacle. International runners with limited holiday should weigh the 9+1 reality: if you cannot get to New York's qualifier races, treat its lottery as a multi-year project and let London's Good For Age or charity route get you to the start line sooner.

Explore Each Marathon

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is faster, the London or New York City Marathon?

London is significantly faster. Its mostly flat course with a slight net downhill (around 50m of elevation) is built for personal bests, while New York climbs roughly 250m over five bridges, including the long Queensboro Bridge near mile 15. Most runners finish 10-15 minutes slower in New York at the same fitness. Adjust your goal between the two with our Race Time Predictor.

Is London or New York harder to get into through the ballot?

Both are among the hardest entries in running. London's ballot is the largest in the sport — a world-record 840,000-plus applicants in 2025 — leaving public odds near 2 percent. New York's general drawing is even tighter at under 3 percent and worsening, because only a few thousand spots are pure lottery. New York offers more alternative pathways (9+1, time qualifier, charity), but the raw drawing odds are slightly worse than London's ballot.

What entry options does the London Marathon have besides the ballot?

Beyond the world-record ballot, London offers Good For Age (UK runners with roughly sub-2:52 men 18-39 / sub-3:38 women), Championship entry (sub-2:38 men, sub-3:10 women), and around 15,000 charity places each year. The charity route is the most reliable way in if you are willing to fundraise, while Good For Age and Championship are guaranteed time-based pathways the ballot never promises.

How does the 9+1 program work for the New York City Marathon?

9+1 means running nine official New York Road Runners races and volunteering at one NYRR event within a single calendar year, which earns guaranteed entry to the following year's marathon. It is the most dependable way in for locals, but it only works if you live near New York and can race the qualifiers in person, so most international runners rely on the lottery or a charity bib instead.

What is the weather difference between the London and New York Marathon?

London runs in late April at a mild 8-14°C, close to ideal for racing. New York runs in early November at a colder 5-12°C — good for running but tough during the pre-dawn wait in the exposed Staten Island athletes' village, where throwaway warm layers are essential. Plan your race-day kit with our What to Wear tool.

Should I run London or New York for a Boston qualifying time?

London is the better Boston qualifier by far. Its flat, slightly downhill course produces faster times for the same effort, while New York's roughly 250m of bridge climbing makes it one of the hardest Majors to run a fast time on. If Boston qualifying is your goal, choose London — or an even flatter race like Berlin or Chicago — and save New York for the experience.

Can you run both London and New York in the same year?

Yes, and many runners do. New York is in early November and London is in late April, about six months apart, so you can recover fully from an autumn New York and build cleanly into a spring London. A common order is London first for a fast time and the confidence of a flatter debut, then New York later as a bucket-list celebration. Build a training block toward each with our Training Plan tool.

Which marathon has the better atmosphere, London or New York?

Both are legendary, but the energy is different. London packs dense, continuous crowds along nearly the entire route with iconic touchpoints at Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge and the finish on The Mall. New York runs through five boroughs, each bringing its own roar — Brooklyn's wall of sound, the silent grind of the Queensboro Bridge, then the eruption onto First Avenue and the finish in Central Park. New York edges it for sheer scale and diversity of crowd; London wins for the relentless, packed-in roar from gun to tape.

Prepare for Your Marathon

More Marathon Guides

Easiest Boston Qualifying Marathons 2027 Best Marathon Destination Races for Travel in 2026 Best Marathons in Europe to Run in 2026 Best Marathons for Charity Running in 2026 Best Spring Marathons to Run in 2027 (March-May) Best Marathons for Running Sub-3 Hours in 2026

More Marathon Comparisons

View all marathons