2027 TCS London Marathon - Apr 25

2027 TCS London Marathon - Apr 25 Countdown

-- DAYS
-- HRS
-- MIN
-- SEC

Want personality modes & weather integration? Try the full countdown experience

Registration closed · charity entry only View official registration →

Race Information

Race2027 TCS London Marathon - Apr 25
CityLondon
Date2027-04-25 at 09:00
Field Size~56,000 runners
Time Limit8 hours
TimezoneEurope/London
Official SiteLondon Marathon Events Ltd
RegistrationRegistration closed · charity entry only · Official Site

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature11°C / 52°F
Humidity65%
Wind15 km/h
Rain Chance35%
Typical ConditionsCool with chance of rain showers

What to Prepare: Late April in London averages 7-14°C — near-ideal racing weather. Pack a disposable poncho for the Blackheath start; the Thames corridor channels wind from Tower Bridge to Canary Wharf. A cap keeps drizzle off your face.

Based on historical averages for race week. Use our Weather Score Calculator and What to Wear Guide for personalized advice.

Wind Impact on Race Day

Wind at 15 km/h can affect your marathon pace by 5-15 seconds per kilometer. Headwinds slow you down exponentially — a 20 km/h wind costs more than twice a 10 km/h wind.

Calculate your wind-adjusted pace →

Course Profile

Course TypePoint-to-Point
Elevation Gain75m
TerrainRoad
ProfileFlat, fast course from Blackheath through Greenwich, past the Cutty Sark, across Tower Bridge at halfway, around Canary Wharf, along the Victoria Embankment, finishing on The Mall by Buckingham Palace. Total elevation gain just 75 m.
Boston QualifierYes — Check your BQ time

Course Analysis

Course Overview

The TCS London Marathon is a flat, point-to-point road race with just 75 meters of total elevation gain, making it one of the fastest courses in the world. For the first time in its history, the 2027 edition is staged over two days, Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 April 2027 (the "London Marathon Double"), expanding the field to a record 100,000 participants. From Blackheath in southeast London, the course winds through Greenwich, passes the Cutty Sark, crosses Tower Bridge at the halfway point, loops around the Isle of Dogs and Canary Wharf, then follows the Thames Embankment to finish on The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace.

Founded in 1981 by Olympians Chris Brasher and John Disley, London is one of the six Abbott World Marathon Majors and the world's largest single-day fundraising event. It is also the largest marathon on Earth — the 2026 race set a Guinness World Record with 59,830 finishers. The flat, certified course is Boston Qualifier eligible and has produced world records, including Sabastian Sawe's 1:59:30 in 2026. With about 100,000 finishers expected across the two days, plan your goal time with our Race Time Predictor.

London Marathon Ballot Odds: A Record 1.33 Million Applied

The London Marathon ballot is the hardest mass-participation lottery in the sport, and it keeps breaking its own records. For the 2027 race, a world-record 1,338,544 people applied — up 18% on the previous record of 1,133,813 set for 2026, and more than double the 578,304 who applied for 2024. Of the 2027 total, 1,008,091 came from the UK (about 1.8% of the entire UK population) and 330,450 from non-UK residents across more than 200 countries.

In a normal year, with roughly 17,000 ballot places drawn at random against more than 1.33 million applicants, standard ballot odds are around 1.3% — and below 2% even on optimistic estimates. But 2027 is no normal year: the two-day Double expands the total field to 100,000 participants (up from about 56,000), so more places are available, and successful applicants are assigned at random to either the Saturday or the Sunday race (you cannot run both days in person, though you can run one day and complete the other virtually via TCS London Marathon MyWay). London Marathon Events has not published the exact 2027 ballot allocation. The ballot for 2027 opened at 09:00 BST on Friday 24 April 2026 and closed at 16:00 on Friday 1 May 2026, with results announced by early July via a completely random draw. The entry fee is £79.99 for UK residents or £225 for international runners, charged only if you are selected. You can model your real lottery probability across multiple years of entries with our Marathon Lottery Calculator.

Start to Tower Bridge: Blackheath to Mile 12

Three color-coded start areas (Blue, Red, and Green) at Blackheath converge before Mile 3. The opening kilometers feature a steady downhill descent on wide roads — resist the temptation to bank time here. Hold your planned pace and find a clear line rather than weaving through the congested field.

Between Miles 3 and 6, the course passes through residential Charlton and Woolwich with modest crowd support. At Mile 6.5, the Cutty Sark delivers the first wall of noise — the narrow streets around Greenwich's historic clipper ship funnel thousands of spectators into a roaring corridor. From Miles 7 through 11, the route threads through Deptford and Rotherhithe. The Shard appears on the skyline as you approach Bermondsey, and at Mile 12 you turn right onto Tower Bridge — a slight uphill crossing followed by a downhill on the north side. The noise on Tower Bridge is unlike anything at any other World Marathon Major.

Canary Wharf to The Mall: Mile 13 to Finish

After the halfway mark near Limehouse, the route funnels through Narrow Street — a pub-lined section where crowd density thins noticeably for later waves. Miles 15 to 18 circle the Isle of Dogs on two-lane roads. This is the course's mental crux: crowd support is steady but rarely thick, and the flat, repetitive scenery tests your cruise control. Experienced London runners consistently flag this as the section newcomers underestimate.

At Miles 18-19 around Canary Wharf, tall buildings create GPS drift — use mile markers on the road rather than your watch for reliable pacing. The Westferry Underpass amplifies the effect. At Mile 21, Rainbow Row erupts with color and sound — a 250-meter celebration section that provides a massive energy boost when you need it most.

The final 5 miles are the grand finale. The Victoria Embankment (Miles 24-25) is a tree-lined, fast stretch with the London Eye visible across the river. Big Ben appears at Mile 25. You turn past Parliament, the Winston Churchill statue, and Westminster Abbey onto Birdcage Walk beside St James's Park. The last 385 yards down The Mall, flanked by Union Jack flags, deliver you to the finish line in front of Buckingham Palace. Because the course is so flat, see exactly where the few gentle rises sit with our Elevation Profile tool.

Race Strategy & Start Times

The London Marathon's flat profile rewards an even-split or slight negative-split strategy. Start 10-15 seconds per mile slower than your target pace for the first 5 miles — the downhill from Blackheath and the crowd energy make it dangerously easy to go out too fast. Build your pacing plan with our Pace Calculator.

Start times: The day opens with the elite and wheelchair races from around 8:50-9:35 AM, followed by the mass-participation waves rolling off between approximately 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM across 50-plus waves. Your wave is assigned by predicted finish time and emailed about three weeks before race day — arrive at your start area at least 90 minutes early, as roads close early and the walk from the station to the pens can take 20 minutes.

Fueling: Buxton water stations appear every 3 miles from Mile 3 to 12, then every 2 miles from Mile 12 to 24, with Lucozade Sport and gels at set points. If you use specific nutrition products, carry your own — do not experiment on race day. Plan your fuelling with our Marathon Nutrition Calculator.

Weather: Late-April temperatures typically range from 7-14°C at the start, which is near-ideal for racing. London's weather is unpredictable, however — the Thames corridor channels wind between Tower Bridge and Canary Wharf, and rain showers can appear without warning. Wear a disposable poncho at the start and shed it when you warm up. Check conditions on race morning with our Weather Score Calculator.

Training in London

Arriving early? Explore daily running routes and local tips.

Prepare for 2027 TCS London Marathon - Apr 25

Use our free training tools to get race-ready:

View all running tools

Featured In

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 Most Scenic Marathon Courses in the World (2026) Best Marathons for Female Runners in 2026

London Marathon Comparisons

Show all comparisons (9) ↓

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the London Marathon 2027 ballot odds?

The 2027 ballot drew a world-record 1,338,544 applications — up 18% on the previous record of 1,133,813 set for 2026 — competing for roughly 17,000 ballot places allocated by a completely random draw. That puts realistic ballot odds at around 1.3% (and below 2% on the most optimistic estimates). Of the 2027 applicants, 1,008,091 were from the UK and 330,450 were international, from more than 200 countries — confirming London as the world's largest marathon by application volume. The entry fee is £79.99 for UK residents or £225 for international runners, charged only if selected. Model your multi-year probability with our Marathon Lottery Calculator.

When does the London Marathon 2027 ballot open and how do I enter?

The public ballot for the 2027 TCS London Marathon opened at 09:00 BST on Friday 24 April 2026 and closed at 16:00 on Friday 1 May 2026, with results announced by early July via a random draw. The ballot reopens each spring just after the previous race, so the window for the 2028 edition will open around late April 2027. Apply at londonmarathonevents.co.uk. You can also opt to donate your entry fee upfront to gain a second draw chance.

What is the London Marathon 2027 course and elevation profile?

London is a flat, fast point-to-point course with only 75 meters of total elevation gain. From the Blackheath start it runs through Greenwich, past the Cutty Sark, across Tower Bridge at the halfway point, around the Isle of Dogs and Canary Wharf, along the Victoria Embankment past Big Ben, and finishes on The Mall by Buckingham Palace. The only notable rises are the Tower Bridge approach and short underpasses. Visualize the gentle profile with our Elevation Profile tool.

What are the London Marathon Good for Age and Championship qualifying times?

Good for Age (GFA) offers about 6,000 places (3,000 men, 3,000 women) for UK residents only, allocated fastest-first — meeting the standard earns the right to apply, not a guaranteed place. Headline standards are sub-2:52 for men 18-39 and sub-3:38 for women 18-39, easing with age. Championship Entry requires UK Athletics club membership and faster times — sub-2:38 for men and sub-3:10 for women on a certified course. London is also a Boston Qualifier-eligible race. Check whether your time qualifies with our Boston Qualifying & GFA Time Calculator.

What are the alternatives if I don't get a London Marathon ballot place?

Charity places: Over half of London Marathon runners enter through charities. Registration fees typically run £50-£125 with a minimum fundraising commitment of around £2,000-£2,500. Major partners include Cancer Research UK, Mind, British Heart Foundation, and Macmillan. Good for Age and Championship: time-qualified UK residents and club runners (see above). Ever Present: the small group who have run every London Marathon. Tour operators: companies such as Sports Tours International and Marathon Tours offer guaranteed-entry travel packages — the most reliable route for overseas runners.

What time does the London Marathon 2027 start?

Race day is Sunday 25 April 2027. The elite and wheelchair races set off first from around 8:50-9:35 AM, then the mass-participation field rolls off in waves between approximately 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM. Your wave is assigned by your predicted finish time and emailed about three weeks before race day. Arrive at your color-coded Blackheath start area at least 90 minutes ahead — roads close early and the walk to the start pens can take 20 minutes.

What is the London Marathon course cutoff time and what should I wear?

The official cutoff is 8 hours from the final wave's start. With the last mass wave at roughly 11:30 AM, the course closes around 7:30 PM — one of the most generous limits of any World Marathon Major, making London very accessible for slower runners. For clothing, late-April London is cool (7-14°C) with a real chance of showers and a breezy Thames corridor: wear a disposable layer or poncho at the start that you can shed, plus a cap for drizzle. Plan your finish pace with our Pace Calculator.

Where is the London Marathon expo and how do I collect my race number?

The TCS London Marathon Running Show is held at ExCeL London (Royal Victoria Dock, E16 1XL), typically Wednesday through Saturday before the Sunday race. You must collect your race number in person — there is no race-day pickup. Bring the QR code emailed to you (also in the TCS London Marathon app). The nearest station is Custom House on the DLR and Elizabeth line. Allow extra time: the expo is enormous and Saturday queues can be long.

Is the 2027 London Marathon really held over two days, and which day will I run?

Yes. For the first time in its history, the 2027 TCS London Marathon is a two-day Double, held on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 April 2027 and expanding the field to a record 100,000 participants. Both days run the same Greenwich-to-The Mall course. Elite women, female para-athletes, Championship and Good for Age women lead the mass race on one day; the men's equivalents lead the other. Ballot winners are assigned at random to either Saturday or Sunday when results are announced in early July, so you do not choose your day. You cannot run in person on both days, but you can run one day and complete the other virtually via TCS London Marathon MyWay. The change answers record demand of 1,338,544 ballot applications and is expected to raise more than £150 million for charity.

More Marathon Countdowns

View all marathons