London Marathon 2027: date, course and entry options

Plan your race pace

The 2027 TCS London Marathon is scheduled to use an exceptional two-day format, on Saturday, April 24, and Sunday, April 25, according to the information available. The marathon itself is expected to take place on Sunday, April 25, while Saturday forms part of the expanded event weekend, which also includes activities such as the New Balance 5K and Friday Night Lights. Organizers expect 100,000 runners across both days, making this a distinctive edition on the international running calendar.

The course will start in the Greenwich and Blackheath area in southeast London and finish on The Mall, beside Buckingham Palace. Between those points, runners will pass some of the British capital’s best-known landmarks, including Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf and the Tower of London. The official distance is the marathon, 42.195 kilometers on road, although the two-day format changes the event’s logistics without altering the essence of the race.

Dates and the exceptional two-day format

The 2027 edition is scheduled for the weekend of April 24-25. The main marathon date is Sunday, April 25; Saturday, April 24, is part of the expanded event program. Information released for this edition refers to 45,000 participants on Saturday and 55,000 on Sunday, adding up to 100,000 runners. Splitting participation between the two days makes this an unusual edition compared with the customary single-morning race format.

The split has an important practical consequence: runners who secure a place through the general ballot may not necessarily be able to choose their race day. Information published by one travel operator says that the day is randomly assigned to runners entering through that route. So knowing the race spans an entire weekend does not mean a runner has a guaranteed date within the program: the individual race day may depend on the entry route.

The calendar also helps explain why some travel packages may not match the marathon date exactly. Four-day trips, from April 22-25, have been advertised, including three hotel nights and organized around the event. Those details apply to a specific offer, not to a general condition of the race. Flights, accommodation and transfers may vary by operator and package, so each should be checked separately.

The course from Blackheath to The Mall

The start is in the Greenwich and Blackheath area, south of the Thames. Available references mention several starting points around Blackheath, so the area’s name should not be taken to mean there is one exact entrance or address for every runner. The course finishes on The Mall, the ceremonial avenue leading to Buckingham Palace. The start and finish are at opposite ends of the city, a detail that affects travel plans for runners and spectators.

Over the 42.195 kilometers, the route passes some of London’s most recognizable locations. The named landmarks include Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf, the Tower of London and the Houses of Parliament. For runners, these are more than tourist sights: they help mark progress through a sprawling city and break a long distance into sections with their own character. The race combines urban neighborhoods with riverside views, crossing very different parts of the capital.

Reference information describes a mostly flat route close to the Thames, though the actual experience also depends on pace, weather and crowd density. Busy streets and public support are part of the race’s character, but they do not replace the preparation needed to complete a marathon. London is a road race, not a mountain event; even so, its turns, bridges and changing surroundings make it worth understanding the course and logistics before traveling.

Ways to secure a place

The public ballot is one of the best-known ways to enter the race, but demand has been extraordinary. Available information says the 2027 ballot received more than 1.3 million applications and that results were sent in July 2026. That figure shows how difficult it is to secure a place through this route. Runners who did not get in through the ballot may consider other options, though each has its own conditions and does not automatically guarantee participation.

Another option is a charity place. Runners commit to raising funds for the organization offering the entry, under the terms it sets. Several charities have announced places for their 2027 teams, and some are also accepting expressions of interest for later editions. Before making a commitment, it is important to review the fundraising target, deadlines and specific obligations: each organization sets its own requirements.

Good For Age places, tied to age-based qualifying times, and entries arranged through official travel operators are also mentioned. The reference information does not confirm the full eligibility criteria for Good For Age runners living outside the U.K., so that point should be checked against current rules. Travel packages include an entry alongside travel services, with prices depending on the offer. No specific price has been provided that could be applied to every option.

What an organized trip may include

Commercial offers collected for this edition show that services vary. One package advertised by an operator includes a guaranteed entry, three hotel nights with breakfast, bus transfers to the race expo and start, as well as activities around race day. Another offer lists flights from Madrid to London Heathrow, accommodation at a four-star hotel and a three-night stay. These are examples of specific products, not universal benefits attached to race registration.

The difference between booking a flight-inclusive trip and choosing accommodation and an entry only can significantly affect the total cost. The hotel’s location also matters: a central property may make it easier to reach services and tourist sites, but the start is in the southeast and the finish is in central London. Hotel location should not be judged solely by its rating or proximity to landmarks. Getting around during race weekend is part of the event logistics.

Financial terms published for some packages warn that prices may change because of fuel costs, currency movements or taxes, among other factors. They also state that additional services, such as excursions or transfers not included in the package, may have different payment terms. Packages may be priced per person and depend on room type. Without a confirmed, current figure, the most useful approach is to compare what each offer includes and which costs remain separate.

The race expo and the days beforehand

Collecting a race number and visiting the expo are part of the lead-up to many international marathons. For London, one of the cited travel packages includes a dedicated transfer to the expo, but that service should not be assumed to come with every booking. The venue listed in the reference information is ExCeL London, in the city’s east. Race-number collection and opening hours should be confirmed with the organizers or the travel operator responsible for the booking.

The expanded weekend includes activities beyond the marathon, among them a New Balance 5K and the Friday Night Lights event. The exact date of each activity may affect travel plans, and the information collected here does not provide all their schedules or entry conditions. They should be distinguished from the main race: an entry to a side event does not mean a runner has a place in the 42.195-kilometer marathon.

Multi-day trips allow runners to arrive before race day and stay in the city afterward, although the length of a stay alone does not guarantee an easier experience. Airport transfers, access to the expo and travel to the start may require different plans. A runner’s schedule should leave room to collect a race number and get familiar with the city without filling every day with activities. London offers plenty to see, but the sporting goal calls for time to rest.

A race with history and international reach

The first London Marathon took place in 1981, after Chris Brasher and John Disley developed the idea following their exposure to popular races in the United States. The event began with an urban, mass-participation ambition: bringing a marathon onto the capital’s streets and making it an occasion for both runners and spectators. It has since grown into one of the leading long-distance events, and the 2027 edition will be the 46th running, according to the reference information.

Its appeal is about more than famous landmarks. The course moves through a succession of neighborhoods, bridges and riverside stretches, while spectators support runners at different points along the route. That combination helps explain why London is among the world’s best-known marathons and attracts both elite runners and recreational participants. For many, running there also means crossing a city that becomes, for a few hours, a shared sporting stage.

Popularity, however, adds pressure to the planning process. The large number of ballot applications shows that demand far exceeds the places available through that route, while charity entries and operator packages follow different rules. The race entry, travel and accommodation are connected, but they are not interchangeable. The first decision is not which hotel to choose, but how to access the start line.

What is confirmed and what should be checked

The clearest details for the event place the marathon on Sunday, April 25, 2027, within a weekend that begins Saturday, April 24. The distance of 42.195 kilometers, the start in the Greenwich and Blackheath area, the finish on The Mall and several major course landmarks are also known. The reported total of 100,000 participants covers both days, not just Sunday’s race. Separating marathon details from information about the whole event helps avoid confusion.

By contrast, travel prices, flights, hotels, included services and cancellation terms belong to individual offers and may change. An official start time and an exact start-line address have not been provided either. The event date and general course are not enough to infer those details. Before booking transport or accommodation, runners should check the current terms of their entry route and provider, particularly if traveling from Spain.

The two-day edition adds logistical complexity, but it also expands the program and the event’s overall capacity. For each runner, the decisive factors will still be the place assigned, the day of participation and the time available to reach the start. London combines a demanding distance with an urban course of considerable appeal; planning the trip around confirmed information helps keep attention on the race rather than a calendar or transport surprise.

London makes the whole weekend part of the race

The 2027 event will be remembered for its two-day format and its announced scale, but for each runner the experience begins well before the starting gun. The choice of entry route, confirmation of the assigned day and travel arrangements will shape much of the trip. The marathon remains 42.195 kilometers; what changes is the framework around it and the number of decisions it requires.

Between Blackheath and The Mall, the course passes some of London’s best-known places and offers a striking view of the city in motion. Behind that image is a demanding race, exceptionally strong international demand and logistics that a race number alone cannot resolve. With the dates and basic details established, the next step is to distinguish carefully between information about the event as a whole and details that depend on each entry route or travel package.