The 2025 London Marathon Ballot Saw Record Numbers… But There’s More Than One Way To Secure A Bib

The London Marathon is quickly becoming the world’s most popular race.

After a highly successful 2024 edition, event organizers saw a record-high number of applicants for the 2025 London Marathon ballot.

London Marathon organizers have reported that they received 840,318 people worldwide apply to the 2025 ballot, shattering the previous world record of 578,304, which belonged to the 2024 edition of the London Marathon.

The total number of UK applications for 2025 was 672,631, with a nearly equal split between men and women, 338,549 (50.33%) and 329,793 (49.03%), respectively, and 4,288 (0.64%) from non-binary applicants.

167,687 applications came through the international ballot from runners who are non-UK residents.

Hugh Brasher, Event Director for the TCS London Marathon, said: “This is an absolutely phenomenal total. Furthermore, the increase in applications from women, up from around 43% last year to 49% this year, is exceptional and takes us close to parity for applications from men and women for the first time.”

“Marathon Day is always an extraordinary and inspirational day when we celebrate the very best of humanity. The unique camaraderie of the event and the amazing support from the huge crowds show London at its best and this year, in a world beset by many challenges, it felt like those magical days of London 2012 when joy and love were everywhere.”

“The 2024 TCS London Marathon on 21 April was the biggest in our history with more than 53,700 finishers and has already raised a world record-breaking £67 million for charities. More than 12,900 children took part in the mass TCS Mini London Marathon the day before and hundreds of thousands of children across the UK are now doing their Mini Marathon in their schools.”

“We work to inspire activity in people of all ages and abilities and these astonishing record-breaking numbers show how the TCS London Marathon does that and how many people want to be part of it.” 

With the 2024 London Marathon receiving so many applications, there’s no doubt that it’s fierce competition to receive one of around 50,000 total spots in the race (estimates say around 20,000-25,000 go to the ballots).

Although the odds may not be in your favor, there are still a number of alternative ways you can secure your spot in the 2025 London Marathon.

Second Chance Ballot

If you live in the UK and chose to donate your entry fee to the London Marathon Foundation during the ballot process, you’re in luck.

Should you get a place through the main ballot, your entry fee is reduced from £69.99 to £49.99. If you don’t end up getting a place through the main ballot, you are automatically entered into a second ballot, which ensures your chance of entry is at least doubled.

If you are successful in either the main or secondary ballot, your entry fee is already paid and confirmed. If you are unsuccessful in both ballots, you’ll receive a winter running shirt and your donation will go to the London Marathon Foundation.

TCS London Marathon MyWay

The TCS London Marathon MyWay is a flexible option that allows you to complete 26.2 miles on Marathon Day whenever and however you wish.

MyWay entries allow you to complete 26.2 miles from anywhere in the world while still earning the coveted TCS London Marathon finisher medal and t-shirt, provided you complete the distance between 00:00 and 23:59:59 on Marathon Day, Sunday, April 27, 2025.

International Tour Operators

If you live outside of the UK, you can guarantee your entry into the TCS London Marathon through one of the many approved international tour operators.

This can be an expensive option, however, it guarantees your entry and often comes with hotel, meals, and sometimes even includes your airfare.

You can find a list below of approved London Marathon tour operators.

Sports Tours International

Africa

Asia

Europe

North America

Oceania

South America

Charity Entries

The London Marathon is consistently the world’s largest single-day charity event annually. The 2024 London Marathon raised a record £67 million for over 1,700 charities.

Each year, the London Marathon gives most major charities a set number of race entries through the Gold and Silver Bond schemes. These charities then allocate these race entries to runners who agree to raise a minimum amount of money for that charity.

If you’re interested in getting a charity entry into the 2025 London Marathon, the best place to start would be to search through the race’s charity listings for a cause that you’re most interested in, then get in touch to see if they have any places to offer you.

Typically, there are more people interested in running for a charity than there are charity places available, so charities will often select participants based on their connection with the cause and how much money they are realistically able to raise. 

When you apply for your TCS London Marathon charity place, the charity may also ask you to pay a registration fee.

Good For Age Entry

If you’ve run a particularly fast time for your age category within the qualifying period, you become eligible to apply for a spot in the London Marathon.

Applications for the Good For Age places open by the end of July 2024, with the qualifying window running from October 1, 2023, and ending on September 30, 2024.

Qualifying times must have been run at an in-person event that has a certified marathon course, or at the virtual 2024 TCS London Marathon MyWay.

For in-person race courses, they must have been certified by the UKA, the Association for International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), or the national governing body for distance running for the country in which the race is held.

It should be noted that meeting the qualifying time for your age category does not guarantee entry into the event. It simply opens the opportunity to submit an application for the race via another pathway.

The maximum number of Good For Age places is 6,000 (3,000 men and 3,000 women) and places will be allocated on a ‘fastest first’ basis relative to your age group and the qualifying time.

Using a Qualifying Time From the Virtual London Marathon MyWay

You can also apply for a Good For Age place if you run the TCS London Marathon MyWay within the relevant qualifying time and qualifying period mentioned above.

However, if your only qualification time is from the TCS London Marathon My Way, you’ll also need to submit evidence of an in-person half marathon time that meets the qualifying time from the table below.

You must have run this half marathon time during the same qualifying period mentioned above at an event with a certified course.