On Sunday, more than 56,000 people are expected to line up across southeast London for the TCS London Marathon. The 26.2-mile course is the same loop that has drawn runners for more than 40 years, from Blackheath to Buckingham Palace, passing the Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge and Canary Wharf on the way. For spectators, our complete guide to watching the 2026 London Marathon has the best cheering spots.
The 2026 edition is already historic before the starting gun. Last year the race raised £87.3 million in a single day, the most ever. More than 840,318 people applied for 2025 places, a world record for any marathon. Organisers are now in advanced talks to stage a two-day event in 2027 to let more applicants run. For a full rundown of the race basics, see our everything-you-need-to-know guide to the 2026 London Marathon.
The course uses three start lines. Blue, where the elite runners set off, and Pink join up after less than a mile. Red merges with the other two just before Mile 3, in Woolwich.
The first three miles
Mass participants typically set off at 9:30 a.m., after the wheelchair and elite waves at 8:30 a.m. The three start lines converge just before Mile 3.
The opening 6 kilometers roll steadily downhill. It is noticeable but not steep enough to batter the quads. The roads are wide and the support is decent for a residential stretch, but the crowds here are thin compared with what is coming.
Roger Vilardell, a sub-2:30 marathoner who has run London six times and paces for London Marathon Events, recommends holding back early. “Wide roads and net downhill but fairly crowded,” he said of the first three miles. “Don’t waste energy weaving in and out or pick up too much speed on the descent around Mile 3. Better to find a straight line, be patient and settle into your marathon pace.”
If you’re still sorting out your splits, our marathon pace calculator and per-mile pace chart can help.
Greenwich and the first big landmark
The first drinks station arrives at Mile 3, and BUXTON water will reappear every three miles to Mile 12, then every two miles to Mile 24. Lucozade Sport is poured at Miles 7, 15, 21 and 23. Lucozade Sport gels are handed out at Miles 13 and 19. If you’re still planning your race-day fuel, our marathon fueling guide and carb loading guide are good places to start.
Just past the 10-kilometer marker, runners turn right and loop around the Cutty Sark, the 19th-century tea clipper now dry-docked in Greenwich. The crowds here are loud and deep. The road narrows a little at the ship, so runners who want to stop for a photo should step to the side.
The course rolls through Deptford, Rotherhithe and Canada Water between Miles 7 and 11. The support dips and then grows again, with families and local pubs along the way. The Shard starts to appear on the skyline as runners approach Bermondsey.
Tower Bridge and the halfway point
Just after Mile 12, runners make a right turn and see Tower Bridge in front of them. Charities line the approach from dawn. The crossing is uphill, then downhill off the far side, with the Tower of London waiting below.
“The wall of noise crossing Tower Bridge is something I have not witnessed at any other Abbott World Marathon Major,” Vilardell said.
The halfway point comes about a kilometer past the bridge. For the next 1.4 miles, runners going east share the street with runners on their 22nd mile heading west. The course then funnels onto Narrow Street in Limehouse, where it lives up to its name. Pub-goers are usually out by the time the later waves pass.
Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs
From Mile 15 to Mile 18, runners circle the Isle of Dogs on a regular two-lane road. The crowds are steady but rarely thick. This is the quiet part of the course, the stretch Vilardell called a test of cruise control.
Canary Wharf follows between Miles 18 and 20. The towers act like tunnels. Wind can pick up and GPS watches often drift. “The tall buildings and narrow streets in Canary Wharf, and the Westferry Underpass, can cause GPS issues,” Vilardell said. “Use Mile Markers for reliable distance references.”
The final 10 kilometers
By Mile 20, runners are heading west and back toward the river. Mile 21 brings Rainbow Row, a 250-meter stretch in Limehouse that was launched four years ago to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community. It is one of the loudest and most colorful sections of the race.
Just before Mile 23, the course passes the north end of Tower Bridge again. Runners get a single view of Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, the Shard and the Gherkin. After that comes a quieter mile along the Thames before a short hill at Blackfriars pops runners out onto Victoria Embankment.
The Embankment is tree-lined and fast. The London Eye sits across the river. Big Ben comes into view by the Mile 25 marker. Runners turn right at Mile 25.5, pass Parliament, the Winston Churchill statue and Westminster Abbey, then run along Birdcage Walk beside St James’s Park.
Just past the Mile 26 marker, the course turns in front of Buckingham Palace and onto The Mall, lined with Union Jack flags and supporters. The finish line is 385 yards away.
Advice for first-timers
Toilets are available at every mile from Mile 1 to Mile 24. Accessible toilets are at the start, the finish, Miles 1 and 2, and every even mile through Mile 24. Water refill points for runners carrying hydration packs are at Miles 5, 10, 14, 17 and 20. Information Points and Drinks Stations stock bladder pads, tampons and sanitary towels.
The finish area has a Sensory Calm Space, a Parent and Child Space for breastfeeding or entertaining young children, and a Multi Faith Prayer Space. If this is your debut at 26.2 miles, our strategies for your first marathon and our 10 marathon tips for beginners are worth a read before race day.
Vilardell’s main message is not about pace. “The TCS London Marathon is just a big celebration,” he said. “My top advice for first-timers would be to enjoy the experience. Soak up the support from the crowds, smile and enjoy every minute of it. The first time should never be about the clock; it should be about the experience. Finish wanting to do it again.”
