Course Map
Elevation Profile
Indicative — verified figures shown above.
About this Race
The TCS London Marathon is among the most iconic road races in the world, drawing over 50,000 runners through the heart of the British capital each spring. The point-to-point course begins on Blackheath in south-east London and follows the Thames westward, passing landmarks including Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf, and Buckingham Palace before finishing on The Mall. Known for its outstanding crowd support and electric atmosphere, London is widely regarded as the best-organised marathon in the world. The race raises more money for charity than any other single-day sporting event globally. Entry is via an annual ballot which typically receives over 500,000 applications for 50,000 places, making it one of the most oversubscribed races on earth.
Difficulty Breakdown
A fast, runner-friendly course.
Course Details
- Course type
- Point-To-Point
- Elevation gain
- 130m
- Elevation loss
- 139m
- Highest point
- 60m
- Lowest point
- 2m
- Net drop
- -1m
- Certified
- AIMS / World Athletics
- Start
- Greenwich Park / Blackheath
- Finish
- The Mall, Westminster
- Cutoff time
- 8h 0m
Course Records
Race History
Founded in 1981 by athlete Chris Brasher and journalist John Disley, inspired by the New York City Marathon. The first edition attracted 7,747 finishers.