London Marathon
How to get in, and where to stay
London Marathon is run in London in April. Entry is by public ballot, and extremely low. Applications have exceeded half a million for a ballot allocation far smaller than that. There are 4 realistic ways in, 3 of which do not involve paying an operator. It is a realistic personal-best course.
London is the biggest marathon in the world by finishers and has the most oversubscribed ballot in the sport, with applications running into the hundreds of thousands for a small share of places. It is also the most charity-driven Major, and that is the route most overseas runners overlook.
How to get into the London Marathon
The catch nobody tells you
The ballot window is the thing people miss. It opens in the week of the race itself, so if you watch London in April and decide you want to run it, you have days to enter for the following year, not months. Set a reminder for race week.
The ballot
The ballot normally opens in the week of the race in April and closes within days, with results the following summer. Note it opens almost a year ahead of the race you are entering.
Odds: Extremely low. Applications have exceeded half a million for a ballot allocation far smaller than that.
Public ballot
Open to allFree to enter and drawn at random, but it opens and closes in the week of the current year race, roughly twelve months before you would run.
Good for age
QualificationA time-based route with age-graded standards. Places are limited and can be filled by faster applicants than the published standard.
Charity place
FundraisingThe largest single route into London. Charities hold thousands of guaranteed places in exchange for a fundraising pledge.
Cost: Fundraising minimums commonly run to two thousand pounds or more.
Tour operator package
PaidTour operators hold a small allocation of guaranteed entries that are sold with accommodation as a package. It is the only route that does not depend on luck or a qualifying time, and it is why most rejected ballot applicants end up here.
What you are actually running
A flat, fast, point-to-point route from Blackheath through Greenwich, over Tower Bridge at halfway, out to Canary Wharf and back along the Embankment to The Mall.
Personal best potential
Yes. London is flat and fast, and the crowd carries you. The main risk to your time is congestion in the opening miles.
Route at a glance
- Start
- Blackheath, Greenwich
- Finish
- The Mall, beside Buckingham Palace
- Terrain
- Flat throughout, with a downhill start and a few narrow sections early where the field is dense.
On the way
- Cutty Sark, Greenwich
- Tower Bridge at halfway
- Canary Wharf
- Embankment
- The Mall finish
Weather and atmosphere
Race day weather
Late April in London is mild and changeable, usually between 8 and 15 degrees. Warm years cause more problems than cold ones because the field is not acclimatised.
Crowds and support
Close to a million people line the route and the noise on Tower Bridge and in the final mile is extraordinary. Spectators can use the Docklands Light Railway to catch runners several times.
Where to stay
Book a hotel near the London Marathon start
On race morning the only thing that matters is how far you are from the start. These are the areas that make the morning simple, with live rates on your dates.
Westminster and St James
At the finish
Walking distance to the finish on The Mall and to the baggage trucks afterwards.
Greenwich and Canary Wharf
Near the start
Closest to the start, which makes race morning far calmer, and on the course later.
London Bridge and Southwark
Direct to both
Good value, direct trains to the start and a short walk to the finish afterwards.
Getting there
Race morning means a train to Blackheath or Greenwich from central London, and those trains are packed. The finish on The Mall is central and easy to walk away from.
Frequently asked questions
When does the London Marathon ballot open?
It normally opens in the week of the current year race in April and closes within days, for the race the following year. Missing that week means waiting another twelve months.
What are the odds in the London Marathon ballot?
Very low. Applications have exceeded half a million against a ballot allocation that is a small fraction of that, making it the most oversubscribed marathon ballot in the world.
What is the easiest way to get a London Marathon place?
A charity place. Charities hold thousands of guaranteed entries and it is the largest single route into the race, in exchange for a fundraising commitment.
Is the London Marathon flat?
Yes. It is one of the flattest and fastest Majors, with a downhill start and no significant climbing.
Other World Marathon Majors
Ballot windows and entry rules change every year. Always confirm the current details with the official race before booking travel.