London Marathon 2025: your winning guide to dates, timings and how to enter

In a matter of weeks, thousands of runners will put months and months of hard graft into practice and gather in the capital to take part in the world-famous 2025 London Marathon. 

Covering 26.2 miles and shutting down roads left, right and centre, one of the world’s biggest running events is due to take over the city on Sunday April 27 2025. Expect huge crowds of cheering spectators alongside hundreds of fancy-dress fundraisers and incredible elite athletes descending on central London for the occasion. 

Ahead of this year’s race, here’s everything you need to know about running and watching the London Marathon 2025, whether you’re a road-pounding pro or a newbie dressed as a stormtrooper. 

What is the London Marathon?

Attracting professionals, celebrities and some truly ludicrous outfits, the London Marathon is a 26.2-mile race around the streets of London. Having first taken place in 1981, it has since become one of the key events in the city’s social calendar, attracting just as many supporters as participants, with a buzzing atmosphere whatever the weather.

If you’re out and about in the afternoon of marathon day, here are the best places to catch all the action and expect to see weary runners propping up the bar at pubs across the capital. 

Where is the London Marathon?

The London Marathon route has remained largely unchanged since the event first began. It starts south of the Thames at Blackheath and passes through Greenwich before crossing the river over Tower Bridge. It then continues through central London before finishing in glory in front of Buckingham Palace. A full map of the route can be found here. 

When is the 2025 London Marathon?

The 2025 marathon takes place on Sunday, April 27 2025. The event lasts for most of the day, with the first participants setting off at around 8.50am and road closures lasting until 5.30pm.

How do I enter the London Marathon?

Hold your horses, Speedy Gonzales! General entry and charity applications for this year’s race have now closed. You’ll have to wait until next year. 

The ballot for the London Marathon 2026 will open on Friday, April 26 and close a week later on Friday, May 2. While your chances of getting a place are very, very slim (only two percent of entrants were successful last year), you’ve got to be in it to win it. Places are given out randomly and people normally find out whether they’ve been successful around July.

There are some ways you can boost your chances. You can opt to donate your entry fee to the London Marathon Foundation, which funds sports-related projects and initiatives across the UK. If you get a place, your entry fee will be reduced from £69.99 to £49.99. If you don’t, you’ll be automatically entered into a second ballot. Or, you can always sign up for a charity place. 

Where can I watch coverage of the London Marathon?

Typically the race is streamed on big screens on Blackheath, where the 40,000 runners begin the race. Or, if you fancy watching from the comfort of your own home it’ll be live on BBC1 and BBC2, with coverage beginning before the first race starts at 8.30am.

Which celebs and athletes are running the 2025 London Marathon?

As one of the most famous races in the world, the London Marathon tends to attract some pretty heavyweight competitors, and this year is no exception. 

Elite athletes taking part in the men’s race include Ugandan runner Jacob Kiplimo, who holds the half-marathon world record, plus last year’s London Marathon winner, Alexander Mutiso, and the current Olympic champion, Tamirat Tola. Also competing are Milkesha Mengesha, Abdi Nageeye and Sabastian Sawe, respective winners of the Berlin Marathon, New York Marathon and Valencia Marathon in 2024. 

Things are looking no less competitive in the elite women’s category, which features the three fastest women in history at this distance: current world record holder Ruth Chepngetich, current Olympic champion Sifan Hassan, and former world record holder and Olympic silver medallist Tigst Assefa. 

There’ll be some famous faces in the mass participation event, too. McFly drummer Harry Judd, comedian Romesh Ranganathan, presenter Joel Dommett and radio personality Adele Roberts are all be taking on the world-famous course this year. 

What time does the London Marathon start?

Groups of racers set off at staggered times, starting with the wheelchair race at 8.50am. The elite women’s race is expected to set off at 9.05am, followed by the elite men’s race at 9.35am (though TCS says that these times can be subject to change).

Runners participating in the general race will set off in waves, depending on their predicted race time, from 9.35am to 11.30am. Participants should have been notified of their start wave around three weeks before the marathon. Spectators wishing to track loved ones as they embark on the race can do so via the London Marathon app.