Let the start be slow
Between the crowds and the downhill, the first three miles are the easiest place to waste energy. Run them a little slow and settle into goal pace once you reach the river.
London, UK · April 24–25, 2027 (Saturday & Sunday)
London Marathon race guide
London is flat and fast once you’re off Blackheath: the course drops about 150 feet in its first four miles to river level and stays close to it the rest of the way. What makes it hard is the crowd. The field is huge, the early miles are packed, and the noise on Tower Bridge and along the Embankment makes it easy to run too fast. In 2027 it runs over two days, Saturday and Sunday, for the first and only time.
Pace plan
Plan your race on this course
Set your goal and start time. Your checkpoints, the time of day you’ll reach each one, and the course guide below all update to match.
Build your plan01
Pacing
A little slower on the climbs, a little faster on the downhills and flats, for the same finish time. Based on where this course climbs. Treat it as an effort guide.
Start times for the two-day 2027 race haven’t been published. Enter yours to see the time of day you’ll reach each checkpoint.
Splits
Your London Marathon02
Average pace
8:01/mi
- First half
- 1:44:52
- Second half
- 1:45:08
- Finish line
Hover or tap a bar to see that mile.
| Checkpoint | Elapsed |
|---|---|
| WoolwichMile 3 · Off the descent. Behind pace is fine | 23:54 |
| Cutty SarkMile 6.5 · Settled into goal pace | 51:50 |
| Tower BridgeMile 12.5 · Don’t surge with the crowd | 1:39:58 |
| Halfway, The HighwayMile 13.1 · Even pace from here | 1:44:52 |
| Canary WharfMile 18.5 · Trust the mile markers, not GPS | 2:28:02 |
| Tower of LondonMile 23 · Final 5K. Race if you can | 3:04:14 |
| Big BenMile 25.5 · Under a mile to go | 3:24:13 |
| FinishMile 26.2 · The Mall | 3:30:00 |
Save it to your phone, or send the link to the people cheering for you.
- Date
- April 24–25, 2027 (Saturday & Sunday)
- Start time
- Not yet published for 2027. Your start time is in your race pack
- Start
- Blackheath and Greenwich Park
- Finish
- The Mall
- Time limit
- The Mall finish closes at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. On Sunday, late runners finish in Green Park, open until midnight
- Elevation gain
- About 230 ft
- Official site
- londonmarathonevents.co.uk
- Profile
- A drop in the first four miles, then flat and close to the Thames
- Best for
- A PR, or the biggest party in marathon running
- Biggest mistake
- Riding the Tower Bridge crowds too fast with 14 miles to go
- 2027
- The Double: two race days, Saturday and Sunday, and up to 100,000 runners
The course
Mile by mile, at your pace
- Miles0–3
Blackheath Downhill
You start on the heath above Greenwich and run down toward the river. The course drops about 150 feet in the first four miles, most of it after mile 2. It’s crowded and it feels easy. Let it come in slow and don’t weave.
7:58 /miMile 3 at 23:54
- Miles3–6.5
Woolwich to the Cutty Sark Flat
The start routes come together around Woolwich, and the course turns west along the river. You reach the Cutty Sark in Greenwich around mile 6.5, one of the loudest spots on the course. Settle into goal pace here.
7:59 /miMile 6.5 at 51:50
- Miles6.5–12
Deptford, Rotherhithe & Bermondsey Flat
Flat, a little twisty, and still busy. This is a good stretch to find your rhythm and start fueling. Run the tangents where you can. With this many runners, extra distance adds up.
8:01 /miMile 12 at 1:35:56
- Miles12–13.5
Tower Bridge & halfway Flat
You cross Tower Bridge around mile 12.5 into a wall of noise, then turn east onto The Highway and pass halfway. It’s the most famous moment of the race. Enjoy it, but don’t let it speed you up.
8:02 /miMile 13.5 at 1:47:59
- Miles13.5–21
Isle of Dogs & Canary Wharf Flat
A long loop around the Isle of Dogs and through Canary Wharf, with plenty of turns. The tall buildings throw off GPS, so trust the mile markers. Some stretches are quieter. This is where your pacing either holds or doesn’t.
8:01 /miMile 21 at 2:48:07
- Miles21–23.5
The Highway & the Tower of London Flat
Back west along The Highway, past runners still heading out, and on toward the Tower of London. There’s a gentle rise around Tower Hill. Keep your form and take your last gel.
8:02 /miMile 23.5 at 3:08:12
- Miles23.5–26.2
The Embankment to The Mall Flat
Through the Blackfriars underpass and along the Victoria Embankment, with Big Ben ahead around mile 25.5. Then Birdcage Walk, Buckingham Palace, and the finish on The Mall. It’s flat and loud. If you’ve paced well, race it.
8:01 /miFinish at 3:30:00
Every mile split for 3:30:00
| Mile | Terrain | Pace /mi | Elapsed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flat | 8:04 | 8:04 |
| 2 | Flat | 8:02 | 16:06 |
| 3 | Downhill | 7:48 | 23:54 |
| 4 | Flat | 7:54 | 31:48 |
| 5 | Flat | 7:59 | 39:48 |
| 6 | Flat | 8:02 | 47:50 |
| 7 | Flat | 7:59 | 55:50 |
| 8 | Flat | 8:00 | 1:03:50 |
| 9 | Flat | 8:04 | 1:11:54 |
| 10 | Flat | 7:59 | 1:19:53 |
| 11 | Flat | 8:00 | 1:27:52 |
| 12 | Flat | 8:04 | 1:35:56 |
| 13 | Flat | 8:04 | 1:44:00 |
| 14 | Flat | 7:58 | 1:51:58 |
| 15 | Flat | 8:02 | 2:00:00 |
| 16 | Flat | 7:57 | 2:07:57 |
| 17 | Flat | 8:03 | 2:16:00 |
| 18 | Flat | 8:02 | 2:24:02 |
| 19 | Flat | 8:01 | 2:32:02 |
| 20 | Flat | 8:01 | 2:40:03 |
| 21 | Flat | 8:03 | 2:48:07 |
| 22 | Flat | 8:01 | 2:56:08 |
| 23 | Flat | 8:06 | 3:04:14 |
| 24 | Flat | 7:56 | 3:12:10 |
| 25 | Flat | 8:02 | 3:20:11 |
| 26 | Flat | 8:03 | 3:28:15 |
| Finish | Flat | 8:01 | 3:30:00 |
Lap your watch at each marker; GPS distance drifts over 26.2 miles. Even-pace card for 3:30:00
Race strategy
How to pace the London Marathon
Hold back at Tower Bridge
The noise on Tower Bridge and The Highway is overwhelming, and it comes before halfway. Use it for a lift, not a surge. The Isle of Dogs is where good pacing pays off.
Run by the markers
GPS drifts among the Canary Wharf towers and in the Blackfriars underpass, and the crowded course makes your watch read long. Use the mile markers and your total time.
The last few weeks
Train for this course
- Do long runs with extended blocks at goal pace on flat ground, so the London rhythm is familiar.
- Start some long runs a little slower than goal pace for the first three miles, then settle in, the way you’ll run off Blackheath.
- Practice taking drinks and gels while running in a group, since aid stations on a course this busy are crowded.
Race-day weather
Late April in London is often cool, around 8–15°C at the start, which is ideal. But it can be warm: 2018 was the hottest London Marathon on record, in the mid-20s°C. Check the forecast in race week and adjust your pace if it’s warm.
Race morning
Getting to the start
- Check your start area and start time in your race pack. The start areas are around Blackheath and Greenwich Park, and trains into the area are crowded on race morning.
- Allow plenty of time for security, toilets and baggage before your start time.
- The finish is on The Mall. Agree on a meeting point with friends and family beforehand, because the area is very busy.
Questions runners ask.
What is the Double?
For 2027 only, the London Marathon runs over two days, Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 April, with up to 100,000 runners in total. You run on one day, so check which day you’ve been allocated.
Is London a fast course?
Yes. After the drop off Blackheath it’s flat and close to the river, and it has hosted world records. The challenges are the crowds early on and the weather, which is usually cool but not always.
What is the time limit?
On Saturday the finish on The Mall closes at 5:30 p.m. On Sunday, runners still on the course late finish in Green Park, which stays open until midnight. Check the official FAQs for the latest details.
Where should friends and family watch?
Greenwich around the Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge and The Highway, where runners pass in both directions, and the Embankment are the classic spots. Use the Underground and plan to see your runner in two places at most.
Last checked October 21, 2026. This is an independent guide from Miles. We’re not affiliated with the race organizer. Start times, cutoffs, and logistics can change, so confirm everything on the official race site before race day.
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