TCS London Marathon
Sun 23 Apr 2023 London, UK

TCS London Marathon

Experience the renowned atmosphere and electrifying crowd support of the most popular marathon in the world with its grand finale on The Mall itself.

  • Sun 23 Apr 2023
Blackheath, London > The Mall, London

TCS London Marathon

09:30

£47.99-£49.99

Age 18 & over

  • 26.2 miles road running

Overview

The TCS London Marathon is one of the world’s greatest marathons, accepting 55,000+ entries a year and broadcast live on television in over 200 countries around the world. Undoubtedly one of the biggest events in the sporting calendar for any runner and not one to be missed!

Highlights

  • big and prestigious

    One of the world's largest and most prestigious running events with an unrivaled atmosphere of 40,000 runners.

  • Pass London's famous landmarks

    Classic route on closed roads featuring the Cutty Sark, The Shard and Tower Bridge.

  • Abbott World Marathon Majors

    One of six of the largest and most-renowned marathons in the world.

  • A World Athletics Elite Road Race

    The only UK marathon to be recognised as a World Athletics Elite Road Race.

  • Huge charity fundraising event

    £1 billion raised since it began!

Event details

  • Event expo
  • Event village
  • Fancy dress
  • Newcomers
  • Spectators
  • Teams
  • Traders at event
  • Virtual option
  • Wheelchair users

Running Show

The TCS London Marathon Running Show takes place in the days leading up to Marathon Day, commencing Wednesday and ending Saturday.

The Running Show is where participants must go prior to Marathon Day to collect their all-important event pack, which includes their running number.

The event also gives people the chance to find out all the key information for Marathon Day, learn more about the TCS London Marathon and listen to guest speakers including some of the athletes competing for victory at this year’s event. There are also opportunities to shop and book a massage ahead of the big day.

You'll be able to pick up a wealth of information and advice to help you prepare for your 26.2-mile adventure.

You'll also be able to browse and buy running accessories and souvenirs from more than 100 exhibitors from the health and fitness industry – everything from retro headbands and the latest GPS devices to New Balance’s exclusive range of TCS London Marathon products.

Expert speakers

You can pick up a wealth of marathon-related information and advice from a packed line-up of speakers including elite runners, celebrity guests and industry experts.

Location

  • Bag storage
  • Cafe
  • Changing facilities
  • Entertainment
  • Music
  • Toilets
  • Urban

Event HQ

Excel London
London
Greater London
E16 1XL
UK

The closest station to the TCS London Marathon Running Show is Custom House DLR.

Route

  • Distance markers
  • Entertainment
  • First aid
  • Food stations
  • Marshals
  • No cut off time
  • Point to point
  • Sweeper
  • Toilets
  • Traffic free
  • Undulating
  • Water stations
  • Wave start
  • Way markers

The classic point-to-point London Marathon route has remained largely unchanged since the inaugural race in 1981 and encompasses many of the capital’s most mesmerising landmarks, old and new, from Blackheath past Buckingham Palace to The Mall.

Route history

Your 26.2-mile challenge begins at one of the three Start Lines – Blue, Green or Red – near Blackheath in Greenwich.

Greenwich became the centre of world time in 1884, when the Meridian Line in Greenwich Park was chosen as the world clock’s neutral point from which all time zones are measured from.

More than a century later, the world watches every year as thousands of runners begin their race against the clock from the centre of the Earth.

The start: Blackheath

A klaxon sound rings out to start the journey!

Mile 6: Cutty Sark

Soak up the roar of the crowd!

Now synonymous with the London Marathon, Cutty Sark had a previous life as a clipper ship transporting alcohol and tea between the UK and China.

The ship was moved to a dry dock in Greenwich in 1954 and despite a devastating fire in May 2007, it was restored to its former glory. The atmosphere around Cutty Sark is electric on Marathon Day, as it is one of the most popular sections of the course for spectators.

Mile 12: The Shard

Standing at 309.6 metres (1,016 feet) high, the Shard is the tallest building in the UK, the fifth-tallest building in Europe and the newest landmark on the London Marathon route.

Officially opened in February 2013, runners in the London Marathon have been able to see the Shard from Tower Bridge since the glass-clad pyramidal tower started appearing on the skyline in 2010.

Mile 12: Tower Bridge

Perhaps the most famous landmark on the route, Tower Bridge provides an unbeatable backdrop, showcasing the capital in all its splendour.

Built between 1886 and 1894, the bridge offers millions of viewers from around the world an amazing view of you and thousands of other runners crossing the River Thames from south to north just before the halfway point in the marathon.

Mile 20: The Wall

Overcome the 'Wall' like a hero!

Mile 25.2: The final mile

Embrace the final mile then take in the atmosphere as you head down The Mall to the finish line!

LONDON MARATHON ROUTE MAP
Classic point-to-point route from Blackheath, past Buckingham Palace, to finish on The Mall itself.

Sustainability

  • Recycling
  • Sustainability policy

London Marathons Events inspires and delivers innovation in mass participation event sustainability. The Green Line below show some of the key initiatives put in place for the London Marathon:

LONDON MARATHON SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES
Compostable cups, medal ribbons made from recycled materials, reusable finisher bag made from recycled plastic, electric vehicles, recycled finisher t-shirts, bottle belts to encourage own-water, greener event power, baggage vehicles fueled by biofuel, free local transport to the start, recycled mile markers, plastic bottle recycling, responsible waste stations, reusable banner roll plus many other initiatives.

What's included

  • Chip timing
  • Eco goody bag
  • Event app
  • Medal
  • Technical t-shirt

Live tracker app

Participants can use the Official London Marathon app to gain access to event day and race week information. Spectators can use it to find and track runners during the race, keep track of split times, view results and more - all via the mobile app.

Extras for charity runners

Charity runners receive a wealth of extra training and fundraising support from their charities including some or all of the following:

  • Welcome pack with fundraising tips and advice to help make fundraising easier
  • Training plan, often by an expert
  • Training pack covering everything from kit and footwear to injuries and nutrition
  • Online training zone
  • Motivational updates to help keep you going when the going gets tough
  • Dedicated support from the experienced events team
  • Technical charity vest or T-shirt to wear with pride in training and on the big day, often with letters to personalise
  • Goody bag
  • Fundraising materials such as collection tins, stickers, cheer sticks, posters etc
  • Supporter cheer packs for your friends and family
  • Support from a local charity representative
  • Cheer squad on the big day to help you to the finish line
  • Help creating your very own online fundraising to make collecting that cash simpler
  • Runners' forum so you can e-meet your fellow charity runners
  • Pre-race meet-ups for training or social
  • Post-race reception including a free sports massage

The TCS London Marathon is the largest annual fundraising event in the world! Since 1981 when it began, participants have raised more than £1 billion for good causes.

Charities buy places in the TCS London Marathon, then give them to runners who agree to raise money for the charity – these are called 'charity places'. Charity places are a great way to support a good cause and get a place in the event if you missed out on the ballot.

Entries

  • Age 18 & over
  • 55000 places
  • Ballot closed
  • Charity entries closed
  • Collect race pack
  • Event merch available

Ballot entry

This event operates a 'ballot' as there aren't enough places for everyone. This means that you put your name in the 'hat' and the lucky ones are drawn at random - just like the National Lottery.

The ballot for the April 2023 event is now closed and the results have been drawn.

If your name is drawn - you have been successful in the ballot and you have a place in the London Marathon.

If your name is not drawn - you have not been successful in the ballot and you do not have a place in the London Marathon. If you have been unsuccessful in the ballot, securing a charity place is the top option.

Each year you have the opportunity to try your luck in the ballot which stays open for six days.

  • Saturday 1 October 2022: The 2023 TCS London Marathon Ballot opened on Saturday 1 October 2022.
  • Friday 7 October 2022: The 2023 TCS London Marathon Ballot closed on Friday 7 October 2022.
  • Before the end of October 2022: Ballot applicants found out whether they have been successful in the ballot.

 

Charity place

Securing a charity place involves applying to one of the charities which has purchased places in the event. Your application may be accepted straight away or the charity may select runners with the highest fundraising potential based on your connection with the cause. If your application is accepted, you will pay a registration fee (usually in the region of £50-£100). You will be required to fundraise for that charity (usually in the region of £1500 to £2500).

Runners who have entered the ballot may also apply for a charity place. If you find you are successful in the ballot your charity place will be passed to someone else. If you would like to avoid the stress of the ballot and guarantee yourself a place in the event you can secure a charity place instead.

International ballot

A carbon offset levy is applied to international ballot entries, which is the reason the entry fee is more expensive than for UK runners.

Other types of entry

  • Good For Age entry
  • Championship entry
  • British Athletics Club entry
  • Participants with disabilities
  • Guinness World Records

Entry fees

Entry fee (Unaffiliated)

£49.99

Entry fee (Affiliated)

£47.99