Securing a place in the TSC London Marathon is no easy feat. With approximately 17,000 ballot spaces up for grabs (the London Marathon doesn’t disclose the exact number of places available) and a record 578,374 entries for 2024, there's about a 3% chance of getting a place in the general ballot.
Don't let that put you off, though. There’s more than one way to enter next year’s race.
When is the 2025 London Marathon?
The 2025 London Marathon will take place on Sunday 27 April 2025.
What is the London Marathon ballot?
Not too dissimilar to the National Lottery, the London Marathon ballot is a completely random draw. It’s free to enter – and, if successful, you pay the full £69.99 entry fee later. You can only enter once.
When does the ballot open and close?
The ballot for the 2025 TCS London Marathon opens on Saturday 20 April 2024 from 09:00 until 21:00 on Friday 26 April 2024.
How do I enter the ballot?
To enter the ballot, visit the London Marathon ballot entry page from Saturday 20 April.
If you are feeling charitable – or fancy doubling your chances in the ballot draw – you can opt to donate the cost of your entry fee to the London Marathon Foundation.
By donating your entry fee, if you are successful, you’ll get a reduced price entry fee of £49.99, and if you’re unsuccessful in receiving a ballot place, you will be entered into a second ballot – the Lucky Bequest draw – which allocates a further 2,000 places for another chance to run in 2024. If you remain unsuccessful in both ballots, your money will go to the charitable trust – and you’ll receive a winter training top worth £60.
How do I get a Good For Age entry in the 2025 race?
To apply for a Good For Age (GFA) place, you need to achieve the relevant qualifying time for your age group – these are listed in the table below. The qualifying period for the 2024 TCS London Marathon began on 1 October 2023 and will end on 30 September 2024.
| Age | Men | Women |
| 18-39 | Sub-2:55 | Sub-3:40 |
| 40-44 | Sub-3:00 | Sub-3:45 |
| 45-49 | Sub-3:05 | Sub-3:48 |
| 50-54 | Sub-3:10 | Sub-3:55 |
| 55-59 | Sub-3:15 | Sub-4:00 |
| 60-64 | Sub-3:37 | Sub-4:25 |
| 65-69 | Sub-3:55 | Sub-4:55 |
| 70-74 | Sub-4:55 | Sub-5:55 |
| 75-79 | Sub-5:10 | Sub-6:15 |
| 80-84 | Sub-5:30 | Sub-6:40 |
| 85-89 | Sub-6:10 | Sub-7:10 |
| 90+ | Sub-7:20 | Sub-7:45 |
Qualifying times must have been secured at an in-person event with a certified marathon course, or during the virtual 2024 TCS London Marathon. This option is only available for UK residents.
It’s worth noting that meeting the qualifying time (GFA) does not guarantee a place in the 2025 event – GFA places are capped at 6,000 runners (3,000 men and 3,000 women) each year, and if the number of applications exceeds this, places will be allocated on a ‘fastest first’ basis.
Can I use a qualifying time from the virtual London Marathon?
Yes, you can also apply for a GFA place if you ran the London Marathon My Way within the relevant qualifying time and qualifying period detailed above.
However, you’ll also need to submit evidence of ‘real world’ half marathon time that meets the qualifying time in the table below. This time must also have been achieved during the same qualifying period and have been run at an event with a certified course.
| Age | Men | Women |
| 18-39 | Sub-1:23:37 | Sub-1:44:23 |
| 40-44 | Sub-1:26:00 | Sub1:46:47 |
| 45-49 | Sub-1:28:09 | Sub-1:48:13 |
| 50-54 | Sub-1:30:32 | Sub-1:51:34 |
| 55-59 | Sub-1:32:56 | Sub-1:53:42 |
| 60-64 | Sub-1:44:23 | Sub-2:05:25 |
| 65-69 | Sub-1:51:34 | Sub-2:19:16 |
| 70-74 | Sub-2:19:16 | Sub-2:47:13 |
| 75-79 | Sub-2:26:27 | Sub-2:56:33 |
| 80+ | Sub-2:33:22 | Sub-3:05:52 |
Can I roll my GFA entry over?
Good For Age places are awarded based on qualifying times achieved within the designated qualifying period and cannot be deferred. The only exception is if you are pregnant or postpartum.
Can I run in the Championship race?
If you’re a fast runner and are a member of a running club, you may be eligible for a Championship place. You will have needed to run a championship qualification time, at an event with a course certified by UKA, the Association for International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), or a national governing body for distance running for the country in which the event was held.
Championship qualification times for the 2024 London Marathon are below:
| Distance | Men | Women | ||
| Full marathon | sub 2:40:00 | sub 3:14:00 | ||
| Half marathon | sub 1:12:30 | sub 1:28:00 | ||
You must also be registered with your national governing body (England Athletics, Scotland Athletics, Welsh Athletics or Athletics Northern Ireland), otherwise, your application will not be accepted.
The Championship qualifying period for the 2025 TCS London Marathon is from January 1 2023 to December 31 2025.
In contrast to the options above, meeting the Championship qualifying time will guarantee you entry into the TCS London Marathon (so there's no need to enter the ballot). You will, of course, need to ensure you have paid and secured your entry within the designated time frame after your application has been accepted. And you will have to wear your athletics club vest. Non-UK residents are also invited to qualify if they are members of a UKA membership body.
How can I secure a charity place?
If you miss out on a ballot place, fear not, you can still take part in the London Marathon by applying to run for a charity.
Each year, most major charities are given a set number London Marathon entry places (a full list of charities with spots available are on the event’s website). If you spot a cause you’re passionate about, get in touch with the charity directly to see if they can offer you a place.
Just do bear in mind that charities have to pay for places, so you’ll be required to bring in a hefty amount of sponsorship money – usually around £2,000. And because charity places are also in high demand, charities tend to select participants based on their connection with the cause and how much money they are able to raise.
