No matter how well you know London, everything changes on the day of the London Marathon. Even the most unassuming of streets along the course come alive with immense cheers, buoyant music, vibrant colour and – of course – almost 50,000 runners who are all out to run 26.2 miles for their own special reason.
The world-famous London Marathon route has remained largely unchanged since the inaugural race in 1981 and takes in some of London's most iconic landmarks. It is also believed to have the best crowd support you could possibly find at a marathon (no matter what the New Yorkers say) – and we can certainly attest to that. But between setting off from the start line in Greenwich and crossing the finish line on The Mall, where does the London Marathon route actually take you? And what can you expect from each section of the course? Here, we explain all.
Where does the London Marathon start?
There are three start lines at the London Marathon (Blue, Green and Red), with each one taking a slightly different route during the early stages of the race to prevent congestion on the course. These are located between Greenwich and Blackheath (see location details below) and the colour marked on your race number will determine your start line. Your registration email will also contain information about your start wave, assembly area, allocated arrival time and the best way to travel.
What can I expect at each mile?
Miles 1-6
The route takes runners east out of Greenwich Park and into Charlton for the first two miles, before heading north and then west at around mile three. These first few miles are particularly crowded but don't worry if you're behind pace – you can make up the time later. Just before the three-mile mark, the Green and Blue runners start to join the Red runners. This merge can feel quite overwhelming as the course gets busier but try to stay calm – it will soon open out. Miles two to four are then largely downhill as you head west towards the river and Cutty Sark.
Miles 7-12
At mile seven, you skirt around the outside of the Cutty Sark and the atmosphere at this point is fantastic – there's music playing from a couple of Greenwich pubs and the roads are packed with spectators. From here, you head through Deptford towards Surrey Quays on a long highway for around two miles. At this point the course opens up more, so you can settle into your pace. You'll then head through Rotherhithe for the next two miles where there's still lots of crowd support but not much else to see, so it's good opportunity to get your head down and settle into a rhythm. From Rotherhithe, you follow Jamaica Road through Bermondsey for a mile or so, on the approach to Tower Bridge. The pavements will be packed at this point, so soak up the cheers and get excited for the electric atmosphere that awaits at Tower Bridge.
Miles 13-19
Just after mile 12, you take a sharp turn onto Tower Bridge where you'll be hit by a wall of noise (and will likely feel very emotional!) as you approach halfway. You'll then turn right after the bridge where you'll see speedy runners on other side of the road as they make their way to the finish. The course then heads east to Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs, where the route twists and turns quite a bit and is often very windy, so don't be surprised if your splits become uneven. This part of the course can be quite challenging, as there is still a long way to go, and the crowds are less plentiful. However, once you take a left onto Poplar High Street just before mile 20, you know you are then on the approach to the finish and the crowds begin to thicken out again.
Miles 20-25
Remember those runners you saw en route to the finish at mile 13? You're now one of them! This will give you a great boost of confidence as you realise you are almost done. Not long after reaching Tower Hill, the course takes you along Embankment where you can enjoy views of the river, the London Eye and Big Ben – which all signify you are on the approach to the finish. Expect to be overwhelmed by the deafening and goosebump-inducing sounds of the crowds as you emerge from the eerie silence of Blackfriars Underpass at mile 24 (which, just to warn you, isn't the most pleasant of places – it's dark, murky and runners often relieve themselves here!) Your watch may also lose GPS.
The finish
Turning right off Embankment, you'll run along Birdcage Walk. You'll have St James's Park alongside you and Buckingham Palace up ahead – the end is almost in sight. You then turn the corner onto the Mall, and the finish line is just a couple of hundred metres away (although expect it to feel feel far further than that). Congratulations! You just ran the London Marathon.
