London Marathon · next race 24 and 25 April 2027

London Marathon route map

26.2 miles from south-east London to The Mall, past Cutty Sark, over Tower Bridge and round Canary Wharf. The course mile by mile, where it hurts, and your own race drawn with your chip time.

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Map of the London Marathon course with the start, the finish and distance markers, plotted from the published route

London Marathon course at a glance

Distance: 26.2 miles (42.195 km)
Start: Three start lines in south-east London, merging just before mile 3 in Woolwich
Finish: The Mall, after the last turn at Buckingham Palace
Climbing: About 85 m (278 ft) over the whole course
Next race: Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 April 2027

The map is plotted from the published route. Check the organiser's site for this year's exact course.

The London Marathon route, mile by mile

Miles 1 to 3Wide roads, a net downhill and a lot of company. The three starts join just before mile 3 in Woolwich.
Miles 4 to 7West through Charlton, Greenwich and Deptford, then a loop around Cutty Sark between miles 6 and 7. The first big crowd.
Miles 8 to 12Rotherhithe, Jamaica Road through Bermondsey, then a short drag up to Tower Bridge at mile 12. The loudest few hundred metres of the day.
Miles 13 to 20Halfway on the north bank, then east along The Highway to Westferry and a long loop through Mudchute, the Docklands and Canary Wharf.
Miles 21 to 23Back west along The Highway, with Rainbow Row in Limehouse just past mile 21. Big crowds when the legs need them most.
Mile 24 to the finishTower Hill, the Victoria Embankment, a right turn at Westminster Bridge with a mile to go, Birdcage Walk, and round Buckingham Palace onto The Mall.

The Cutty Sark, dressed for race morning at the 2014 London Marathon

Where it hurts

The rise before Tower Bridge

Short and unwelcome at mile 12, then forgotten on the bridge.

Canary Wharf

Tall buildings and an underpass throw GPS around, and the course twists. Most watches read long here, so trust the mile markers.

The Highway, miles 21 and 22

The point where a marathon starts to feel like one. The crowds are huge for a reason.

The last kilometre

Birdcage Walk feels longer than 1,000 metres. Then the corner at the palace, and The Mall.

Elevation

About 85 m of climbing in 26.2 miles. The first three miles drop gently, the middle is almost flat, and the only rise worth the name is the approach to Tower Bridge. Good news if you're chasing a time.

A race print of the Rome Marathon with a finisher's medal, shown as an example

Your London Marathon, with your chip time

Your own race drawn street by street from your watch, the landmarks named, and your chip time on a finisher's medal hung from the top of the print.

The print shown is the Rome Marathon. Yours is drawn from your own London Marathon file.

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Good questions

How long is the London Marathon?

26.2 miles, or 42.195 km. Your watch will probably say more: tall buildings around Canary Wharf and the underpasses make GPS drift, and very few runners hold the racing line.

Where does the London Marathon start and finish?

It starts on three lines in south-east London that merge before mile 3 in Woolwich, and finishes on The Mall, in front of Buckingham Palace.

When is the next London Marathon?

Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 April 2027, according to the organiser. Check their site for your wave and start time.

Why does my watch say I ran further than 26.2 miles?

GPS drifts between tall buildings and in underpasses, and weaving through the crowd adds distance. Your print draws your line as recorded, and shows the official distance.

Can I order a print before race day?

Yes. Order now, choose Send later, and send your file after you finish. It makes a good gift to hand over before the race.

Course details from the organiser, checked September 2026. Custom Map Print is not connected to the race or its organisers. The London Marathon course, miles circled, drawn on OpenStreetMap: © OpenStreetMap contributors, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. The Cutty Sark, dressed for race morning at the 2014 London Marathon: Katie Chan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

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