The TCS London Marathon is one of the world's premier endurance events, renowned for its rich history and record-breaking participation with 56,640 runners crossing the finish line in 2025. The point-to-point route winds through the historic streets of England's capital, offering a fast, highly sought-after course for elites and amateurs alike.

To manage the immense field, the event uses color-coded starting zones across the Blackheath and Greenwich areas. This guide covers the Blue start, which merges with the Pink start before the first mile, then converges with the Red start near Mile 2.8 prior to the Woolwich roundabout.

Historical weather data points to favorable marathon conditions. Mid-April temperatures typically sit in the upper 40s to low 50s Fahrenheit around the 09:35 AM start, climbing into the upper 50s to low 60s as the race progresses. Heavy cloud cover and mild winds are common, providing natural cooling well-suited to sustained endurance efforts.

The course profile supports its reputation for speed: nearly 85% of the route is essentially flat, with just 310 feet of total ascent and 432 feet of descent. With so little elevation change, the primary physiological challenge shifts from climbing to maintaining relentless, repetitive turnover on paved surfaces over several hours.

Speed, however, must be balanced with patience. Dense runner traffic around early merge points and tight urban corners demands spatial awareness from the outset. Runners are best served by navigating early congestion smoothly, protecting their quadriceps on the subtle opening descents, and settling into a steady rhythm well before the final iconic push to Buckingham Palace.

• Event Date: April 26, 2026
• Event Type: Road Marathon
• GPX Course Length: 26.17 mi
• Course Type: Point to Point
• TrailScore: 36.41
• Total Ascent: 310.79 ft
• Total Descent: 432.12 ft
• Longest Uphill:
  • Starting at Mile 18.06, 0.51 mi at an average grade of 0.68%
• Longest Downhill:
  • Starting at Mile 2.34, 0.92 mi at an average grade of -2.6%
• Steepest Uphill:
  • Starting at Mile 19.08, 0.1 mi at an average grade of 4.22%
• Steepest Downhill:
  • Starting at Mile 22.96, 0.1 mi at an average grade of -3.25%
• Significant Climbs:
  • There are a total of 1 significant climbs on the course.
• Significant Descents:
  • There are a total of 3 significant descents on the course.
• Grade Distribution:
  • Flat: 84.8%
  • Minor Decline: 7.4%
  • Minor Incline: 5.8%
  • Moderate Decline: 1.6%
  • Moderate Incline: 0.4%

The mass waves begin at 9:35 AM from the start zones in Blackheath. The Blue start sends runners east along Shooters Hill Road and Charlton Park Lane. Morning temperatures will be cool but comfortable, making for an excellent environment to ease into your early pace. The first mile is remarkably level as the Pink start merges smoothly into the Blue line, giving you a chance to find a comfortable stride early on.

The defining geographic feature of this section comes as the course turns north onto John Wilson Street, where a prolonged, steady decline begins. This gentle drop carries runners toward a critical merge point with the Red wave near the Woolwich roundabout at Mile 2.8. Fresh legs, downhill momentum, and a significant influx of runners as the waves combine make this a crucial zone to approach with care.

After navigating the roundabout, the course levels out as runners turn west onto Woolwich Church Street. This marks the beginning of the long approach alongside the River Thames, where you can begin to settle into your goal marathon rhythm.

• Pace Control on the Descent: The longest decline of the course begins near Mile 2.3. Resist the urge to brake heavily, but do not let the momentum pull you into an unsustainably fast pace.
• Congestion in Early Miles: The convergence of the Blue and Red waves near Woolwich (Mile 2.8) often creates noticeable pinch points. Maintain spatial awareness and avoid surging aggressively to pass.

• None.

• Descent #1: Mile 2.54 to Mile 3.26, 0.72 mi, avg grade -2.94%, total drop 111.22 ft

• Woolwich Rd (A206) (Mile 3)
  • Offerings: Buxton Natural Mineral Water
  • Toilet: Yes

• Woolwich Roundabout Merge (~Mile 2.8): The point where the Blue and Red start waves converge, greatly increasing course density.

Heading west toward Greenwich, the course opens into a long, uninterrupted stretch of level road — ideal for settling into your goal marathon pace. The wide roads and enthusiastic early crowds help establish a steady rhythm to carry you through the miles ahead.

Around Mile 6.5, the course winds through Greenwich town center, bringing runners past the historic Cutty Sark. The route around the ship involves a quick succession of tight turns and narrow streets, briefly breaking the straight, open running of the previous miles. Stay focused on your footing and be mindful of the runners around you as you navigate this section.

Emerging from Greenwich, the path continues through Deptford and into Rotherhithe along Evelyn Street and Lower Road. The road stays flat and fast, though the surroundings begin to shift toward the dense residential streets and layered industrial history of South London's docklands.

• Navigating Greenwich Corners: The approach and pass around the Cutty Sark feature sudden directional changes. Stay alert to avoid clipping other runners and try to take the tangents smoothly.

• None.

• None.

• Greenwich town centre (Mile 6)
  • Offerings: Buxton Natural Mineral Water
  • Toilet: Yes
• Deptford Creek Rd (Mile 7.5)
  • Offerings: Water refill station; Lucozade Sport
  • Toilet: Yes
• Jamaica Rd (Mile 9)
  • Offerings: Buxton Natural Mineral Water
  • Toilet: Yes

• Cutty Sark (~Mile 6.5) (Spectator Zone): A historic British clipper ship and a highly concentrated spectator zone.

As the course progresses down Jamaica Road, anticipation builds for one of the most iconic moments in global marathon running. At Mile 12.2, runners sweep north onto the southern approach of Tower Bridge. A gentle rise carries you up and onto the bridge itself, delivering a massive psychological boost amid dense crowd support.

Once across the River Thames, the route turns sharply right, dropping slightly onto East Smithfield before funneling runners onto The Highway. This begins a long, straight eastbound out-and-back section where runners heading toward the Isle of Dogs will pass elites and faster runners already making their way west toward the finish.

The grade remains predominantly level throughout, supporting strong, steady pacing as you cross the official halfway mark and turn your focus to the back half of the race.

• Emotional Control on Tower Bridge: The sensory overload and subtle rise on Tower Bridge often prompt a surge in adrenaline. Do not force the pace here; maintain your effort level and absorb the energy without overexerting.

• None.

• None.

• Tower Bridge south approach (Mile 12)
  • Offerings: Buxton Natural Mineral Water
  • Toilet: Yes
• The Highway (Eastbound) (Mile 13)
  • Offerings: Lucozade Sport gels
  • Toilet: Yes

• Tower Bridge (~Mile 12.3) (Spectator Zone): The iconic Thames crossing and one of the loudest spectator hubs on the course.

Leaving The Highway, the route turns south into the Isle of Dogs and the financial district of Canary Wharf. This section features a high frequency of turns and underpasses set against a backdrop of towering skyscrapers. The combination of complex pathing and tall buildings will often cause GPS watches to report erratic pacing data.

The course remains largely flat, with only minor dips and rises to navigate the urban infrastructure. The most notable exception comes just past Mile 19 on Charter Street, where a short, sharp ascent breaks the pattern. Brief as it is, it calls for a distinct shift in effort and mechanics.

Coming at the point where physiological fatigue typically begins to set in, this climb serves as a genuine test of resolve before the course levels out and turns back toward Poplar High Street to begin the final 10K.

• GPS Fluctuation: Tall buildings in Canary Wharf will likely cause GPS pacing to jump erratically. Rely on manual splits or perceived exertion rather than staring at your watch.
• The Charter Street Punch: Be prepared for a distinct, sharp climb near Mile 19.1. Shorten your stride, pump your arms, and crest the rise without spiking your heart rate.

• Climb #1: Mile 19.08 to Mile 19.18, 0.1 mi, avg grade 4.22%, total gain 23 ft

• Descent #2: Mile 15 to Mile 15.1, 0.1 mi, avg grade -3.33%, total drop 17.78 ft

• Canary Wharf West India Dock (Mile 15)
  • Offerings: Buxton Natural Mineral Water; Water refill station
  • Toilet: Yes
• Millwall/Mudchute (Mile 16)
  • Offerings: Lucozade Sport
  • Toilet: Yes
• Mudchute area (Mile 17)
  • Offerings: Buxton Natural Mineral Water
  • Toilet: Yes
• Poplar fringe (Mile 18)
  • Offerings: Lucozade Sport gels
  • Toilet: Yes
• Blackwall Docklands (Mile 19)
  • Offerings: Buxton Natural Mineral Water
  • Toilet: Yes
• Canary Wharf fringe (Mile 20)
  • Offerings: Water refill station; Lucozade Sport
  • Toilet: Yes

• Canary Wharf Financial District (~Mile 18.5) (Spectator Zone): A dense urban environment marked by towering skyscrapers and roaring crowds.

The final 10K begins as the course exits the Docklands and turns westbound onto Commercial Road and The Highway. A brief, sharp drop near Mile 22.9 brings runners down toward river level onto Lower Thames Street.

From here, the course settles onto the Victoria Embankment for a long, straight push along the River Thames. With no significant gradient changes, the demands are straightforward: pure endurance. The focus narrows to maintaining turnover as the iconic landmarks of central London gradually come into view.

The route passes Cleopatra's Needle before swinging right at Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. The course then sweeps onto Birdcage Walk alongside St James's Park, where a final, perfectly level right turn onto The Mall brings the historic finish line in front of Buckingham Palace into view as runners fly toward the finish.

• The Long Flat Burn: With no hills to vary muscle recruitment, the continuous level pavement of the Embankment can heavily fatigue the hamstrings and calves. Focus on form, keeping a quick, light cadence.
• Navigating the Underpass: The Blackfriars Underpass near Mile 24 provides a brief moment of darkness and a slight echo from the runners; maintain footing and prepare for the visual adjustment as you re-emerge onto the Embankment.

• None.

• Descent #3: Mile 22.96 to Mile 23.06, 0.1 mi, avg grade -3.25%, total drop 17.19 ft

• The Highway (Westbound) (Mile 21)
  • Offerings: Buxton Natural Mineral Water
  • Toilet: Yes
• Victoria Embankment (Mile 24)
  • Offerings: Buxton Natural Mineral Water; Lucozade Sport
  • Toilet: Yes

• Big Ben and Parliament (~Mile 25.3) (Spectator Zone): The monumental right turn onto Great George Street marking the final mile.
• Buckingham Palace / The Mall (~Mile 26.1) (Spectator Zone): The historic red asphalt of The Mall leading to the finish line.