London Marathon

London, England|Sunday, April 26, 2026|11 days away
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Weather

Forecast
TimeTempDew PtHumidityWindConditions
Start45°F42° Ideal86%6 mph NEPartly cloudy
8:00 AM46°F41° Ideal83%6 mph NEDrizzle
9:00 AM46°F40° Ideal80%6 mph NEDrizzle
10:00 AM47°F39° Crisp74%6 mph EDrizzle
11:00 AM48°F38° Crisp70%6 mph EDrizzle
Finish48°F37° Crisp66%6 mph EDrizzle

Elevation Profile

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Course Stats

Net Elevation (downhill)
-115 ft
Distance
26.22 mi
Total Gain
+279 ft
Total Loss
-469 ft
Max Grade
6.8%
Altitude
135 ft

Course Breakdown

Greenwich to Tower Bridge

Miles 112|Gently rolling

Moderate rollers through Greenwich and Deptford. Stay controlled through the huge Tower Bridge crowds.

Starting in Greenwich Park, the course heads east past the Cutty Sark and through Deptford and Bermondsey. There are some gentle rises over highway overpasses. Tower Bridge at mile 12 is the emotional peak of the race, with massive crowds on both sides.

Tower Bridge (Mile 12)

Docklands Loop

Miles 1319|Flat, exposed

The grind. Fewer crowds, potential headwind along the water. Protect your pace here.

A long out-and-back loop through Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs. The crowds thin substantially, the route can be windy along the river, and the mental challenge ramps up. This is where the race is won or lost for most runners.

Canary Wharf (Mile 17)

The Embankment

Miles 2024|Flat

Along the Thames heading west. Crowds return and build toward Westminster.

Back onto the north bank of the Thames, running west along the Embankment toward Westminster. The crowds grow steadily and the landmarks lift your spirits: Big Ben, the London Eye, the Houses of Parliament. Use the energy but stay controlled.

Big Ben & Westminster

The Mall

Miles 2427|Flat

Final push along Birdcage Walk and The Mall. The finish in front of Buckingham Palace is one of the best in the world.

A short loop past Westminster brings you onto Birdcage Walk and then The Mall for the final straight. The tree-lined avenue with Buckingham Palace at the far end is spectacular. Dig deep for the finish.

Buckingham Palace Finish

Mile Splits

MileGrade
1+0.4%
2+0.1%
3-1.7%
4-1.0%
5-0.1%
6+0.2%
7+0.0%
8-0.1%
9+0.2%
10-0.1%
11-0.1%
12+0.1%
13+0.3%
14+0.0%
15-0.1%
16-0.2%
17+0.1%
18+0.1%
19+0.3%
20-0.3%
21+0.2%
22+0.0%
23+0.2%
24-0.5%
25+0.0%
26+0.0%
27+0.5%

London Marathon Pace Calculator & Race Plan

London is mostly flat with a few highway overpasses and one notable drop-and-climb around the Docklands loop. The course runs along the Thames for much of the second half, which is exposed and can be windy. Tower Bridge at mile 12 is where the crowds really pick up.

April weather in London is unpredictable. You might get a cool 50-degree overcast day or a surprisingly warm 65-degree afternoon. Our splits factor in the race-day forecast and the cumulative effect of those conditions over 26.2 miles. The course is fast if you pace it right.