TCS London Marathon 2025

The London Marathon first took place in 1981 and has become one of the most popular marathons in the world. The route takes in many of London’s best landmarks including Buckingham Palace, The Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge, and Canary Wharf.

The TCS London Marathon, previously known as the London Marathon, stands as the world’s largest marathon, boasting over 53,700 finishers in 2024 and a staggering 840,318 applicants for the 2025 edition. Established in 1981 by athletes Chris Brasher and John Disley, this iconic event usually takes place in April, though exceptions were made in 2020, 2021, and 2022 when it was shifted to October due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The course, predominantly flat, winds its way around the River Thames, commencing in Blackheath and culminating at The Mall. Steering the marathon’s direction are Hugh Brasher, carrying on his father Chris’s legacy, as race director, and Nick Bitel as chief executive.

Comprising various segments, the marathon features a mass race open to the public, professional competitions for both male and female long-distance runners, elite wheelchair races for men and women, and a 3-mile mini marathon tailored for under-17 athletes. A significant facet of the event is its charitable dimension, with participants raising over £1 billion since its inception, including a record-breaking £67 million during the 2024 London Marathon.

Elevating its status further, the London Marathon became part of the esteemed World Marathon Majors in 2006, joining an elite group of six premier marathon races worldwide. Throughout its history, the London Marathon has witnessed the shattering of the marathon world record on seven occasions. Khalid Khannouchi established the men’s record in 2002, while the women’s record has been successively surpassed by Grete Waitz (1983), Ingrid Kristiansen (1985), Paula Radcliffe (2002, 2003, 2005), and Mary Jepkosgei Keitany (2017). Notable among these, Paula Radcliffe’s 2003 record of 2:15:25 and Kelvin Kiptum’s elite course record of 2:01:25 in 2023 stand as benchmarks. In the wheelchair category, Marcel Hug and Catherine Debrunner set the current course records in 2023 and 2022, respectively. Continuously supported by title sponsorships, the event has been branded as the “TCS London Marathon” since 2022.

The next Marathon Day is Sunday 27 April 2025. You can enter the ballot via Let’s Do The ballot closed at 21:00 on Friday 26 April 2024.
If you missed entering the ballot, check out other ways to take part here.