More than 50,000 runners will take part in the London Marathon 2026 on Sunday, April 26. The event will see participants run for various causes, with 800,000 people expected to line the streets in support.
The Marathon Route
The marathon starts between Blackheath and Greenwich, and finishes on The Mall by Buckingham Palace. Runners are staggered, with start times between 9.30am and 11.30am to prevent overcrowding. The route largely follows the course set by the first London Marathon in 1981. It begins in Greenwich Park and finishes on The Mall, with the finishing line laid near Buckingham Palace. Runners pass notable spots like Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf, and the Elizabeth Tower.
How to Get Home from the London Marathon
When your race is run, and you want to leave with those who’ve come to cheer you on, you may be wondering how to get back from The Mall. We’ve condensed it all below.
Westminster Station and St James’s Park will be extremely busy during and after the race. Westminster station will be exit-only from 7am to 7pm. It will be possible to arrive via this station but not to leave from it. Charing Cross, Piccadilly Circus, Victoria, and Waterloo stations are the closest alternatives.
While TfL are setting up extra services on marathon day, trains will likely be extremely busy. For those looking to avoid the crowds as best as possible, the Jubilee, Circle and District lines, and DLR all have stops close to the marathon route, meaning they'll be the busiest.
Buses travelling along the marathon route will either be diverted or won't be running during the event. You can check the status of buses on the TfL website.
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