Typical race-weekend conditions
Cool & mixed- High / Low
- 14° / 5°
- Humidity
- 72%
- Rainy days
- 31%
Averages from ~10 years of history around race day.
Know before you go
- 🌫 Air quality
- Good
- 🏳️🌈 LGBTQ+
- Welcoming
- 🛡 Safety
- Safe
Country-level indices: LGBTQ+ via Equaldex · safety via Global Peace Index 2025 . Air quality is recent PM2.5; money is indicative.
The course
Starts across three areas of Blackheath and Greenwich, crosses Tower Bridge at halfway, loops Canary Wharf and finishes on The Mall by Buckingham Palace. Flat and fast with unbroken crowds the whole way.
Where to stay
Greenwich or Blackheath keeps you close to the start; Westminster and the South Bank sit near the finish and central transport.
Getting there
From Heathrow the Elizabeth line or Piccadilly line reaches central London in 40-60 minutes; trains from London Bridge or Cannon Street reach Greenwich in around 15 minutes.
That weekend
The Expo is at ExCeL in the Docklands; add a Thames shakeout, then the Tower of London, Borough Market and a West End show.
Who it's for
Best for UK runners who want the biggest crowd marathon on the calendar without a flight, via ballot, charity, or ballot-plus. Ideal if you thrive on atmosphere more than a pure PB (Tower Bridge and The Mall deliver the theatre), or you're bringing non-running partners who want a proper London weekend. Less ideal if you hate logistics: the multi-start at Blackheath/Greenwich and the Docklands expo mean an early alarm and planning. Ballot odds are brutal; treat entry as the scarce bit and the trip as the easy part.
Sample 4-day trip
Arrive, explore, race, then head home. A proper weekend, not a rushed fly-by.
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Day 1: Arrive
Arrive in London by train from elsewhere in the UK, or fly into LHR, LGW, or STN. From Heathrow, the Elizabeth line or Piccadilly line reaches central London in roughly 40–60 minutes. TfL is the default and usually the right call. A private transfer only really wins for a group with lots of bags or a very late arrival.
Check into a hotel near the finish (Westminster / South Bank) or the start (Greenwich / Blackheath). Keep the evening easy: Thames walk, early dinner, early night. The expo deserves its own half-day tomorrow.
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Day 2: Shakedown Run and Explore the City
Bib collection at the ExCeL expo in the Docklands is a solid half-day once you factor in travel, queues, and the show floor. Do not squeeze it into race morning. Afterwards, an easy shakeout along the Thames or in Greenwich Park (if you are start-side) is plenty.
Partners and non-runners can peel off to Borough Market, the South Bank, or the Tower of London . Runners: early dinner, kit laid out, lights out. London Marathon morning starts very early.
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Day 3: Race Day
Take the Tube or train to your colour start (Blackheath / Greenwich). Use TfL and leave earlier than feels reasonable. Bag drop, the walk onto the heath, and portaloo queues are part of the event; check for race-day service changes.
Finish on The Mall. Celebrate nearby and keep walking light: South Bank or Borough Market beats another Tube marathon. Partners often watch on the Embankment or near Tower Bridge. Agree a meeting point before you start, and save sightseeing tickets for tomorrow if legs allow.
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Day 4: Final Day
Recovery brunch, an optional West End matinee or museum if legs allow, then train or Tube to your station or airport. A fourth day stops the weekend feeling like expo, race, collapse, leave.
If you only ever book two nights, prioritise finish-side lodging. With three nights, you can enjoy London properly after the Mall.
What drives the cost
London is often cheaper than a "destination major" because the flight line can be a train, but central hotels on race weekend spike hard. Your total moves most with where you stay (Greenwich quieter/cheaper vs Westminster premium) and how many nights you take; three nights makes expo day and race day feel human. Entry via charity adds fundraising on top of the fee. Skip tourist-trap dining near the finish and the estimate stays closer to the calculator; add a West End show or Tower tickets and activities become the swing factor.
