MORE than 59,000 runners are expected at the start line for the 46th London Marathon this weekend.
The route of the passes many of including Tower Bridge, the London Eye, Big Ben and Buckingham Palace.
Over 59,000 runners are set to take part in the London Marathon this weekend Credit: Getty Images
The route will see participants pass Tower Bridge, the London Eye, Big Ben and Buckingham Palace Credit: Alamy
When is the London Marathon 2026?
London Marathon will take place on Sunday, April 26.
It covers a distance of 26.2 miles (42.195 km), generally taking anywhere between two and eight hours to complete.
The elite men’s race will begin at 9.35am, with the mass race following.
Meanwhile, the elite wheelchair men’s and women’s races are set to get started at around 8.50am BST.
The elite women’s race is expected to get underway not long afterwards at approximately 9.05am.
Many celebrities have signed up to participate in the long-distance footrace, with some of the and who they’re running for listed below:
- Cynthia Erivo – The Kings Trust and Shameless Fund.
- Tony Adams – The Forward Trust
- Sir Alastair Cook – The Ruth Strauss Foundation
- Dame Laura Kenny – The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust
- Aaron Ramsey – It’s Never You
- Sebastian Vettel – The Brain & Spine Foundation and the Grand Prix Trust
- James Norton – Breakthrough T1D
- Daddy Pig – The National Deaf Children’s Society
- Joe Wicks – The Body Coach Foundation
- Harry Clark – The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE)
Daddy Pig will be running for the National Deaf Children’s Society after last month’s announcement that George Pig is moderately deaf Credit: PA
What is the London Marathon 2026 route and map?
The London Marathon will continue its traditional route once again for 2026.
All runners get underway at separate colour-coded starts (Red, Blue, Green) in either Greenwich Park or Blackheath.
But by Mile 3, all of the sections merge to form one route that travels through Woolwich towards the Thames and the Cutty Sark.
The mid-section takes the runners through Rotherhithe and Bermondsey, before crossing Tower Bridge just before the halfway mark.
Afterwards, the participants will move east into Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs.
And finally, the last section goes through London’s landmarks, passing the Tower of London, the London Eye, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace – with the finish line located on The Mall.
In terms of road closures, many routes will be closed in preparation for the Marathon, with spectators encouraged to travel by train.
In total, the closed roads include:
- Charlton Way/Shooters Hill Road: 4am – 2.30pm
- St Johns Park: 7am – 2.30pm
- Charlton Park Road: 7am – 2.30pm
- Old Dover Road: 7am – 2.30pm
- Little Heath: 7am – 2.30pm
- Charlton Park Lane: 7am – 2.30pm
- Artillery Place: 7am – 2.30pm
- John Wilson Street: 7am – 2.30pm
- Woolwich Church Street/Woolwich Road: 7am – 3pm
- Trafalgar Road/Creek Road: 7am – 4pm
- Evelyn Street: 8am – 4pm
- Surrey Quays Road: 8am – 4pm
- Salter Road: 8am – 4pm
- Brunel Road: 8am – 4pm
- Jamaica Road: 8am – 4pm
- Tower Bridge: 8am – 8.30pm
- The Highway (south side)Narrow Street: 8am – 8.30pm
- Westferry Road/ East Ferry Road: 8am – 8.30pm
- Marsh Wall/Bank Street: 8am – 8.30pm
- North Colonnade/Poplar High Street: 8am – 8.30pm
- Commercial Road/The Highway (north side): 8am – 8.30pm
- Byward Street: 7.30am – 9pm
- Upper/Lower Thames Street: 7.30am – 9pm
- Victoria Embankment/Parliament Square: 7.30am – 10pm
- Birdcage Walk (eastbound): 6am on Friday, April 24 – 6am on Monday, April 27
- Birdcage Walk (westbound) 6am on Saturday, April 25 – 6am Monday, April 27
The finish line is located on The Mall by Buckingham Palace Credit: Alamy
How can I watch the London Marathon?
Live coverage of the event can be found on from 8:30am before moving to BBC Two at 2pm.
There will also be a BBC iPlayer livestream showing mass participants from 10:30am and a highlights show from 6pm.
On top of that, the official London Marathon app lets you track live progress of anyone taking part.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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