London marathon

An update from 2024 where a few things have changed since out last run in 2021. Main thing is the bag drop which is back to the lorries at the start enclosure. These are very easy to find and your bib number has the details very clearly marked. Lost of toilets available before you start but do go as soon as you get there as queues will form quickly. For the Red area there was lots of space to chill out before the run, though it was a little cold.

For race day in October 2021 we started our day in central London and headed off to the event just before 8am. One of the benefits from the COVID situation was the small amount of time between arrival and starting the race. The race bib is also your free entry to the public transport system and so after a couple of train changes we arrived at the destination.

The station you get off at depends on the colour of your start wave. So pay attention to the stops and don't get off at the wrong one. Start waves are further broken down into wave numbers, but that's all on your bib. For 2021 the bag drop was at the Expo which we felt worked rather well as a opposed to the usual chaos of dropping stuff off.

Arriving at the station led to a good long walk to the starting area. COVID status checks were made then as usual the queue for the toilets.At this stage you start to get an idea of what makes the London marathon different, with people dressed as telephone boxes,airplanes, trees and just about everything you can think off.

A short time speed past and we were ushered into the starting pen and here is where you ditch the warm over cloths and now you look like a frozen runner. And they are off.

Always weird starting these big events and trying to find your pace. Most of the route of the London marathon is dull but the crowds do make up for it. The crossing of Tower Bridge is a highlight but the out to Canary wharf before coming back is very dull and mostly set within office blocks.

The last of the London marathon is where we really see a lot of the highlights of London and this is where the crowds start to get really noisy. Along the embankment, past Westminster then a quick right at the King's house and you only have a very short distance to the finish line.

At the race end you get your medal then water and a foil blanket. The baggage lorries are not far away and service was very quick to retrieve the bag. The exit is crazy with people as families and friends try to meet up with runners. Make sure you agree on a meeting place before hand otherwise you will be one of the thousands trying to get a phone signal.

A great marathon but not the most scenic.

A really difficult one to get into via the ballot due to the amount of applications. Good for age, charity and international partners are good options. A record 578,374 people entered the ballot for a place in the 2024 London Marathon.

We have heard that for 2025 an amazing 840,000 people have applied.

London is well served with all the major airlines and of course train and bus. Forget the car for this one.

Big expo held in the outskirts of London at the ExCel which is easy to get to by public transport. 2024 was our first chance to use the new Elizabeth Line to the Expo and that is a very good service from all over London.

No pre runs, but there are lots of good parks in London so easy enough to find a place to run.

Greenwich park

The Mall in central London

Rather a plain medal was awarded in 2021, but was better in 2024..

2024 and we were in the Hilton at Euston and not at the same standard as the Trafalgar Square one. All the metro lines are really busy close to the finish, so be careful to choose a hotel that’s easy to get backt to using public transport. Research beforehand your journey back as it is chaos at the end due to the number of people.

in 2021 we stayed at the Hilton on Trafalgar square and it was excellent. Best part of using this hotel was that it was a short walk from the finish line to arrive at the hotel bar. From there to a warm shower.