PREDICTPACE
← Back to predictor
London Marathon

Course guide & time predictor

London Marathon

London, UK

26.2 miles along the Thames

Elevation gain

330 ft

Course difficulty

0.7% slower than Berlin

Race month

April

See how your time translates to London Marathon

Enter a time from any other marathon to compare.

Compare coursesPredict from a race

About the race

London is fast, extremely well-organized, and loud from start to finish. The course runs east from Blackheath, crosses the Thames twice via Tower Bridge and Blackfriars Bridge, and finishes at The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace through 26.2 miles of unbroken crowd noise. It's consistently one of the deepest elite fields in the sport — and one of the most ballot-entry marathons in the world.

Course profile

330 feet of total elevation gain. Tower Bridge at miles 12–13 is the most demanding stretch — 60 feet of climb and descent arriving exactly when you're finding your rhythm. Cobblestone sections near the Tower are technically demanding in the rain. The course requires more concentration than Berlin or Chicago, but the crowd support is dense enough to carry you through the difficult sections. The final mile along The Mall to Buckingham Palace is among the most celebrated in the sport.

Race-day conditions

Late April in London is 45–60°F and sometimes rainy — good for racing. In 2018 it hit 75°F; the elite men's course record was set the year before in 62°F conditions. Spring warmth is a real risk. Check the forecast and have a heat plan. London's rain is rarely a pace problem; the heat is.

Using the predictor

London runs about 0.7% slower than Berlin — roughly 1–2 minutes on a 3:30 finish. If you're translating a Chicago or Berlin time, the adjustment is small but real. Use Compare Courses for the exact number.

Common questions

How do I enter the London Marathon?

Most runners enter via the annual ballot, which opens in May for the following April's race. Acceptance rates are around 3–5%. Alternative paths include championship entry (for runners who have run a qualifying time, typically sub-2:45 men / sub-3:15 women), Good For Age entry (slightly slower standards), club places allocated through England Athletics, and charity entries for approved charities.

Is the London Marathon a fast course?

Yes — London is approximately 0.7% slower than Berlin, the world's fastest course. On a 3:30 finish, that's about 90 seconds. By comparison, NYC is 3.8% slower and Boston is 1.6% slower. London produces fast times and regularly hosts world record attempts, though conditions need to cooperate.

What is Tower Bridge like to run?

Tower Bridge arrives at miles 12–13 and involves a 60-foot climb followed by descent. It's the highest point on the course and comes just as you're settling into half marathon pace. The climb is short but noticeable. Reward: crossing one of the world's most iconic bridges with enormous crowds below.

What is the London Marathon Good For Age standard?

Good For Age (GFA) entry is open to runners who have recently run a marathon within a set percentage of the world record for their age group. Standards are published annually by London Marathon Events and typically require times around sub-3:05 for men 18–40 and sub-3:25 for women 18–40, with progressively slower cutoffs for older age groups. GFA entry is processed in the summer before the April race — check the London Marathon website for the current year's standards.

Predict your London Marathon time

Other course guides

Boston MarathonNew York City MarathonChicago MarathonBerlin MarathonMarine Corps MarathonCIM (California International)Tokyo MarathonHouston MarathonTwin Cities MarathonBig Sur International MarathonLos Angeles MarathonPhiladelphia MarathonParis Marathon