London Marathon Guide
Whether you're running, clapping from the sidelines or just here for the free pizza and beer, here's everything you need to know about one of the biggest days in London: The 2025 TCS London Marathon
By Glorious
London is about to be completely overrun. Literally. On Sunday 27 April, more than 56,000 people will be lacing up their trainers and taking over the streets for the 2025 TCS London Marathon, snaking their way through 26.2 miles of London’s most iconic roads, parks and landmarks. The route begins in Greenwich Park and winds past the Cutty Sark, over Tower Bridge, through Canary Wharf, along the Embankment and past Big Ben before finishing on The Mall in a flurry of sweat, elation and foil blankets. The elite wheelchair athletes are the first out the gate at 8.50am, followed by elite women at 9.05am, and elite men at 9.35am. The rest of the field – thousands of runners in the mass event – will begin shortly after in a series of staggered waves based on predicted finish times. It’s all carefully choreographed to prevent pile-ups on the course, and while runners can’t jump to an earlier wave, they are allowed to fall back into a later one if they’d prefer.
If you’re heading into town to support someone, the atmosphere is worth the early wake-up. Tower Bridge is one of the most popular spots, with runners passing twice, but The Highway, Rotherhithe and Canary Wharf are also great places to soak up the energy and give your hands a solid clapping workout. If you want to catch the big finish on The Mall, you’ll need to get there early – it fills up fast, especially as the day goes on and more people shuffle, sprint or stagger toward that red banner. If you’re staying home, coverage kicks off from 8.30am on BBC One, BBC Two and iPlayer, with commentary, on-the-ground reporting and plenty of stories that will make you cry over your cereal.
If you’re tracking someone on the course, the TCS London Marathon app is essential. You can search by name or bib number and it’ll update you every time your runner crosses a 5K mat. It also predicts their finish time based on their current pace, which is ideal if you want to pop out for snacks without missing their big moment. Even better, they can share live GPS tracking with up to three people through the app, which is far more accurate than trying to spot them by T-shirt colour and hope. There are around 50 official charity cheer points dotted along the route, and you’ll hear them before you see them – drums, brass bands, sound systems and full-on party vibes all help push people through the harder miles.
It’s not just about cheering though. With thousands of spectators flooding into central London, you can expect serious disruption. Roads will be closed across Greenwich, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, the City, and Westminster. Key routes like Trafalgar Square, Birdcage Walk, Constitution Hill and The Mall are closed for most of the day, with some closures beginning as early as 4am and not reopening until the evening or even the following day. Public transport will still be running, but don’t expect a smooth ride – stations close to the course, especially near the start and finish lines, will be busy, and some may be exit-only. Cutty Sark DLR is entrance-only all day, so if you’re planning to use it to leave the area, you’ll need to find an alternative. If you’re travelling by car… well, don’t. Just don’t.
Once you’ve crossed the finish line and got your medal, the first thing on your mind will probably be sitting down, followed closely by “where’s the nearest pint or slice of pizza.” Luckily, London has come out in full support of your aching legs. Plenty of brands and venues are offering marathon-specific freebies and deals to anyone wearing their finisher’s medal.
At Sweaty Betty, flash your medal and you’ll get 20 percent off when you spend £100 or more – a good excuse to buy those leggings you’ve been eyeing up for months. Franco Manca is serving up free pizzas for finishers, no strings attached.
Bill’s restaurants are offering a free burger and drink to anyone who’s made it to the end of the course and race volunteers. Gaucho, for those fancy post-marathon vibes, is offering a complimentary steak at selected locations. And if you’re simply after a refreshing drink, selected Greene King pubs across London will hand you one on the house as long as you’re proudly showing off your medal. Most of these offers are valid on race day and the following Monday, so there’s no rush if you’d rather get your free burger after you’ve had a nap, a shower, and a long cry. Just make sure you check with the individual venues to confirm the terms, as some offers are only valid at selected branches or during specific times.
Rewarding
Of course, the marathon experience isn’t just about running or clapping – it’s about being part of something bigger, and that includes the brand activations and pop-ups that spring up across London during marathon week. This year, New Balance has opened its Townhouse at 14 Cavendish Square, and it’s open from the moment you’re reading this, running all weekend and right through race day. Whether you’re a runner looking for a space to recover or a supporter after a place to regroup, it’s the perfect pit stop. On Sunday, it opens at 8am with free coffee and a live race screening so you can watch the action without braving the crowds. Their runner’s café is stocked with energy drinks and snacks for those who’ve either just gone the distance or are still building up to it. You can personalise your medal with free engraving, get a quick express manicure, and try out recovery tools like massage guns and ice boots in the Recovery Zone. They’ve even got a cheer zone with DIY banner-making for any last-minute signs of encouragement. Just minutes from Oxford Circus and not far from the finish line, it’s a rare quiet corner of central London where you can breathe, regroup and feel like part of the action.
Not to be outdone, Nike has also launched a full-scale pop-up experience with RunTown, which is open now and runs until 28 April. This is a proper deep-dive into the brand’s running universe, with the ground floor open to everyone and full of try-on areas, treadmills, and all the latest Nike kit. Upstairs is the exclusive race hub – a space for registered runners, regular joggers, or anyone visiting pre- or post-race. There’s a fuelling bar with snacks, a comfort zone with Hyperice recovery tools, and free one-to-one physio consultations with Nike’s expert team. You can also take part in panel talks, get your race gear customised, and make your own poster in their cheer zone. After the marathon wraps up, RunTown transforms into Nike Oxford Circus, a temporary store opening for the summer while the main NikeTown gets a full refurb ahead of its 2027 relaunch. So whether you’re planning your next PB or just in the mood for a stylish recovery, it’s worth a visit.
So there you have it. The 2025 TCS London Marathon is more than just a race – it’s a city-wide takeover filled with people, energy, road closures, medals, and free food. Whether you’re running, cheering, tracking someone on the app, or strategically dodging the whole thing with a pint in hand, this is London at its most chaotic and celebratory. GLORIOUS!
One DNF, one battered ego, and one more shot at the TCS London Marathon. Will it be a medal, a pint, or another awkward conversation in a foil blanket? A runner’s honest story about second chances and stubbornness… read HERE.
Let us know your marathon story over on IG here: @glorioussport
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