The London Marathon, a cornerstone of the spring sports calendar, returns this weekend following a record-breaking turnout in the 2023 edition. This year’s race marks the first London Marathon since the tragic passing of Kelvin Kiptum, last year’s men’s champion and world record holder, in a car accident in Kenya.
**When is the 2024 London Marathon? Date and Time**
The London Marathon 2024 is set for this Sunday, April 21.
The elite and wheelchair races kick off at staggered intervals, commencing with the elite wheelchair men’s and women’s races at 9:05 am (BST). The elite women’s race starts at 9:25 am, followed by the elite men hitting the pavement at 10:00 am. Mass participants also begin at 10:00 am, with waves continuing until 11:30 am.
**London Marathon Route 2024: Start and Finish**
The London Marathon course maintains its traditional path, commencing in Greenwich and Blackheath, where participants are divided into three groups that merge at the three-mile mark. Heading eastward into Woolwich, the route then reverses course, heading westward towards Greenwich town center, passing through Rotherhithe and Bermondsey. Crossing north over Tower Bridge signifies the approximate halfway point. Competitors then navigate a loop around Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs before proceeding westward along the north bank of the Thames, passing landmarks like the Tower of London en route to Trafalgar Square and ultimately concluding in front of Buckingham Palace on The Mall.
London’s renowned landmarks adorn the marathon route at various points:
– Cutty Sark: Mile 6
– Tower Bridge: Mile 12
– Tower of London: Mile 22
– London Eye: Mile 25
– Big Ben: Mile 25
– Buckingham Palace: Mile 26
**Best Viewing Spots**
Prime spots along the course include Greenwich, Tower Bridge, and Westminster, typically bustling with spectators. Less congested sections of the marathon route occur between mile 9 and 12, encompassing Rotherhithe and Bermondsey, as well as between mile 14 and 21, spanning Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs. For a chance to catch the runners twice, The Highway in Wapping is ideal, as it’s utilized both from west to east and then east to west, though it tends to draw a significant crowd.