🏃London Marathon

About London Marathon

The London Marathon is one of the world's great road races, sending tens of thousands of runners 26.2 miles past the capital's landmarks — from Greenwich and the Cutty Sark to Tower Bridge, the Embankment and the finish on The Mall by Buckingham Palace. One of the prestigious World Marathon Majors, it combines an elite professional field with one of the largest charity-fundraising events on the planet, alongside its celebrated fancy-dress runners. This live countdown shows exactly how many days remain until race day in your timezone.

The race was founded by former Olympic athletes Chris Brasher and John Disley and first run on March 29, 1981, when 7,747 runners crossed the line out of more than 20,000 who applied. It has grown into one of the biggest marathons in the world, raising over a billion pounds for charity across its history and regularly drawing the sport's top distance runners chasing fast times on its flat, fast course.

The London Marathon is held in spring, typically on a Sunday in April, with the exact date set by the organisers each year. This countdown targets the next edition and rolls over once the runners have finished. Whether you are training for a place, supporting a charity runner or watching the elites, bookmark the live London Marathon countdown or add it to your own page.