1 · The short answer

For 2027 only, the TCS London Marathon becomes a two day event on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 April, with around 100,000 people taking part across the weekend. Each runner gets one day, and the elite races are split across both. The course runs from Greenwich and Blackheath past the Cutty Sark, over Tower Bridge, through Canary Wharf and along the Embankment to the finish on The Mall.

Whether you are running or cheering, the phone does the work: race tracking, Tube routes, meeting points and photos. Ringo Light's United Kingdom plan covers London and the rest of the UK with unlimited data at full speed; it arrives by email and installs in one scan.

Dates: Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 April 2027, a one-off two day TCS London Marathon; each runner races on one day only. The Running Show at ExCeL London runs from 20 to 24 April. Organiser's page

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2 · Getting to the start and around the course

Runners travel to the start areas in Greenwich and Blackheath by Southeastern trains, the DLR and the Jubilee line. Spectators move around the course on the Tube, the DLR and the Elizabeth line, but stations near the course get extremely busy and some close for crowd control. Plan two or three viewing spots that are easy to reach, for example Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge and the Embankment.

Tap a contactless card or phone wallet on the gates; no paper ticket is needed. TfL publishes a marathon day travel guide with station closures and the best routes.

3 · Entry, tracking and the official app

  • ✓Getting a place. Places are allocated through the public ballot, charity places and other routes. The ballot for 2027 opened in April 2026. Runners must collect their number in person at the Running Show at ExCeL London.
  • ✓Tracking a runner. The official TCS London Marathon app tracks runners live by bib number or name, with predicted times at each point on the course.
  • ✓Race photos. Official race photos are sent after the event; you do not need to film everything yourself.
  • ✓Meeting after the finish. The organisers set out meeting areas near The Mall. Agree a letter or point in advance; it is far more reliable than live location at the finish.

4 · Signal along a packed course

Hundreds of thousands of spectators line the course, and at Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf and the finish, phones slow to a crawl as everyone checks the tracker at once. The tracking app keeps working on a weak signal, but video calls and uploads often fail. Refresh the tracker before your runner is due, then put the phone away and watch.

Runners carrying a phone should use the official app or a running app with offline maps, and keep it charged: GPS tracking for four or five hours drains a battery.

5 · London around the race

Greenwich, at the start, is worth a morning: the Royal Observatory, the park and the Cutty Sark. After the race, the finish is next to St James's Park and Westminster. Many visitors stay on for the South Bank, the museums and a walk across Tower Bridge on a quieter day.

6 · Along the London Marathon course

Places on or near the route that also make good days out.

Cutty Sark, Greenwich, Greenwich, south east London
Greenwich, south east LondonCutty Sark, GreenwichThe tea clipper the runners pass in the early miles, next to the Thames.✓A popular viewing spot: arrive early and save the DLR route home.Photo: mattbuck (category), CC BY-SA 4.0
Tower Bridge, Central London
Central LondonTower BridgeThe halfway point and the loudest crowd on the course.✓Signal is weakest here at peak; refresh the tracker before your runner arrives.Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0
Westminster and the Embankment, Central London
Central LondonWestminster and the EmbankmentThe last miles along the river, past Big Ben to The Mall.✓Agree a meeting point in the finish area before the start.Photo: Colin, CC BY-SA 4.0
The Tube, All over London
All over LondonThe TubeThe quickest way between viewing spots, as long as you avoid stations next to the course.✓Tap a phone wallet at the gates; check TfL for marathon closures.Photo: Acabashi, CC BY-SA 4.0

7 · Frequently asked questions

When is the London Marathon 2027?+
Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 April 2027. It is a one-off two day event, and each runner races on one of the two days.
How do I track a runner at the London Marathon?+
Use the official TCS London Marathon app, which tracks runners by name or bib number with live split times.
Where should I watch the London Marathon?+
Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf and the Embankment are popular. Pick spots you can reach easily by Tube or DLR.
Will my phone work along the course?+
It slows down in the biggest crowds. Refresh the tracker before your runner is due and avoid video calls at peak spots.
Which Ringo Light plan covers the London Marathon?+
The United Kingdom plan covers London and the rest of the UK, with unlimited data at full speed.

8 · Sources

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