Spectator Guide
Thank you for playing an integral role in making Marathon Day an unforgettable experience!
Your cheers and encouragement fuel the participants' spirits and create an electric atmosphere! This year, there will be more than 40 activations on the route – including bands, DJs and cheer points – so there are plenty of places to enjoy your day.
To make your day as smooth as possible, please remember:
- Navigate the crowds: Some parts of the route can get extremely busy, so plan ahead to find the best spots to cheer on your loved ones.
- Meeting points: If you're meeting someone after they have finished, decide on a meeting point in advance. This ensures you can reunite without any hassle.
- Stay connected: Don't rely solely on your phone, as reception might be spotty in congested areas. Have a backup plan to stay in touch.
Want some top tips? Read how to be the ultimate spectator
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 08:50 | Elite wheelchair race |
| 09:05 | Elite women’s race |
| 09:35 | Elite men’s race |
| 09:35 to 11:30 | Mass participants |
We recommend using public transport and, where possible, walking or cycling.
Road closures start from 07:00 on Marathon Day. You can view the roads affected on our closures page. Buses travelling on these roads will either be diverted or will not run the full length of their route. To find out more visit TfL's site.
For real-time info, download the free TfL Go app or use their journey planner.
We also recommend using green travel tool You. Smart. Thing. to find your best low-carbon travel routes. You can also donate to offset your carbon emissions!
Plan your journey on You. Smart. Thing.Where possible, we recommend walking to different parts of the route.
The six spectator routes below will be clearly signposted on Marathon Day.
- Cutty Sark/Greenwich
- Canada Water/Rotherhithe
- Tower Bridge/Tower Hill
- Canary Wharf
- Rainbow Row (Butcher Row, Limehouse)
- Victoria Embankment/Westminster
View the Spectator Routes on Google Maps
The following areas are extremely busy
While they have big crowds generating a fantastic atmosphere, if you visit these areas, please be mindful of the following:
- Crowd navigation: You'll need to be comfortable navigating through large crowds.
- Patience is key: You might need to wait up to 90 minutes to board trains at certain stations.
- Limited access: This could be the only part of the route you can visit, so make the most of it!
| Mile | Area | Advice |
|---|---|---|
| 6.5 | Cutty Sark | Cutty Sark DLR station will be entry only on Sunday 27 April. There will be queues of up to 90 minutes to board trains at peak times. Passengers will not be able to get off trains or leave the station, and only northbound services will operate. Please consider walking from one of the other nearby stations – Deptford, Greenwich, Island Gardens or Maze Hill. |
| 9 | Canada Water | Canada Water station will be extremely busy. Please consider using the London Overground to Rotherhithe or Surrey Quays for access to Rotherhithe Peninsula. |
| 11.5 | Bermondsey | Bermondsey station will be extremely busy. Please consider using London Bridge station to access Jamaica Road and the surrounding area. |
| 13 | Tower Bridge | Tower Bridge will be extremely busy. Please arrive early if you want a place on Tower Bridge. And consider using London Bridge station, which is a short walk away, rather than Tower Hill or Tower Gateway. |
| 18 and 19 | Canary Wharf and Heron Quays | Canary Wharf Underground station, and the surrounding area, will be extremely busy. To access Canary Wharf, please consider using the Elizabeth line. Heron Quays DLR station will also be extremely busy. Please use Canary Wharf DLR for access to Canary Wharf (Mile 19) or Cross Harbour and South Quay for access to Miles 15, 17 and 18. |
| 21 | Limehouse | Limehouse station will be extremely busy. Expect queues of up to 90 minutes at peak times. Please consider walking to and from Shadwell station via Cable Street, Westferry station or Poplar station. |
| 23 | Tower Hill | Tower Hill will be extremely busy. Please consider using Cannon Street and Mansion House stations. To access nearby Lower and Upper Thames Street, consider Bank, St Paul’s or Southwark stations. |
| 26 | Westminster | Westminster station and the area in and around St James’s Park will be extremely busy. Westminster station will be exit only from 07:00 to 16:00 on Sunday 27 April. It will be possible to arrive via this station but not to leave from it. Please consider using the following stations: Charing Cross, Piccadilly Circus, Victoria and Waterloo. |
Other places to consider
While most of the route is busy with spectators – this is the most popular marathon in the world after all! – there are some areas that are often a bit quieter, so why not consider visiting one of them?
| Mile | Area | Advice |
|---|---|---|
| 9 to 11 | Rotherhithe Peninsula | Rotherhithe Peninsula offers an enjoyable two-mile stretch of the route with several bands and a Community Cheer Zone. Please consider using the London Overground to Rotherhithe or Surrey Quays. |
| 14/22 | The Highway | The Highway also offers the opportunity to see participants twice as they head to and from Canary Wharf. There will be bands and cheer zones on this lively stretch! We recommend using Shadwell or Wapping Overground stations. |
| 15 | Westferry | Check out Westferry and enjoy the West End Musical Choir, who will be performing near Westferry station. We recommend using Westferry DLR station. |
| 16 | Isle of Dogs | Join a DJ and bring the noise on Running Crew Corner next to Sir John McDougall Gardens on Westferry Road. We recommend using Crossharbour DLR station. |
| 20 | Poplar | Poplar High Street is a great place to watch the action, especially if you want to join local residents who have been supporting the event for 45 years! We recommend using Poplar DLR station. |
| 25 | Victoria Embankment | Victoria Embankment gets very busy, but it’s also easily accessible from several stations. The two-mile-long stretch of the route includes a Cheer Point run by our Charity of the Year, Pancreatic Cancer UK. We recommend using Piccadilly Circus, Southwark or Waterloo stations. |
There are five accessible viewing areas on the course
They are managed by stewards and are barrier-free, providing better visibility for wheelchair users. We welcome spectators with disabilities, along with one carer or supporter.
| Location | what3words reference |
|---|---|
| Cutty Sark | ///honey.rift.chops |
| Canary Wharf | ///issues.towns.packet |
| Rainbow Row (Butcher Row) | ///achieving.heats.ripe |
| Tower Hill | ///papers.bonds.fault |
| Victoria Embankment | ///stress.food.stops |
Meeting someone at the Finish? Use the Meet and Greet Area.
Participants will take about 30 minutes to reach this area after crossing the Finish Line, so plan accordingly.
The area is located at Horse Guards Avenue, Whitehall, Horse Guards Road and Horse Guards Parade and features Meeting Points labelled with letters. Choose a specific letter to meet at in advance. Don't rely solely on your phone, as reception might be spotty in congested areas.
Alternatively, you may want to agree a meeting place further away from the Finish Area. Some of the incredible charities involved with the TCS London Marathon will be hosting post-event receptions to celebrate their participants’ achievements, you can view these below.
View the charity locations on Google MapsHow to protect yourself from mobile phone theft