TCS London Marathon 2026 — The World's Greatest Road Race

The TCS London Marathon is one of the six Abbott World Marathon Majors alongside Tokyo, Boston, Berlin, Chicago and New York, and consistently ranks as the largest marathon in the world by number of finishers — over 50 000 runners cross the finish line on The Mall each year. Founded in 1981 by Chris Brasher and John Disley, inspired by the New York City Marathon, the London Marathon has grown from 7 747 starters in its inaugural edition to one of the most over-subscribed sporting events on the planet, with over 800 000 applicants vying for a ballot place each year. The 42.195 km course takes runners through some of the most iconic landmarks in the world: Greenwich Park (start), Tower Bridge (mile 12, the most photographed moment of any marathon), the Embankment along the Thames, Canary Wharf, and the finish on The Mall beneath Buckingham Palace.

The London Marathon holds the Guinness World Record for the most money raised by a single charity sporting event — over £1 billion raised cumulatively since 1981, making it arguably the most charitable sporting event in history. The elite race has produced some of the fastest marathon times ever recorded on a certified course: Paula Radcliffe set the women's world record here in 2003 (2:15:25, standing for 16 years), and the course has regularly hosted world record attempts in the elite men's and women's fields. The wheelchair races are equally prestigious and attract the world's top para-athletes. Sponsorship by TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) since 2022 has brought world-class digital timing infrastructure, including the real-time results platform available at results.tcslondonmarathon.com.

The course — from Greenwich to The Mall

The London Marathon course is point-to-point, starting in Greenwich Park (three wave starts) and finishing on The Mall, SW1. Key landmarks along the route: Cutty Sark (mile 6), Tower Bridge (mile 12–13, the iconic crossing), Canary Wharf (miles 13–18, the Docklands loop), Embankment along the north bank of the Thames (miles 23–25), Buckingham Palace turn and finish on The Mall (mile 26). The course is largely flat with only minor undulations, making it one of the fastest marathon courses in the world — ideal for personal bests. Median finishing time: approximately 4h30 for the mass race.

• 50 000+ finishers yearly
• Tower Bridge mile 12
• The Mall finish Buckingham
• World Marathon Major #2
• £1 billion raised charity
• Greenwich Park start
• Canary Wharf Docklands
• Embankment Thames route
• Wheelchair elite race
• TCS timing official
• 800 000 ballot applicants
• Flat course PB friendly

Marathon de Londres 2026 — L'un des six World Marathon Majors

Le TCS London Marathon est l'une des six grandes courses des Abbott World Marathon Majors aux côtés de Tokyo, Boston, Berlin, Chicago et New York, et régulièrement le plus grand marathon du monde en nombre de finishers : plus de 50 000 coureurs franchissent la ligne d'arrivée sur The Mall chaque année. Fondé en 1981 par Chris Brasher et John Disley, inspiré du Marathon de New York, le Marathon de Londres est devenu l'une des épreuves sportives les plus inaccessibles de la planète, avec plus de 800 000 candidats au tirage au sort chaque année pour 50 000 places. Le parcours de 42,195 km traverse les sites les plus iconiques de Londres : Greenwich Park (départ), le Tower Bridge (kilomètre 19, le moment le plus photographié de tout marathon au monde), l'Embankment le long de la Tamise, Canary Wharf, et l'arrivée sur The Mall face au palais de Buckingham.

Le Marathon de Londres détient le record du monde Guinness pour l'événement sportif caritatif ayant collecté le plus d'argent : plus d'un milliard de livres sterling reversés à des associations depuis 1981. Paula Radcliffe y a établi le record du monde féminin en 2003 (2h15'25, record tenu 16 ans). Le parcours, plat et rapide (dénivelé positif inférieur à 80m), est idéal pour les records personnels — c'est historiquement l'un des marathons où sont réalisées le plus grand nombre de meilleures performances mondiales annuelles. Le chronométrage TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) offre depuis 2022 une plateforme de résultats en temps réel parmi les plus performantes du circuit World Marathon Majors.

Informations pratiques / Practical info : London — United Kingdom 🇬🇧. Nearest airports: London Heathrow (LHR, 25 km), London Gatwick (LGW, 45 km), London City (LCY, 10 km from finish). Transport: London Underground (Jubilee line to North Greenwich for start, Green Park/St James's Park for finish area). Race date: typically April (Sunday). Ballot opens: April of the previous year. TCS Charity places: applications via official partner charities. Results: results.tcslondonmarathon.com/2026. Official site: tcslondonmarathon.com. À voir à Londres : Tower Bridge (visite, passerelles de verre), Tower of London (UNESCO), Greenwich Royal Observatory (méridien origine), Tate Modern, Borough Market.