Explore the TCS London Marathon course

The world-famous London Marathon route has remained largely unchanged since the inaugural race in 1981 and encompasses many of the capital’s most mesmerising landmarks, old and new.

Scroll down to enjoy a fly-through video and interactive map of the course, below. If you’d like to learn a bit more about the history of the TCS London Marathon, we've also provided a rundown of the key milestones to look out for along the route.

The Start

Your 26.2-mile challenge begins at one of the three Start Lines – Blue, Green or Red – near Blackheath in Greenwich.

Greenwich became the centre of world time in 1884, when the Meridian Line in Greenwich Park was chosen as the world clock’s neutral point from which all time zones are measured from.

More than a century later, the world watches ever year as thousands of runners begin their race against the clock from the centre of the Earth.

Mile 6: Cutty Sark

Now synonymous with the London Marathon, Cutty Sark had a previous life as a clipper ship transporting alcohol and tea between the UK and China.

The ship was moved to a dry dock in Greenwich in 1954 and despite a devastating fire in May 2007, it was restored to its former glory. The atmosphere around Cutty Sark is electric on Marathon Day, as it is one of the most popular sections of the course for spectators.

Mile 12: The Shard

Standing at 309.6 metres (1,016 feet) high, the Shard is the tallest building in the UK, the fifth-tallest building in Europe and the newest landmark on the London Marathon route.

Officially opened in February 2013, runners in the London Marathon have been able to see the Shard from Tower Bridge since the glass-clad pyramidal tower started appearing on the skyline in 2010.

Mile 12: Tower Bridge

Perhaps the most famous landmark on the route, Tower Bridge provides an unbeatable backdrop, showcasing the capital in all its splendour.

Built between 1886 and 1894, the bridge offers millions of viewers from around the world an amazing view of you and thousands of other runners crossing the River Thames from south to north just before the halfway point in the marathon.