What time does the London Marathon start? When will entrants set off at 2021 running event - and race routes

The Virgin Money London Marathon returns to its normal course on Sunday 3 October after an 889 day absence.

The Covid-19 pandemic meant that last year’s marathon event took place virtually with just under 40,000 participants completing the race. It has been awarded a Guinness World Records Title for the ‘most users to run a remote marathon in 24 hours.’

This year, the race returns to Central London with 100,000 runners expected to take part across the world.

No fewer than 50,000 participants are signed up to run the course from Blackheath to the Mall in the traditional mass-participation marathon with another 50,000 runners completing the 26.2 miles on a course of their choice from 12am to 11.59pm on Sunday 3 October wherever they are on the planet.

The event director, Hugh Brasher has said that “It has been an unbelievably difficult journey. People have stopped and started training and had to cope with huge uncertainty. This will be the most meaningful London Marathon in the history of the event.”

When is the London Marathon 2021?

The Virgin Money London Marathon will take place on Sunday 3 October 2021. It will be the first time it has not taken place in Spring.

What time does the Marathon start?

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the race start will be staggered between 9.30am and 11am.

The Elite wheelchair race will begin at 8.50am, the Elite women will begin their race at 9am and the Elite men will start at 9.30am, along with the first wave of the mass participants.

What is the race route for the London Marathon?

Along with a staggered start time, there will also be four different starting points in order to help relieve social distancing pressures.

The four Assembly Areas are all located in Greenwich Park and are easily accessible from Blackheath, Maze Hill and Greenwich Train Stations.

From Greenwich, runners will go out towards Woolwich before coming back in and passing the Cutty Sark. Participants will carry on down into Rotherhithe after which they will cross the Tower Bridge and race down to Canary Wharf.

Having looped round Canary Wharf, the route goes back along the river through Wapping, past Blackfriars and runners will then pass the London Eye on the other side of the river before reaching St James’s Park and finishing on The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace.

How to watch the London Marathon.

This year, spectators are being strongly encouraged to watch the race from home rather than lining up along the streets and therefore instigating crowds.

BBC Two will begin coverage on the Marathon at 8am on Sunday 3 October and it will then turn over to BBC One from 10am.

A message from the editor:

Thank you for reading. NationalWorld is a new national news brand, produced by a team of journalists, editors, video producers and designers who live and work across the UK. Find out more about who’s who in the team, and our editorial values. We want to start a community among our readers, so please follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and keep the conversation going. You can also sign up to our newsletters and get a curated selection of our best reads to your inbox every day.