Did you know over 800 marathons are run every year in cities worldwide?

London’s first-ever marathon event was way back in 1981, with 7,055 starters and 6,255 finishers. Staged every year since, in 2019, the last figures before the two-year covid break, 42,906 started the marathon, with 42,549 completing the course.

In just a few short months, a similar number of professional athletes running for records, and amateur athletes running to raise money for good causes, will again be pounding the streets of London Town.

With a course that wends its way through the heart of the city, finding somewhere to stay to enjoy the festivities shouldn’t be a problem. The TCS London Marathon starts at Great Cross Avenue in Greenwich. Heading east through Woolwich, it turns west and passes the Cutty Sark at around seven miles. Crossing the Thames at Tower Bridge, the route bends around the Shard, and at about 12 miles, it passes the London Eye and Canary Wharf.

Finally, after 26 gruelling miles and around four hours of running, the competitors will pass Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace, before crossing the TCS London Marathon finish line.

If you’re considering joining the thousands of spectators who watch this annual event, why not do it in style, and book a short weekend break. On the Saturday enjoy a little retail therapy, a drink beside the Thames, or a meal in Soho. Before seeking out the buskers, bands and numerous other street entertainers, who will be setting up their pitches to entertain the crowds lining the route on the Sunday morning.