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London Landmarks Half Marathon 2027: Course, Entry And Race Day Guide
The London Landmarks Half Marathon takes runners through two distinct sides of the capital. Westminster provides the grand streets and familiar sights, while the City of London brings older lanes, churches and modern skyscrapers. Between them come views along the Thames, live entertainment and plenty of charity support.
The 2027 race takes place on Sunday 4 April and will be the event’s tenth edition. Its public ballot has closed, but official charity partners still offer places. Here is what to know about the course, entry and race weekend.
The Destination
London gives travelling runners plenty to do around race day. Westminster has Trafalgar Square, the Houses of Parliament, museums, galleries and theatres. The City of London feels different, with historic streets and churches set among its financial district’s modern buildings.
The race brings both areas together, but you do not need to fit all of London into the day before a half marathon. If you are staying for the weekend, choose somewhere with a straightforward journey to the start and save the longer sightseeing walks for after the race.
History Of The London Landmarks Half Marathon
The first London Landmarks Half Marathon took place in 2018. More than 100,000 runners have taken part since then, and the 2027 event will mark its tenth edition.
The race was created by Tommy’s, the pregnancy and baby charity, which owns and organises it. Fundraising remains central to the event: runners support Tommy’s and hundreds of other causes, giving the race a strong charity presence on the course.
When Is The London Landmarks Half Marathon 2027?
The London Landmarks Half Marathon 2027 takes place on Sunday 4 April. It covers 13.1 miles, or 21.1 kilometres, on closed roads through central London.
Individual start times and arrival instructions will matter at an event of this size. Check the 2027 participant information when it is issued, particularly your wave and the route to your designated start area.
Race Morning
The organiser’s current course description places the start in the Whitehall area. Detailed 2027 access arrangements have not yet been announced, so use your participant information to find the correct entrance rather than assuming you can approach the start from any direction.
Allow extra time for the journey. Road closures can affect buses and walking routes, while busy stations may slow your progress. If friends or family are watching, agree a meeting place for after the race and check the final course map before they choose where to stand.
London Landmarks Half Marathon Course
The detailed 2027 course has not yet been published. The 2026 route gives runners a useful picture of the race: it started on Whitehall, travelled east through Westminster and the City of London, then returned beside the Thames to finish near Trafalgar Square.
Whitehall And Westminster
The 2026 race began on Whitehall, close to Downing Street and the Houses of Parliament. Runners headed towards the river before turning east, with views of Big Ben and the London Eye in the opening miles. From there, the route followed the Embankment past Somerset House. It is a memorable start to a half marathon: broad roads, the Thames nearby and familiar London sights appearing before you have had much chance to settle into the race.
Fleet Street And The City
The course then moved away from the river through the streets around Fleet Street and Holborn before reaching St Paul’s Cathedral. This part of the route mixed long city roads with more turns, taking runners past the Royal Courts of Justice and into the older streets of the City. Around Guildhall, the Bank of England and the Monument, the scenery changed again. Historic buildings sat alongside the City’s modern towers, including views of The Gherkin, The Cheesegrater and the Walkie Talkie. Music, performers and charity cheer points helped bring these streets to life on race day.
Tower Hill And The Thames
The eastern end of the 2026 route took runners towards Tower Hill and the Tower of London. Tower Bridge and The Shard were among the prominent views here, although the race did not cross Tower Bridge. The course then turned west for the return towards Westminster. This stretch followed the Thames, passing through the City and along Victoria Embankment. It gave runners another look at the river and some of the landmarks they had seen earlier, this time with the finish getting closer.
The Finish Near Trafalgar Square
In the final miles, the route continued west along the Embankment before turning back through Westminster to finish near Trafalgar Square. Nelson’s Column provided a fitting landmark at the end of a race built around the sights of London. The 2026 course was largely flat, but its changes of direction and large field meant it was still worth judging your pace carefully. Check the official 2027 map when it is released for the final streets, mile markers and finish location.
How Difficult Is The London Landmarks Half Marathon Course?
The organiser describes the route as fast and flat. Elevation is unlikely to be the main concern for most runners; managing your effort in a large field may matter more.
A busy start can make it hard to settle immediately, and London’s weather can change the feel of an exposed riverside stretch. Start at an effort you can maintain, then assess how you feel as the field opens up.
What Makes The London Landmarks Half Marathon Special?
It is the only half marathon to run through both the City of Westminster and the City of London. That combination takes runners from famous sights into streets many visitors would otherwise miss.
The race also has a distinct charity atmosphere. Tommy’s owns the event, runners represent a wide range of causes, and entertainment and cheer points bring activity to the course.
For a runner’s view of the experience, listen to our conversation with previous finisher Frank White.
Is The London Landmarks Half Marathon A Fast Course?
It has personal best potential. The organiser describes the course as flat and fast, and the closed roads provide room to run once the field has spread out.
Your result will still depend on your start wave, the weather and how well you judge the early miles. The landmarks make this an absorbing race, but they can also tempt you to run on excitement at the start. Keep something in reserve for the return from the City.
Is The London Landmarks Half Marathon Good For First Time Runners?
It can be a memorable first half marathon for someone who has trained for the distance. The relatively flat route, regular changes of scenery and substantial crowd support give you plenty to focus on beyond the miles.
Its scale calls for some preparation away from training. Know which wave you are in, plan your journey to the start and decide where to meet supporters afterwards. Those simple arrangements can make race morning much calmer.
How To Enter The London Landmarks Half Marathon 2027
The public ballot and second chance ballot for 2027 have closed, with results announced. The organiser says that anyone still seeking a place must apply through an official charity partner.
If you received a ballot place, make sure you completed the registration steps by the deadline in your results email. If you are looking for an entry now, use the official event website to find participating charities.
Running The London Landmarks Half Marathon For Charity
Tommy’s offers places in its own team, and many other official charities also have entries. Apply to a cause you want to support and ask about its registration fee, fundraising target and runner support before committing.
The required fundraising amount is set by the individual charity., but is normally £350 to £500. Runners who already have a ballot place can also choose to fundraise for a charity without taking one of its allocated places.
Our Verdict
The London Landmarks Half Marathon makes strong use of its setting. It offers a largely flat course through Westminster and the City, with enough history, entertainment and crowd support to appeal to runners who care as much about the experience as their finishing time.
For anyone hoping to run in 2027, a charity place is now the route in. Once you have secured one, use the final course map and participant guide to make your race day plans.
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