London Marathon: Elevation Profile, Course Map & Pace Calculator
From Greenwich Park to Buckingham Palace, mostly flat, with a small dip under Tower Bridge at halfway. The course's elite field has produced several men's and women's world records, and the public ballot makes this the world's hardest mass-participation race to enter.
The London Marathon is fast, with only modest elevation change — rated 2/5 on our difficulty scale. Over the official 42.195 km (26.2 mi) the course gains about 770 ft (240 m) and loses 850 ft (260 m), with a net drop of 24 m (79 ft). Grade-adjusted pace says the toughest stretch arrives at kilometre 20 (near mile 12.5), demanding about 7% more effort than the same distance on flat ground. The steepest pitch on course reaches 10.5%.
Course stats
| Distance | 26.2 mi (42.195 km) |
|---|---|
| Location | London, United Kingdom |
| Total ascent | 770 ft (240 m) |
| Total descent | 850 ft (260 m) |
| Net elevation | -79 ft (-24 m) |
| Steepest grade | 10.5% |
| Difficulty | 2/5 |
| Field size | ≈50,000 runners |
| Race day | Last Sunday of April |
Kilometre-by-kilometre splits (grade-adjusted)
Grade-adjusted (GAP) splits for a 4:00:00 finish, computed from the course's elevation profile with the Minetti gradient-cost model: uphill kilometres get more time, downhills less, at even effort. Splits scale proportionally for any other goal time — the interactive pace calculator on this page computes them exactly.
| Kilometre | GAP pace /km | GAP pace /mi | Elev Δ | Elapsed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5:54 | 9:29 | +22 ft (+7 m) | 5:54 |
| 2 | 5:49 | 9:21 | +13 ft (+4 m) | 11:42 |
| 3 | 5:38 | 9:04 | -7 ft (-2 m) | 17:20 |
| 4 | 5:31 | 8:53 | -20 ft (-6 m) | 22:52 |
| 5 | 4:57 | 7:58 | -86 ft (-26 m) | 27:49 |
| 6 | 5:25 | 8:43 | -31 ft (-9 m) | 33:14 |
| 7 | 5:39 | 9:05 | -6 ft (-2 m) | 38:52 |
| 8 | 5:43 | 9:11 | +2 ft (+1 m) | 44:35 |
| 9 | 5:42 | 9:10 | +1 ft (0 m) | 50:17 |
| 10 | 5:55 | 9:31 | +23 ft (+7 m) | 56:11 |
| 11 | 5:26 | 8:45 | -28 ft (-8 m) | 1:01:38 |
| 12 | 5:47 | 9:19 | +11 ft (+3 m) | 1:07:25 |
| 13 | 5:34 | 8:57 | -13 ft (-4 m) | 1:12:59 |
| 14 | 5:47 | 9:19 | +10 ft (+3 m) | 1:18:46 |
| 15 | 5:42 | 9:10 | +1 ft (0 m) | 1:24:28 |
| 16 | 5:39 | 9:05 | -4 ft (-1 m) | 1:30:07 |
| 17 | 5:41 | 9:09 | 0 ft (0 m) | 1:35:48 |
| 18 | 5:39 | 9:06 | -4 ft (-1 m) | 1:41:27 |
| 19 | 5:43 | 9:13 | +4 ft (+1 m) | 1:47:11 |
| 20 | 5:35 | 8:58 | -14 ft (-4 m) | 1:52:45 |
| 21 | 6:05 | 9:47 | +38 ft (+12 m) | 1:58:50 |
| 22 | 5:38 | 9:04 | -6 ft (-2 m) | 2:04:28 |
| 23 | 5:35 | 8:59 | -12 ft (-4 m) | 2:10:03 |
| 24 | 6:00 | 9:40 | +26 ft (+8 m) | 2:16:03 |
| 25 | 5:34 | 8:58 | -27 ft (-8 m) | 2:21:37 |
| 26 | 5:33 | 8:56 | -15 ft (-5 m) | 2:27:10 |
| 27 | 5:41 | 9:08 | -2 ft (0 m) | 2:32:50 |
| 28 | 6:01 | 9:40 | +33 ft (+10 m) | 2:38:51 |
| 29 | 5:31 | 8:53 | -20 ft (-6 m) | 2:44:22 |
| 30 | 5:52 | 9:26 | +17 ft (+5 m) | 2:50:14 |
| 31 | 5:50 | 9:23 | -15 ft (-5 m) | 2:56:04 |
| 32 | 5:39 | 9:05 | -5 ft (-1 m) | 3:01:43 |
| 33 | 5:44 | 9:13 | +4 ft (+1 m) | 3:07:26 |
| 34 | 5:47 | 9:19 | +10 ft (+3 m) | 3:13:14 |
| 35 | 5:42 | 9:11 | +1 ft (0 m) | 3:18:56 |
| 36 | 5:47 | 9:18 | +9 ft (+3 m) | 3:24:43 |
| 37 | 5:55 | 9:31 | +23 ft (+7 m) | 3:30:38 |
| 38 | 5:47 | 9:19 | +7 ft (+2 m) | 3:36:25 |
| 39 | 5:13 | 8:24 | -55 ft (-17 m) | 3:41:38 |
| 40 | 5:54 | 9:29 | +20 ft (+6 m) | 3:47:32 |
| 41 | 5:43 | 9:12 | 0 ft (0 m) | 3:53:15 |
| 42 | 5:41 | 9:08 | -3 ft (-1 m) | 3:58:56 |
| 42.2 | 5:30 | 8:51 | -4 ft (-1 m) | 4:00:00 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the London Marathon flat or hilly?
The London Marathon is fast, with only modest elevation change (2/5 difficulty). Total ascent is about 770 ft (240 m) over 26.2 miles.
How much elevation gain does the London Marathon have?
About 770 ft (240 m) of total ascent and 850 ft (260 m) of descent, for a net change of -79 ft (-24 m). Figures come from a digital elevation model, so very flat courses can read 20–30 ft high.
What is the hardest part of the London Marathon course?
Kilometre 20 (near mile 12.5) is the toughest split on the course by grade-adjusted effort. Grade-adjusted pace puts it at roughly 7% more effort than flat running. The steepest grade on course is 10.5%.
When is the London Marathon?
The London Marathon is typically held on the last Sunday of April. The next edition is expected around April 25, 2027. Confirm the exact date on the official race website.
How many runners take part in the London Marathon?
The field is roughly 50,000 runners.
What pace do I need to run the London Marathon in my goal time?
At an even pace: 3:00:00 needs 6:52/mi (4:16/km); 3:30:00 needs 8:01/mi (4:59/km); 4:00:00 needs 9:09/mi (5:41/km); 4:30:00 needs 10:18/mi (6:24/km); 5:00:00 needs 11:27/mi (7:07/km); 5:30:00 needs 12:35/mi (7:49/km). On this course, grade-adjusted pacing shifts a few seconds per mile between uphill and downhill splits — the pace calculator on this page computes those splits for any goal time.
Plan your London race
Marathons with a similar profile
- Boston Marathon — 770 ft (240 m) ascent
- New York City Marathon — 770 ft (230 m) ascent
- Berlin Marathon — 750 ft (230 m) ascent
- Philadelphia Marathon — 740 ft (230 m) ascent
Official race site: https://www.tcslondonmarathon.com/