Race day 24 Apr 2027

When to Start Training for the London Marathon 2027

2027 is a two-day ‘Double TCS London Marathon’: men race on Saturday 24 April and women on Sunday 25 April 2027. The TCS London Marathon is on Saturday 24 April 2027. An 18-week plan starts on Monday 21 December 2026.

12-week plan
1 Feb
Monday 2027
14-week plan
18 Jan
Monday 2027
16-week plan
4 Jan
Monday 2027
18-week plan
21 Dec
Monday 2026
20-week plan
7 Dec
Monday 2026
24-week plan
9 Nov
Monday 2026

Use your own numbers: open the training start date calculator →

Training start dates for London 2027

PlanWeek 1 startsPeak week (3-week taper)Taper starts
12 weeksMon 1 Feb 2027Mon 29 Mar 2027Mon 5 Apr 2027
14 weeksMon 18 Jan 2027Mon 29 Mar 2027Mon 5 Apr 2027
16 weeksMon 4 Jan 2027Mon 29 Mar 2027Mon 5 Apr 2027
18 weeksMon 21 Dec 2026Mon 29 Mar 2027Mon 5 Apr 2027
20 weeksMon 7 Dec 2026Mon 29 Mar 2027Mon 5 Apr 2027
24 weeksMon 9 Nov 2026Mon 29 Mar 2027Mon 5 Apr 2027

Week 1 starts on a Monday so race day falls at the end of the final week (for a Monday race such as Boston, on the day after it).

Qualifying for London

Good for Age is open to UK residents only and capped at 6,000 places (3,000 men and 3,000 women), allocated fastest-first relative to age and qualifying time. Times must be under (‘sub’) the standard. See the full London qualifying standards for your age group.

Other majors

Build a custom calendar with the training start date calculator and set paces with the Pfitzinger or Hansons calculators.

Last reviewed: October 2026 · Health disclaimer

FAQ

London training: questions

For an 18-week plan, start on Monday 21 December 2026; for a 16-week plan, on Monday 4 January 2027. Race day is Saturday 24 April 2027.

Most runners use 16–20 weeks; beginners often prefer 20–24 and experienced runners 12–16, provided they already have a solid base.