When is the London Marathon 2024? Start time, TV channel, FREE stream and the route as Sir Jim Ratcliffe runs

THE London Marathon returns at the end of the month for the 44th edition of the race.

Around 50,000 are expected to take part in the 26.2-mile trek around London.

Gary Stone

More than 50,000 people will run in the London Marathon[/caption]

When is the London Marathon 2024 and what time does it start?

This year, the London Marathon takes place on Sunday, April 21.

Exact race times have not yet been announced but in previous years the elite and wheelchair races have set off at staggered start times from around 8.30am BST.

Runners in the mass participation race – which includes members of the public and celebrities – typically set off at 9.30am BST.

Again, start times are staggered with runners setting off up until around 11am BST.

What TV channel is showing the London Marathan 2024 and can I live stream it?

The race will again be shown across BBC platforms.

BBC One will begin coverage from 8.30am and then run on the channel until 2.15pm.

It will then switch over to BBC Two until 3pm.

Those who want to live stream the race can do so for FREE on the BBC Sport website and on iPlayer from 1pm until 6pm.

What is the route of the London Marathon 2024?

The route course has not changed in recent years – starting at Blackheath the route winds through Charlton and Woolwich before heading back into Greenwich.

It then moves north through Surrey Quays and west to Bermondsey before crossing the river north at Tower Bridge.

The London Marathon course route hasn’t changed in recent years

After heading east along The Highway, the course does a loop around Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs before heading through Blackwall, Poplar and Limehouse and returning to The Highway.

Runners then head weat all the way past the Tower of London, Monument, Cannon Street, Blackfriars, the Embankment and looping south with the Thames to Westminster Bridge.

They then turn west and travel along Birdcage Walk before heading past Buckingham Palace and to the finish line on The Mall.

Who won the London Marathon in 2023?

Long distance superstars Kelvin Kiptum and Sifan Hassan won the men’s and women’s races last year.

Kiptum set a course record in last year’s race at 2:01:25 before following that up with a world record marathon outing in Chicago in October.

PA

2023 London Marathon winner Kelvin Kiptum was tragically killed in February[/caption]

Tragically, Kiptum was killed in a car crash in February.

Double Olympic gold medallist Hassan was running in her first ever marathon last year and even stopped twice to stretch her leg.

She was around 28 seconds behind at the 15-mile mark before storming back to win on a sprint finish, just four seconds ahead of Alemu Megertu.

What celebrities are running in the London Marathon 2024?

Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, 71, will run the Marathon again this year and recently stated he has run almost 40 in his life.

Ratcliffe, however, faces a race to reach United’s FA Cup final against Coventry City at Wembley – the game kicks off at 3.30pm.

Olympic hero Sir Mo Farah will run again after finishing 9th last year, while comedian Romesh Ranganathan and actors Ruth Wilson and Christopher Ecclestone will also run, they have confirmed.

How much does the London Marathon raise for charity?

The London Marathon is the world’s largest annual fundraising event and organisers claim it has raised more than £1billion since the first race in 1981.

It was revealed that £58.3 million was raised for charity in in 2022, while the 2023 figures have not yet been published.

The largest individual year was 2019, which raised £66.4m.