London Marathon 2024 route map: Interactive guide including best places to view from

The 44th London Marathon is set to smash its own fundraising record of £66.4m, with an estimated 50,000 runners hitting the streets today.

Favourites Tamirat Tola and Tigist Assefa are expected to shine in the elite races, while top British athletes aim to secure their place on the team for the Paris Olympics. Hundreds of thousands of spectators will line the course, filled with iconic landmarks, to cheer on the participants, regardless of whether they finish in two or five hours.

The day kicks off with the wheelchair races at 9:05am, followed by the elite women at 9:25am. The men's race begins at 10am, with the masses following shortly after. For those who have run before, the course remains the same. However, for first-time marathoners, here's a guide to the 26.2-mile route and the best spots for family and friends to spectate, reports the Mirror.

As per tradition, the marathon will start from three separate lines in Greenwich, converging into one route in Woolwich just under three miles in. The initial miles are downhill, often leading first-timers to start too fast and pay the price later.

Once settled into their pace, runners will pass the Cutty Sark around the six-mile mark before heading towards Canada Water. The runners will cross the River Thames at Tower Bridge, reaching the halfway point shortly after. The next landmark is London's Docklands, followed by a lap of the Isle of Dogs - a point where the pain often starts to kick in.

This area tends to have fewer spectators, making it an ideal viewing spot for those who prefer smaller crowds. First-time participants should be aware that their GPS watch may go haywire when navigating through the Canary Wharf towers - but there's no need to panic, it's a common occurrence.

The 20-mile mark, often considered the real start of the race for elite runners, is near Poplar DLR station. From there, the course leads towards Limehouse and back to the Tower of London, which runners pass just before the 23-mile mark.

They then run past London Bridge with St Paul's Cathedral visible in the background.

Following the river, runners will spot the London Eye on their left before veering away from the water in Westminster. On the right side of the Embankment, they'll be met with a wall of cheering spectators, providing a final burst of motivation as they approach the finish line.

The marathon will conclude as the runners make their way onto The Mall at Buckingham Palace. After the race, participants can reunite with loved ones in the vicinity of Buckingham Palace, where an alphabetical signage system will be set up.

It's recommended to agree on a letter prior to the race.

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