GETTING THERE
TRAVELLING TO THE EVENT
We recommend that all runners use public transport on race day, as the area is well served with underground stations. Please make sure you check TfL and National Rail in the week prior to the event for any planned disruptions or engineering works.
Road Closures
Latest road closure information can be found here. We do not recommend driving, as many roads will be closed from 05:00, and parking in the area will be extremely difficult.
Rail/Tube
The following stations are closest for getting to the start. You’ll be able to follow our signed walking routes to bag drop (see arrivals & venue map below):
• Charing Cross Underground & Mainline Station (Bakerloo and Northern lines)
• Embankment Underground (Bakerloo, Northern and Circle & District lines)
• Victoria Underground & Mainline Station (Victoria, Circle & District lines)
• St James’ Park Underground Station (Circle & District lines)
• Westminster Underground Station (Jubilee and Circle & District lines)
We do not recommend runners plan to arrive via Green Park, Piccadilly or Leicester Square underground stations as these stations will be extremely busy.
Bus
Local bus services operating in Central London may be subject to diversions from 04:30 onwards, due to our road closures in the area for the event. For further information on bus travel on race day, please visit www.tfl.gov.uk in the week leading up to the event.
Cycling
Please note that there are no specific cycle parking facilities for the event. Please use official local bike parking. Santander Cycle docking stations along the race route will be suspended for the day and therefore unavailable. In preparation for the race, closures apply to parts of the Cycle Superhighway along the route, on Victoria Embankment, Westminster Bridge and Parliament Square.
GETTING TO THE START
Bag Drop & Help Desk Location: Waterloo Place, SW1Y 5ER
Arrival times
Please note that to avoid congestion in the area, participants have been allocated a specific time window to arrive to the event site, including the bag drop area at Waterloo Place. We encourage you to arrive race ready if you can. If you do not need to drop a bag you may proceed directly to your start pen at the time below. This is based upon your allocated start pen (printed on your race number):
Race warm-ups will start in your Pen 10 minutes before your Pen’s estimated start time.
Bag Drop
For this year we will be operating a reduced baggage facility to support us in reducing congestion pre- race, and are asking all runners, if possible, to arrive race ready and head straight to the start line when you arrive. However, if you need to bring a bag, the bag drop is located at Waterloo Place. Once in the bag drop area, please visit the bay that corresponds to your race number.
Please note that any bag dropped at the bag drop must be a maximum of 45cm x 45cm x 25cm (normal backpack size). Larger bags, holdalls and any size suitcase, will not be accepted. Random bag checks will also be in operation on event day by our security team – please follow all instructions if asked by one of our team.
If you purchased race pack postage, you will receive your race number pre-event and can head straight to the start line on the day. If you are collecting your race number, please find details of how to collect this on page 18. Your race number includes a tear off bag tag that matches your race number. Please detach this slip and attach it to your bag by looping it through the hole in the tag as instructed. Please do this prior to your arrival on the day to minimise queuing time at bag drop. We advise runners not to arrive any earlier than their allocated arrival time.
What is Race Ready?
In order to help congestion at the baggage area we are asking our amazing runners to arrive race ready. Race ready simply means to arrive with no bag and head straight to the start line. This will speed up the start process and will make sure our runners all start on time!
With record numbers again this year, the area will be very busy, we strongly recommend not bringing a bag and avoiding using the bag drop by arriving ready to go. You could ask a friend to look after your belongings whilst you run. If you do need to use Waterloo Place bag drop, please arrive within your allocated time slot to ensure you are able to drop a bag. Please be patient if there is a short queue to access the bag drop area - we will manage the capacity of the area closely on event day.
Toilets
We will have a small quantity of toilets located in Waterloo Place for runners to use after dropping their bags. If you don’t need to drop a bag you can skip the queues at Waterloo Place and make your way to the bottom of St James’s Street where you will find additional toilets.
Start Area
Please make sure you don’t make your way to the start area any earlier than your allocated arrival time as you may not be able to access the area until your allocated slot time. Volunteers will be positioned along the way to help with any queries. Please note that if you would like to run with a friend who has been allocated a different start time, you may move back to a later time, but do not arrive any earlier than you’ve been allocated.
We will be operating a staggered start process again for 2025 meaning our start line is open for 1 hour. Your race doesn’t start until you cross the start line, so there’s no need to rush. Give your fellow runners plenty of space and we’ll get you all across the line safely.
Walking To The Start
Look out for volunteers who will be able to help with directions.
Warm-Ups
As you move through our start area towards the start line our MCs will be keeping you entertained and you will be taken through a warm up by Runna before you start the race.
START/FINISH MAP
INSERT MAP WHEN AVAILABLE