The London Marathon could take place across two days next year, organisers have confirmed – leaving residents and businesses near the route wondering what it means for them.

This year’s event, on Sunday April 26, will begin on Blackheath and snake its way through Woolwich, Charlton, Greenwich and Deptford on its way to the finish line at The Mall.

But the 2027 event could be held across a whole weekend – April 24 and 25 – to enable a world record 100,000 amateur runners to take park, The Guardian revealed on Wednesday.

A “double marathon” would allow the elite women’s and men’s events to be held on separate days and would raise millions of pounds for charities.

Marathon organisers have confirmed to The Greenwich Wire that a two-day event is under consideration. But they have declined to elaborate on plans for the extra day, leaving people who live close to the route in the dark over what it means for them.

With the exception of the pandemic-hit 2020 event, the route has been broadly the same since the first race in 1981, chosen because “it would not bring London to a halt” – an easier ask then as shops were not open on Sundays and the docks had not yet been developed. 

Since then, numbers have exploded from about 7,000 to 56,000 last year – with more than a million runners applying to take part. A sister event, The Big Half, also takes place each September between Tower Bridge and the Cutty Sark. 

But a “double marathon” would pose huge challenges if it used the same route – not least because thousands of people live inside areas cut off by the tightly-designed route, including most of Charlton and parts of Blackheath, Woolwich and Deptford.  

While the tourist trade would benefit from an influx of spectators, many retailers would take an economic hit with deliveries disrupted and regular customers unable to reach them.

Other events would also be affected – from Saturday morning parkruns to football matches at Charlton, Millwall and a number of non-league clubs.

A London Marathon Events spokesperson said: “The TCS London Marathon is the world’s most popular marathon, and we are continually exploring innovative ways to enable more people to take part, while delivering positive benefits for London.

“Together with our partners and stakeholders, we are looking at the intention for the 2027 TCS London Marathon to take place across two days. No approval has been given at this stage. Our immediate focus is on delivering an incredible 2026 TCS London Marathon on Sunday 26 April and ensuring every participant has an amazing experience.”

Runners underneath flyover
The drummers under the Woolwich Road flyover are a marathon highlight. Image: The Greenwich Wire

A different route?

One possibility is that a different route altogether could be used. In 1980, the London International Women’s Marathon used a route from Battersea Park, following the Thames to the Isle of Dogs and back to the Guildhall. While that was an elite event with just 181 runners, large sections are used for today’s race. 

The 2012 Olympic marathons were originally due to begin at Tower Bridge and run through the East End to the Olympic Stadium, but those plans were dropped in favour of a TV-friendly central London route. 

Sections of routes used for the RideLondon cycle races could also be used – with the original course running from the Olympic Park towards the Embankment and Chiswick Bridge, returning via Putney Bridge to The Mall. 

However, alternative courses would still bring their own challenges compared with the tried and tested route through Greenwich – not least in finding a second location for the huge marathon logistics operation that springs up on Blackheath and in Greenwich Park in the week before the race. Many people in east London could also still face two days of disruption, depending on the course chosen.

Greenwich Council declined to comment. A spokesperson for the mayor told the BBC: “London is the sporting capital of the world and the mayor looks forward to working with London Marathon and partners to consider if it might be possible to host an event that will run across two days next year.”

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