The London Marathon, run each spring, is an extraordinary day, and a logistical one. Road closures sweep across the capital for hours, affecting anyone travelling in, whether you are running, supporting a runner, or simply trying to get across town. Here is how to plan around it from Buckinghamshire.
- The Marathon closes large parts of central and east London for much of the day each spring.
- Runners need an early, reliable start; flexibility and local knowledge matter on closure day.
- Supporters should plan viewing points and pickups around the closed roads and packed transport.
How do road closures affect travel?
On Marathon day, a wide network of roads across central and east London closes for hours, and many others are gridlocked around them. Public transport is packed, and crossing the route by car can be impossible at the wrong place and time, so any journey into town needs planning around the course.
Travelling in as a runner?
Runners need to reach the start calmly and on time, with no margin for a transport failure on the most important morning of their training. An early, pre-booked car to a sensible drop-off point near the start, planned around the closures, takes that worry away. See our early-collection note.
Supporting a runner on the day?
Supporters want to reach viewing points and then meet their runner afterwards, both complicated by the closures and the crowds. A driver who knows which roads are shut and where to pick up makes a chaotic day manageable, getting you to a good spot and collecting you and your exhausted runner at the end.
Just trying to get across London?
If you simply need to travel through town on Marathon day, expect delays and plan generously. A local driver will route around the closures as best the day allows, but the golden rule is to allow far more time than usual, or, where you can, avoid the affected area entirely.