London Marathon 2019 - How to get to the start line
With not long to go before race day, here’s everything you need to know about getting to the start line of the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon.
Before you can plan your route to the start line, you will need to work out what colour start zone you are at.
How to work out what London Marathon start zone you’re in:
Blue running numbers:
401-26870
31931-34300
61161-73920
If you have a blue running number, you must go to the Blue Assembly Area.
Green running numbers:
26871-29560
57841-61160
If you have a green running number, you must go to the Green Assembly Area.
Red running numbers on white:
34301-57840
If you have a red running number on a white background, you must go to the Red Assembly Area.
Red running numbers on yellow:
29561-31930
If you have a red running number on a yellow background, you must go to the Yellow Assembly Area.
Under no circumstances can runners start the marathon at a different start area - you have to go to the one highlighted on your running number.
Once you’ve got your race number, the small number in the bottom right corner is your start zone. You can work out what time you’ll need to arrive at your designated assembly zone using this guide on the London Marathon website here.
Your zone is based on the predicted finish time you put on your form when signing up for the race. Runners can move back to a slower start pen, but cannot move themselves forward to a faster one.
How to get to each start area
The easiest way to get to all four start assembly areas is to travel by train. London Marathon runners can travel on the London Underground, Southeastern services and the DLR for free - you will just need to show station staff your running number.
How to get to the blue assembly area:
If you’re travelling to the blue assembly area, the nearest station is Blackheath Station, followed by a ten minute walk to the start.
To get to Blackheath Station, you can get the London Underground to London Bridge station, which is on the Jubilee and Northern lines. From there you can get a Southeastern train to Blackheath. Alternatively, you can get to Victoria, which is on the Circle and District and Victoria lines, and get a Southeastern train to Blackheath.
How to get to the green assembly area:
If you’re heading to the green start zone, you’ll need to get the train to Maze Hill Station, followed by a ten to fifteen minute walk to the start. It’s easiest to get the London Underground to London Bridge, which is on the Jubilee and Northern lines and get a Southeastern train to Maze Hill.
How to get to the red assembly area:
If you’re starting the marathon from the red start, which is the largest of the four start areas, you’ll need to get to Maze Hill or Greenwich Stations, then walk ten to fifteen minutes to the start.
For Maze Hill station, get the London Underground to London Bridge, which is on the Jubilee and Northern lines, and get a Southeastern train to Maze Hill. For Greenwich Station, you can also follow the same steps to Maze Hill and get a Southeastern train from London Bridge, or get on the DLR.
How to get to the yellow assembly area:
If you’re in the yellow start, head to Blackheath station, where it’s a ten to fifteen minute walk. Get the London Underground to London Bridge station, which is on the Jubilee and Northern lines. From there you can get a Southeastern train to Blackheath.
If you’re still not sure how to get to your start area from your nearest tube station, or hotel, it’s a good idea to use the TfL journey planner tool here. It’s a good idea to plan your journey, as trains are likely to be busy on race morning.
