London Marathon 2024: How to enter ballot, opening and closing dates for places and when is next year's race?

The Sporting News

•
London Marathon 2024: How to enter ballot, opening and closing dates for places and when is next year's race? image

There are not many events that can bring elite athletes, celebrities, and folks in outrageous costumes together in one place but the London Marathon achieves the unlikely feat.

The 43rd edition of the famous race takes place on April 23 and if you are feeling inspired by the droves of people running the gruelling 26.2 mile route then here's what you need to know to get involved for next year.

Whether it be for fitness, charity or just something to tick off a bucket list, the London Marathon is one of the most popular events in the UK calendar.

Getting to the start line is not the easiest achievement. Every year there are over 450,000 entries and only 17,000 ballot spaces available but don't let that put you off.

Here, The Sporting News tells you all you need to know about entering for the 2024 race.

When does the London Marathon 2024 ballot open?

The entry for the 2024 London Marathon opens on Saturday April 22, one day before this year's race.

Competition for ballot spots will be heavy, with thousands applying to be one of the lucky people chosen to participate.

Applying for the ballot is free but if you are successful in your quest then you will have to pay the full entry fee of £69.99 to secure a spot in the 2024 race.

If you are tempted to apply, you can do so here on the London Marathon website.

You can also apply for the race through a charity spot. Charity listings are available on the race's official website.

MORE: London Marathon 2023 start time, route, past winners

When does the London Marathon 2024 ballot close?

Official organisers haven't confirmed a closing time but according to St Christopher's charity it's thought it could close on Friday April 28 at 21:00 BST, so you do not have a great deal of time to get your application in so act fast!

But remember if you are not successful in the ballot, you can still try your hand at gaining a charity participation.

When is the London Marathon 2024?

Next year's London Marathon is scheduled to take place on April 21, 2024 and successful ballot entrants can usually be expected to be notified around the end of October 2023.

Why is the 2023 London Marathon in April?

Fans of this famous race will be delighted to see the London Marathon return to its traditional April slot this year.

For the past three years, the race was held in October as a result of the coronavirus pandemic that wreaked havoc with the sporting calendar.

Prior to then, the London Marathon was always held in spring.

List of past London Marathon winners

Men

Year Runner (Country) Time
1981 Dick Beardsley (US), Inge Simonsen (Norway) 2:11:48
1982 Hugh Jones (UK) 2:09:24
1983 Mike Gratton (UK) 2:09:43
1984 Charlie Spedding (UK) 2:09:57
1985 Steve Jones (UK) 2:08:16
1986 Toshihiko Seko (Japan) 2:10:02
1987 Hiromi Taniguchi (Japan)    2:09:50
1988 Henrik Jorgensen (Denmark) 2:10:20
1989 Douglas Wakiihuri (Kenya) 2:09:03
1990 Allister Hutton (UK) 2:10:10
1991 Yakov Tolstikov (Soviet Union) 2:09:17
1992 Antonio Pinto (Portugal)    2:10:02
1993 Eamonn Martin (UK) 2:10:50
1994 Dionicio Ceron (Mexico) 2:08:53
1995 Dionicio Ceron (Mexico) 2:08:30
1996 Dionicio Ceron (Mexico) 2:10:00
1997 Antonio Pinto (Portugal) 2:07:55
1998 Abel Anton (Spain) 2:07:57
1999 Abdelkader El Mouaziz (Morocco) 2:07:57
2000 Antonio Pinto (Portugal) 2:06:36
2001 Abdelkader El Mouaziz (Morocco) 2:07:09
2002 Khalid Khannouchi (US)   2:05:38
2003 Gezahegne Abera (Ethiopia) 2:07:56
2004 Evans Rutto (Kenya) 2:06:18
2005 Martin Lel (Kenya) 2:07:35
2006 Felix Limo (Kenya) 2:06:39
2007 Martin Lel (Kenya) 2:07:41
2008 Martin Lel (Kenya) 2:05:15
2009 Samuel Wanjiru (Kenya) 2:05:10
2010 Tsegaye Kebede (Ethiopia) 2:05:19
2011 Emmanuel Kipchirchir Mutai (Kenya) 2:04:40
2012 Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich (Kenya) 2:04:44
2013 Tsegaye Kebede (Ethiopia) 2:06:04
2014 Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich (Kenya) 2:04:29
2015 Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) 2:04:42
2016 Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) 2:03:05
2017 Daniel Wanjiru (Kenya) 2:05:48
2018 Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) 2:04:17
2019 Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) 2:02:37
2020 Shura Kitata Tola (Ethiopia) 2:05:58
2021 Sisay Lemma (Ethiopia) 2:04:01
2022 Amos Kipruto (Kenya) 2:04:39

Women

Year Runner (Country) Time
1981 Joyce Smith (UK) 2:29:57
1982 Joyce Smith (UK) 2:29:43
1983 Grete Waitz (Norway) 2:25:29
1984 Ingrid Kristiansen (Norway) 2:24:26
1985 Ingrid Kristiansen (Norway) 2:21:06
1986 Grete Waitz (Norway) 2:24:54
1987 Ingrid Kristiansen (Norway) 2:22:48
1988 Ingrid Kristiansen (Norway) 2:25:41
1989 Veronique Marot (UK) 2:25:56
1990 Wanda Panfil (Poland) 2:26:31
1991 Rosa Mota (Portugal) 2:26:14
1992 Katrin Dorre-Heinig (Germany) 2:29:39
1993 Katrin Dorre-Heinig (Germany) 2:27:09
1994 Katrin Dorre-Heinig (Germany) 2:32:34
1995 Malgorzata Sobanska (Poland) 2:27:43
1996 Liz McColgan (UK) 2:27:54
1997 Joyce Chepchumba (Kenya) 2:26:51
1998 Catherina McKiernan (Ireland)  2:26:26
1999 Joyce Chepchumba (Kenya) 2:23:22
2000 Tegla Loroupe (Kenya) 2:24:33
2001 Derartu Tulu (Ethiopia)  2:23:57
2002 Paula Radcliffe (UK) 2:18:56
2003 Paula Radcliffe (UK) 2:15:25
2004 Margaret Okayo (Kenya) 2:22:35
2005 Paula Radcliffe (UK) 2:17:42
2006 Deena Kastor (US) 2:19:35
2007 Zhou Chunxiu (China) 2:20:38
2008 Irina Mikitenko (Germany) 2:24:14
2009 Irina Mikitenko (Germany) 2:22:11
2010 Aselefech Mergia (Ethiopia) 2:22:38
2011 Mary Jepkosgei Keitany (Kenya)      2:19:19
2012 Mary Jepkosgei Keitany (Kenya) 2:18:37
2013 Priscah Jeptoo (Kenya) 2:20:15
2014 Edna Kiplagat (Kenya) 2:20:21
2015 Tigist Tufa (Ethiopia) 2:23:21
2016 Jemima Sumgong (Kenya) 2:22:58
2017 Mary Jepkosgei Keitany (Kenya) 2:17:01
2018 Vivian Cheruiyot (Kenya) 2:18:31
2019 Brigid Kosgei (Kenya) 2:18:20
2020 Brigid Kosgei (Kenya) 2:18:58
2021 Joyciline Jepkosgei (Kenya) 2:17:43
2022 Yalemzerf Yehualaw (Ethiopia) 2:17:26

The Sporting News

The Sporting News Photo

Beyond the score: The sports world explained. The Sporting News has been a trusted sports media publisher since 1886, delivering the news, insights and entertainment that fans around the world need to know.