London Landmarks Half Marathon 2026 Start Time
Mark your calendar for Sunday, 29 March 2026. The official start time is a rolling affair, beginning at 8:30 AM for the first wave of runners. If you’re aiming for a personal best, you’ll be in that early, sharp-elbowed pack.
For the rest of us, the Gold Wave and Charity Wave runners typically set off between 9:00 AM and 10:30 AM. Your specific wave time will be printed on your race number, so don’t lose that little slip of paper—it’s your golden ticket.
Why the staggered start? It prevents a massive human traffic jam around Trafalgar Square. Think of it as a well-choreographed flash mob, minus the awkward dancing.
The ‘Why So Specific’ Factor
London in late March has a very British relationship with weather: it’s a gamble. The 8:30 AM start is deliberately early to catch the calm before the wind picks up or before the drizzle turns dramatic. You want the sun low on Big Ben, not beating down on you by mile ten.
The route’s magic also depends on timing. You’ll pass Big Ben, the Gherkin, and Tower Bridge before the city’s weekend tourists flood the pavements. It’s your private, pre-brunch curatorial tour of London’s finest architecture.
Fun fact: The course is famously closed to traffic until 11:00 AM. If you’re in the later waves, you’ll be sharing the road with the occasional confused taxi driver. It adds to the local colour.