Thousands of schoolchildren will get the chance to run across the famous London Marathon finish line next year — for free.
The TCS Mini London Marathon returns on Friday, April 23, 2027, giving young people the opportunity to run, jog, walk or wheel through central London.
Starting at Horse Guards Parade and finishing on The Mall, the event follows a flat road route. Pupils from Reception to Year 7 can take on the one-mile course, while children in Years 4 to 12 can tackle the longer 2.6km route.
Every child who crosses the finish line receives a medal, with timed results also provided. There will be a fan zone for family and friends, including food and drink stalls and a live video stream of the finish line.
The Mini London Marathon is free to enter. Unlike the main race, children cannot enter individually — schools across the UK must apply for places through a ballot. Successful schools can register up to 40 children, with a maximum of 25 in the one-mile event and 15 in the 2.6km race.
Children in Reception to Year 2 must be accompanied by adults, with at least one adult for every six children. Older pupils can take part independently, though they must be escorted to the start and collected at the finish.
Schools will receive £10 from title sponsor TCS for every pupil who finishes, along with resources designed to encourage physical activity. Details of the 2027 entry process will be available before the end of 2026.
The mini event comes ahead of a historic weekend for the capital, with the main London Marathon taking place across two days for the first time on April 24 and 25 in 2027.
London Streets has been covering London Trams half-term disruption and Northern line signal failures this week.
