Across the UK, athletes will be preparing like never before as they get ready to take on the London Marathon.

 Whether sticking to a strict Olympian-style diet, or daily running routines, the competitors will be making sure they are the fittest they can be for the 26-mile run on Sunday, April 21.

Along with ensuring your body and mind are at their best, you also have to ensure you are organised and ready for the event.

That includes checking that you have all the information you need from the bib number, start line, the route, how to get there and start times.

Luckily for you, we’ve saved you the job of searching around for the answer to all those questions and rounded up all the information you need.

One of the main pieces of knowledge and arguably the most important is the start waves and times for the London Marathon.

What are the London Marathon Start Waves and times?

Before heading to the start waves area at the marathon, you will need to access the Assembly Area which only those taking part in the marathon can do so.

You will need to make sure your bib number is clearly displayed on your chest before arriving at the spot.

RECOMMENDED READING:

What is the route and course of the 2024 London Marathon?

The start waves will take place from 9.30am to 11.30am with short gaps in between to allow the course ahead to clear, meaning runners have plenty of space along the course.

Start waves and times are allocated based on your predicted finish time, which you will have given to organisers ahead of time.

Although you can not join an earlier start wave, you can join a later start wave without the need to tell staff, just join on the day.