Photo: © London Marathon Events / Big HalfBig Half
London, United Kingdomsince 2018Choose the distanceTap a distance: the course, fees, times and rules below update for that race.
At a glance
Big Half 2027 takes place on 5 September 2027 in London, United Kingdom. Distances: 21.098 km, 1.609 km. Start at 09:00 from Accanto al Tower Bridge.
- Date
- Sunday, 5 September 2027
- Location
- London, United Kingdom
- Start
- Accanto al Tower Bridge
- Finish
- Cutty Sark, Greenwich
- Distances
- Half marathon · 21.098 km · Competitive
- New Balance Big Relay · 21.098 km · Competitive
- Big Mile · 1.609 km · Non-competitive
- Start times
- 09:00
- Entry fees
- Half marathon £61.99 · Big Mile £0
- Registration
- Registration opens 6 September 2026 · Register now ↗
- Organiser
- London Marathon Events ↗
- Official website
- londonmarathonevents.co.uk ↗
- Edition
- since 2018
Last updated: 19 October 2026
The race
The Big Half is London's community half marathon: first held in 2018 and organised by London Marathon Events, it celebrates the diversity of the city and the four boroughs it passes through, Tower Hamlets, Southwark, Lewisham and Greenwich.
The 2027 edition takes place on Sunday 5 September, starting at 9:00 next to Tower Bridge and finishing by the Cutty Sark in Greenwich. The road course is fast and flat, with about 218 feet of elevation gain.
It is a serious race too: Kenenisa Bekele ran 60:20 here in 2020 and Eilish McColgan 67:35 in 2022, the course records; 17,193 runners finished in 2025.
On the same day there is also:
- the New Balance Big Relay, the half marathon split into four legs of about 5K for teams of four
- the Big Mile, a free family mile on the finishing stretch, from Creek Road to the Cutty Sark
After the finish there is a free Festival Area in Greenwich Park, with a Sensory Calm Space, a Parent and Child Space and a Multi Faith Prayer Space.
The course is point-to-point, from Tower Bridge to the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, all on road and considered fast and flat (about 218 feet of climbing).
Miles 1-3
Wide roads but crowded at the start. You go through the Limehouse Tunnel, with two short hills: coming out of the tunnel at mile 2 and entering Canary Wharf at mile 3.
Miles 4-6
The tall buildings of Canary Wharf can upset GPS, so use the mile and kilometre markers. A few twists and turns and good crowds, then the road narrows back in Limehouse and there is a short cobbled section in Wapping.
Miles 7-10
A slightly uncomfortable incline just before Tower Bridge, rewarded by crossing the bridge, for many the best part of the race. Then quieter stretches in Rotherhithe mixed with areas of big support.
Mile 11 to the finish
The crowds grow as you approach Greenwich. With 500 metres to go there is one last climb over a short bridge, then the descent into Greenwich town centre and the final turn with the Cutty Sark in full view.
Drinks and facilities
- BUXTON® water at miles 3, 6, 9 and 11, Lucozade Sport at mile 9
- toilets (including accessible) at the start, finish and miles 3, 6, 8 and 11
- bottle refill points in the start and finish areas
Entry fees
What's included
- Race pack
- Finisher medal
- Technical shirt
- Chip timing
- Cronometraggio
- Aid stations
- Bag drop
- Pacers
- Toilets
- Race photos
- Finisher certificate
Rules and requirements
Who can take part
- Big Half: aged 17 or over on race day
- New Balance Big Relay: 15 or over, with a team captain aged 18 or over; teams of four
- Big Mile: no minimum age, free
You can take part in a wheelchair or with another assistive device, including being pushed, if you say so when entering. Runners who need a Support Runner can apply for a free place for them.
Fees and entry
2027 entries opened on 6 September 2026 on the Let's Do This platform: General Entry costs £61.99. There are also limited charity places with a reduced fee and a minimum fundraising pledge (£300-350).
Time limit and start
The cut-off is 4 hours (4 hours per team for the relay): slower participants can continue on the pavement, supported by the team. Runners start in waves: you can move back to a later wave, not forward. Pacers cover 1:30 to 3:50.
Event pack
UK residents receive it by post. Overseas runners collect it from Marathon House (190 Great Dover Street, London) on Friday 3 or Saturday 4 September 2027, or a nominated person can collect it with ID and written consent.
Refunds and transfers
No refunds, deferrals or transfers, including for pregnancy. Running with someone else's number can lead to a ban from London Marathon Events races.
