Skip to main content
Shelter Logo
England
Donate

TCS London Marathon 2026

  • Greenwich, London
  • 26 April 2026
  • 26.2 miles
  • Registration fee: £125
  • Fundraising pledge: £2000

Applications for the Shelter London Marathon 2026 team will open on 28 April 2025. It will be our biggest team ever – and we'd love for you to join us.

Challenge yourself to the world's most popular marathon, which showcases the best of London. Starting in Greenwich, the route passes iconic landmarks including Tower Bridge and Canary Wharf before the finish line on The Mall, with a view of Buckingham Palace. It's a relatively flat course with personal best potential!

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced marathon runner, we offer training plans, nutrition tips and fundraising support. On race day, every marathon runner deserves to feel like a champion. We'll be cheering you on with your family and friends, then celebrating with you at the post-race reception.

We believe that home is a human right. With a Shelter charity place, you'll be part of the fight to end the housing emergency.

You must be at least 18 years old to run the London Marathon.

Already have your own place?

If you've already secured a spot, you can still run and fundraise for Team Shelter. Use your place to fight for housing justice – please get in touch.

Join Team Shelter

Have any questions?

Check our event guidance or get in touch at running@shelter.org.uk.

Volunteer

Want to help out at this event? Sign up to volunteer.

All our fundraisers get the very best from us, including:

  • team training and information sessions

  • fundraising advice

  • last-minute support and information at our stall at the TCS London Marathon Expo

  • post-race reception with refreshments

  • professional photographers on race day to capture the action

Defend the right to a safe home

A woman in a Shelter vest celebrates after finishing the marathon. She holds up her medal and a glass of champagne. In the background is a banner than reads 'The fight for home starts here'.

When you run and fundraise for Shelter, you're defending the right to a safe home for everyone. Your £2000 fundraising pledge could:

  • fund over 65 calls to our emergency helpline

  • pay for legal advice to help 12 families in crisis keep their home

  • enable a Helpline Plus adviser to resolve 8 complex cases, supporting people who face difficult housing issues

One of our previous Shelter marathon runners said:

The support from the Shelter team was amazing. Thank you very much for the opportunity to run a great marathon for such a worthwhile cause.

Fundraising for Shelter

We recommend you start by setting up a fundraising page on JustGiving and asking friends, family and colleagues to sponsor you. You can also organise an event such as a bake sale or quiz. See our fundraising resources for more inspiration.

Please make sure you’re confident in reaching the fundraising pledge before you sign up. We invest in places at charity events and need to raise as much as possible for our fight against housing injustice.

Our friendly Events team are on hand to support you with your fundraising. If you have a question or want to talk through ideas, email running@shelter.org.uk or call us on 0344 515 1190.

Read our full guidance about running and fundraising for Shelter

A male runner wearing a Shelter vest waits in a park before the race starts, smiling with his hands in his pockets.