The Time Out London blog team

The London Marathon might just be the city’s most exclusive cool-kid event. The sight of eager runners in fresh Hokas, sipping fluorescent electrolytes under the April sun can become inspiring pretty quickly, even if you don’t typically consider yourself the run-club type. There’s something about the race that brings once-fading New Year’s resolution energy out of the woodwork, with some unlikely sleb participants jogging along the route too. And competition’s tough – a record-breaking 1,133,813 people entered the ballot in 2026. So, here’s how to beat everyone to the ballot before the real race has even begun. Check out our winning guide to this year’s London Marathon here. When is the London Marathon 2027? Next year’s race will be held on Sunday April 25 2027. However, it might be that date and Saturday April 24. The organisers are currently exploring a one-off two-day marathon over the weekend, though it’s yet to be confirmed.  How many people will take part? Next year’s marathon will be twice the size if the two-dayer gets the go-ahead. This means 100,000 runners could be taking part from April 24-25, with around 50,000 runners each day. When is the London Marathon ballot announced? Act fast – the ballot is open. It opened at 9am on Friday April 24, and will close at 4pm on Friday May 1. After a completely random draw, you’ll find out if you’re one of the lucky ones by early July. Entry fees If you donate your entry fee and pay £49.99 upfront, you can double your...

East London Brewing Co combines two things that east London does best: craft beer and incredible live music. Better yet, it’s just got the green light to keep good vibes going late into the night in a kitted-out new unit. With its curfew extended an extra hour across a few weekdays, ELBC can now host live performances sans the manic rush to finish up and get out while the night’s still young. The operator of the brewery, Ronnie Finch, asked Waltham Forest Council for permission to make these changes on April 16.  Live acts can wow pub-goers until midnight on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Thursdays are basically part of the weekend now anyway, especially for us WFH folks. Outside, the music curfew will be 10pm.  Better yet, these later performances come with a brand-new backdrop. ELBC sits on the Blackhorse Beer Mile, an industrial area-turned-brewery hotspot that is just a short walk from Blackhorse Road station. Its new unit is a worth addition to the mile, fit with an outside bar primed for live DJ sets, and an outdoor terrace lined with benches and tables to make the most of warm summer evening air. Photo: Ronnie Finch No time's being wasted, with the new spot launching May bank holiday weekend (May 1-3) in line with the Blackhorse Road birthday festival. With a food truck takeover by Play With Fire, expertly crafted cocktails by Tiempo Tequila, live music, DJs, and even some entertainment for the little ones, there’s plenty to cheers to. ELBC wears its east...

London is a shopaholic’s dream. We’ve got two ginormous Westfield malls full of everyone’s favourite high street chains, world-famous shopping districts like Oxford Street and Carnaby Street and historic luxury department stores like Harrods and Selfridges to fulfil all of our retail needs, plus a fantastic selection of unique indie run stores to boot.  So, it’ll come as little surprise that a London spot has just been crowned the UK’s greatest place to shop, based on TripAdvisor reviews. But it’s none of the aforementioned places. With more than 14,000 reviews averaging 4.6 out of five, the UK’s best place to go for retail therapy is Borough Market.  Stationed next to London Bridge, it’s believed that Borough Market has been feeding London since 1014, when traders would gather at the site to sell grain, fish and livestock. It was formally established as a market centuries later in 1756 and the buildings that we see there today were mostly constructed in 1851.  It’s not the place to go if you’re after some new pieces for your wardrobe, but the market offers a magnificent spread of fresh home-grown fruit and veg, artisan products and gourmet goodies from across the globe, including entire stalls dedicated to mushroom pâté, dates and pork pies.  ©Shutterstock/AC ManleyBorough Market, Londres Pick up some impeccable cheese from Neal’s Yard Dairy, Italian cured meat from Alpine Deli, Seoul-style kimchi from Bermondsey Gut Kimchi, jars of premium olives from Borough Olives or...