London Marathon ballot 2023: How to enter
With just 17,000 ballots up for grabs and a record-breaking 457,000 entries in 2020, securing your spot at that infamous starting line is no easy feat.
But don’t let that put you off. There is more than one way to enter next year’s race.
When will the 2023 London Marathon take place?
The 2023 London Marathon takes place on Sunday 23 April 2023 and returns to its traditional spring date for the first time since 2019.
When does the ballot box open and close?
Voting starts on Saturday October 1st and ends on Friday October 7th. Results will be announced before the end of October 2022 (date to be confirmed).
How do I participate in the ballot?
To participate in voting, you can visit the London Marathon Vote Participation page from October 1st. If you are successful in voting, you will have to pay a fee of £49.99 for your seat.
If you’re feeling charitable, you can donate your entry fee to the London Marathon Charitable Trust during the registration process. If you are successful in voting, your participation will be prepaid and confirmed. If not, enter a second raffle – the Lucky Bequest raffle – where another 2,000 places will be awarded. If you’re unlucky in the second ballot, your money goes to a charitable foundation—plus. The organizers are giving you a premium winter running shirt (RRP £70) and a chance to win one of three starting pairs for another Abbott World Marathon Major. Entry fees for international participants are typically £120 plus a mandatory £36 carbon offset fee.
How do I get a Good For Age entry for the 2023 race?
To apply for a GFA spot, you must meet the waiting time relevant to your age group – these are detailed in the table below. You must run this time within the qualification period: October 4, 2021 to October 2, 2022 by 11:59 p.m.
| Age | men | Women |
| 18-39 | below 3:00:00 | under 3:45:00 |
| 40-44 | below 3:05:00 | under 3:50:00 |
| 45-49 | under 3:10:00 | below 3:53:00 |
| 50-54 | under 3:15:00 | below 4:00:00 |
| 55-59 | under 3:20:00 | below 4:05:00 |
| 60-64 | under 3:45:00 | below 4:30:00 |
| 65-69 | below 4:00:00 | below 5:00:00 |
| 70-74 | below 5:00:00 | below 6:00:00 |
| 75-79 | below 5:15:00 | below 6:20:00 |
| 80-84 | below 5:30:00 | below 6:40:00 |
| 85+ | below 6:10:00 | below 7:10:00 |
Qualifying times must have been secured at an in-person event with a certified marathon course or during the 2022 Virtual TCS London Marathon. This option is only available to UK residents.
Achieving qualifying time (GFA) does not guarantee a spot at the 2023 event, but does provide a different route of entry with spots limited to 6,000 runners (3,000 men and 3,000 women) and awarded on a fastest first basis.
You can now apply for a Good For Age spot.
Can I transfer my GFA listing?
If you secured a GFA spot at the canceled 2020 London Marathon but did not use it, you may renew your 2020 entry for a spot at the 2023 event provided you meet the 2023 GFA qualifying criteria. If not, you can You can request a standard entry at no extra charge. Further details on this option will be published on the event website no later than Wednesday 30 November 2022.
Can I participate in the championship race?
If you are a fast runner and are a member of a running club, you may be eligible for a championship spot. You must run a championship qualifying time at an event with a course certified by UKA, the Association for International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) or a national distance running governing body for the country where the event was held.
The qualifying times for the 2023 London Marathon Championships have not yet been released, but the qualifying times for 2022 are as follows:
| distance | men | Women | ||
| Full marathon | below 2:40:00 | below 3:14:00 | ||
| half marathon | under 1:12:30 | below 1:28:00 | ||
You must also be registered with your national governing body (England Athletics, Scotland Athletics, Welsh Athletics or Athletics Northern Ireland) otherwise your application will not be accepted.
The 2023 TCS London Marathon Championship qualification period runs from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022. Further details on this option will be announced after the 2022 event.
Contrary to the options above, meeting the qualification criteria for the Championship will result in automatic entry into the 2023 event. Non-UKA citizens are also invited to qualify if they are members of a UKA affiliate.
How can I secure a charity spot?
Otherwise, and if you think you can raise £1,000 or more, a charity pitch is your best bet for running next year’s marathon.
A full list of charities with seats is available on the event’s website. When you spot a cause you care about, contact the charity directly to see if they can offer you a spot. Charity spots are also in high demand, so charities choose participants based on their connection to the cause and how much money they can raise.