Chilled Vibes

I got caught out today by the London Marathon. London had a real carnival atmosphere. Strangers were cheering the runners on, people were in good spirits, music was playing, and there was no shoving or shouting. I wish I could bottle this mood and save it for a less jovial day in London.

It was also a treat to see central London closed to vehicles for the whole day.

I haven’t seen so many people in central London since Queen Elizabeth II’s death. There were people literally everywhere. The Tubes were packed, and there were long queues of people trying to get out of Embankment Station.

I tried to get to Whitehall via Embankment. I made it, and I got to enjoy two events in one day: meeting up with a friend and going to Raffles at the OWO for a couple of hours, then enjoying the Marathon afterwards with thousands of spectators.

10 Facts About the London Marathon

1. The London Marathon was first held on 29 March 1981, founded by former Olympic steeplechase champion Chris Brasher and athlete John Disley. It was inspired by the New York City Marathon, with over 20,000 applicants but only around 7,747 accepted and about 6,255 finishers.

2. It is one of the six Abbott World Marathon Majors (alongside Tokyo, Boston, Berlin, Chicago, and New York) and is renowned for its flat, fast course that starts in Greenwich and Blackheath, passes iconic landmarks like Tower Bridge and Canary Wharf, and finishes on The Mall near Buckingham Palace.

3. The event is the world’s largest annual one-day fundraising event, having raised well over £1 billion for charity since 1981. In 2025 alone, it raised a record £87.3 million.

4. Paula Radcliffe holds the women’s course record with a time of 2:15:25 set in 2003, which was also a world record at the time. Multiple world records have been set on the London course over the years.

5. In 2025, a record 56,640 runners completed the race, setting a Guinness World Record for the most finishers in a single marathon.

6. The London Marathon is famous for fancy dress and Guinness World Record attempts. It holds the record for the most Guinness World Records set in a single day at one event, with participants running in costumes ranging from household appliances to mythical creatures.

7. Eliud Kipchoge has the most men’s victories with four wins, while Ingrid Kristiansen holds the record for women with four. In the wheelchair category, Britain’s David Weir has eight men’s wins.

8. The first race saw joint men’s winners: Inge Simonsen of Norway and Dick Beardsley of the USA, who crossed the line hand-in-hand in 2:11:48. Joyce Smith was the first women’s winner.

9. Around 750,000 spectators line the route each year, creating an incredible atmosphere, and the race is broadcast to viewers in over 196 countries.

10. The marathon distance of 26.2 miles (42.195 km) was standardised after the 1908 London Olympics, when the route was adjusted at the request of Queen Alexandra to start at Windsor Castle and finish in front of the royal box.

Parting Thoughts

I didn’t bother taking the Tube back to Liverpool Street. Every station along the Marathon route was heaving with people. However, there was no pushing or shoving.

Instead, I walked back and soaked up the carnival-like atmosphere. It was easy to walk along the Embankment. I went under the Underpass and walked towards Bank. I got to walk along roads that would normally be off limits to pedestrians. People were relaxed and enjoying the occasion.

Until the next time.

Thank you for your attention.

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Tabby