How to watch the 2024 London Marathon online for free

Running a marathon has got to be one of the toughest physical challenges in life, and participants are willingly putting themselves through this torture. We can't say we fully understand this desire to suffer, but we're more than happy to watch and encourage those brave runners.

The London Marathon is an annual 26.2 mile footrace through the streets of (you guessed it) London. This popular event was first held in 1981, and represents one of the world’s six major marathons. If you are looking for key information on how to follow this year's London Marathon, you have come to the right place.

When is the London Marathon?

The London Marathon will start on the morning of April 21 in 2024.

Where can you watch the London Marathon in 2024?

You can follow events with ease in the UK, as the London Marathon will be broadcast live on BBC One (and BBC iPlayer). This broadcasting relationship hasn't changed since the first London Marathon. 

How to watch the London Marathon for free

Connecting to BBC iPlayer to watch the London Marathon is straightforward from the UK. Simply visit the site and log in to watch all the action. It's not complicated.

If you attempt to connect to BBC iPlayer from anywhere else in the world, you'll be quickly blocked by the service. The only way to get around this blockade is with a streaming-friendly VPN. You can use a VPN to hide your real IP address and connect to a secure server in the UK. This process is quick and easy, and tricks sites like BBC iPlayer into thinking you are based in the UK.

Unblock BBC iPlayer by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Stream the 2024 London Marathon for free from anywhere in the world

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Credit: ExpressVPN

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Something to note is that the best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees. By using these guarantees, you can watch London Marathon live streams without fully committing with your cash.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking free streaming sites like BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Watch the 2024 London Marathon for free with ExpressVPN.