Choosing between Dalian Marathon and London Marathon? This page puts the essentials side by side — next race date, elevation, typical weather, field size, and entry difficulty — with a short overview of each course below.
The headline differences between both races. Follow each marathon link for the full route map, elevation chart, and entry details.
| Detail | Dalian Marathon | London Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Next race | Sunday, 9 May 2027 at 7:30 am | Sunday, 25 April 2027 at 9:30 am |
| Elevation | Mostly flat with gentle undulations - approx. 33m above sea level. ↑ 100 m · ↓ 95 m · net +5 m | Flat with minor bridges - approx. 25m above sea level. ↑ 127 m · ↓ 161 m · net −34 m |
| Typical weather | Mild spring | Cool to mild spring conditions |
| Typical participants | Approximately 30k finishers | Approximately 57k finishers |
| Entry difficulty | Easy | Very competitive |
The Dalian Marathon brings approximately 30k finishers each May to the Liaodong Peninsula's most cosmopolitan port. The coastal loop passes Xinghai Square — one of Asia's largest city squares — the Dalian waterfront, and forested coastal roads with Yellow Sea views. May's mild Liaoning spring and fresh sea breezes make it one of northeast China's most popular marathons.
The TCS London Marathon is one of the world's most popular races, famous for its incredible charity fundraising and electric atmosphere. The fast course passes Tower Bridge, the Cutty Sark, Canary Wharf, and finishes on The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace. With gentle undulations and around 127 metres of total climbing, it consistently produces fast times — including Sabastian Sawe's 1:59:30 men's world record and Tigst Assefa's 2:15:41 women's-only world record, both set at the 2026 race.
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