Choosing between Lagos City 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 | Lagos City Marathon | London Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Next race | Saturday, 13 February 2027 at 6:30 am | Saturday, 24 April 2027 at 9:30 am |
| Elevation | Very flat - approx. 11m above sea level. ↑ 50 m · ↓ 50 m · net 0 m | Flat with minor bridges - approx. 25m above sea level. ↑ 127 m · ↓ 161 m · net −34 m |
| Typical weather | Hot and humid winter | Cool to mild spring conditions |
| Typical participants | Approximately 30k finishers | Approximately 57k finishers |
| Entry difficulty | Easy | Very competitive |
The Lagos City Marathon is West Africa's largest marathon, drawing approximately 30k starters each February through Nigeria's commercial capital. The out-and-back course links the National Theatre, Victoria Island, and the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge with views across Lagos Lagoon. February's dry-season heat and flat terrain make it a bold early-year challenge in one of Africa's most energetic cities.
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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