Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the minimum age on race day to take part?

A. 15 years of age on race day.

Q. What time does the race start?

A. 9.35am.

Q. At what time do the pre / post-race charity baggage bays open and close?

A. The baggage bays open at 8am on race morning and close at 1pm race day.

Q. How far are the baggage bays from the start?

A. 1.5km. ALL runners should arrive at the baggage bays NO later than 8:45am. This will allow sufficient time for runners to deposit their kit bags in the colour / number coded bay that matches their race number.

Q. Where are the pre-race baggage bays?

A. There are two separate pre-race baggage bays:

1. Waterloo Place:
   The first bay is for RED and GREEN numbers and is located in Waterloo Place, just off the east end of Pall Mall, 150m south of Piccadilly Circus. This baggage bay is for individual runners who have paid their own race entry fee.
2. Whitehall Place:
   Whitehall Place, located off Whitehall (north end of Whitehall and south of Trafalgar Square) is for BLUE, GREY and PURPLE race numbers.

Q. Are toilets provided by the race organisers?

A. Race provided toilets are strictly limited due to a lack of suitable space on the public roads in London's West End.

Some nearby London underground stations do have a limited number of toilets for public use at a fee of 50p. Please check the event programme for which stations have these facilities.

Q. Are there any public toilets along the race route?

A. Yes. Public toilets are as stated located in all London underground / mainline stations. In addition there are public toilets along the race route located at Green park underground station (on Piccadilly - 600m from the start), at 3km & 7km (approx.) on Victoria Embankment, at 8.km in Westminster underground station and near the 9km point opposite Westminster Abbey.

Race organisers will provide toilets near the 5km point on Upper Thames Street, London EC4.

Q. Are the public toilets along the race route free of charge to use?

A. No. These toilets are now controlled by private companies (with the exception of Green Park underground station). The fee for use of these clean facilities is 50p. It is recommended that participants carry two 50p coins during the race.

Q. Is fancy dress allowed?

A. Yes of course. But please make sure it is light weight, practical and runner friendly. The run is held in high summer so make sure you're not going to be too hot!

Q. Is water available along the race route?

A. Yes. On course water stations are located at the following points: 3km, 5km, 7km, 8.5km and at the finish. The total amount of water on the course is a minimum of 80,000 units.

Q. Is water provided at the pre-race baggage bays?

A. No. Please ensure you arrive at the race hydrated, especially if it is going to be a warm day.

Q. What if I have lost my race number / pack?

A. There will be help desks issuing replacement numbers ONLY with chip timing devices (for those who ordered them) on race day at each of the pre-race baggage bays. You will need to bring proof of entry and some form of ID to enable you to collect a replacement number. These help desks are open on race day from 8:00am.

Q. What about lost items on race day?

A. We will always do our best to return any lost items to their owners and depending on the approximate location of where personal items were lost, we may be able to retrieve them. As we maintain a race entry database, any race kit bags left behind on race day are collected. Once identified, we will contact the owner in order to arrange collection. This may take up to 72 hours post-race. If you have lost any valuable item you can register this at Charring Cross Police Station near to the east side of Trafalgar Square or write to British 10k London Run at 18b Charles Street, Mayfair, London W1J 5DU.

Q. What are the nearest London Underground / Mainline stations?

A. There are a number of underground stations / mainline stations within walking distance of the baggage bays. These include: Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly Line), Leicester Square (Northern & Piccadilly Lines), Charing Cross ( Northern & Bakerloo Lines ) and Embankment underground station (Northern, Bakerloo, Circle & District Lines). Each of these stations are approx. 5 minute walk to the baggage bays.

Westminster underground station (Jubilee Line and Circle & District Lines) and St. James's Park (Circle & District Lines) are approximately 5/10 minute walk to the baggage bays.

The nearest mainline station is Charing Cross which is also a 5min. walk to the baggage bays. Waterloo Station is the furthest away being a 15 minute walk (across Waterloo Bridge). 
See London A-Z for further details.

Q. How do I get to the start?

A. Take a look at this map to see where everything is and where you need to go for the start.

Q. What time do roads close to traffic?

A. 7.00am. Whitehall will close at 6:00am. Once roads begin to close NO public vehicles will be allowed on to the race route - including charity coaches. If your charity has applied for a parking permit, details of the route to charity parking bays will be included with your parking permit.

Q. Are there any public car parking along the race route for both participants and spectators?

A. In short No. Charities with coaches or mini buses can write in for a parking permit for St. James's Square. As spaces are limited parking permits are issued on a first come first served basis.

No vehicles are allowed to park on the race route. Any vehicle parked on the race route at the time of the road closing or after the roads are closed (commencing at 7:00am - Whitehall will close at 6.00am) will be removed and taken to a car pound where a substantial fee will be payable for the collection of vehicle.

Q. Where are the best viewing points for spectators?

A. Take a look at this map to see where the race route goes and where we suggest are good cheering points.

Q. Are there any recommended pre-race RV points where charity staff can meet and welcome team members?

A. Yes. Famous landmarks near to either underground stations / mainline stations which are easy to find and offer space are: Eros statue at Piccadilly Circus, Lillywhites sports store also at Piccadilly Circus, and in front of the National Gallery which is located on the north side of Trafalgar Square. Please note that there may be an existing event taking place inside Trafalgar Square on race day so you are advised to meet your team members on the promenade in front of the National Gallery.

Charity team co-ordinators welcoming team members should wear a charity branded t-shirt (or similar) and carry a sign with the charity name clearly visible, as with hundreds of charities taking part some may also arrange to meet their team members at the same sites.

Take a look at this map to see where we suggest for meeting points.

Q. Is there a post-race goody bag / finishers medal for race participants?

A. Yes. Post-race goody bags can be collected back at the baggage bays when collecting your kit bag.

Q. If we want to meet our runners after the race where is the best place to meet up?

A. Away from the finish line on Whitehall as this area will be screened with mesh / fencing. It is best for all concerned if charity team co-ordinators arrange to meet team members (etc.) after the race away from the finish line and post-race baggage bays.

It is strongly recommended that you either meet team members at the same location as you met them before the race or at a pub or other venue in London's West End.

Take a look at this map to see where we suggest for meeting points.

Q. Can you recommend any venues?

A. Yes. On the River Thames along the race route are a few river craft which can be hired for pre / post-race receptions. These include the Tattersall Castle, the Hispanola and the Queen Mary. Telephone numbers for each venue are available from 118118.

Other public houses near to the finish include the Red Lion, the Old Stables and the Lord Moon of the Mall (all on Whitehall). There is also Walkers Wine Bar located just off Whitehall near Trafalgar Square.

In addition there is the Two Chairmen public house located on Cockspur Street opp. Canada House.

Q. Is there Official Crono Track Chip Timing / Official Race Photographs for all charity runners running on behalf of a debenture holding charity?

A. No. Each debenture holding charity was given the choice of opting for Crono Track Chip Timing several months before race day. Contact the charity you are running for to enquire if they opted for chip timing for team members. If they did not then it will be too late this year to opt for chip timing as the race packs / timing chips would already have been ordered / assembled. You should ask the charity to opt for chip timing / official race photograph for 2011 in return for your sponsorship pledge.

Even if your charity did not opt for Crono Track chip timing this year you can still purchase an official race photograph of yourself (post-race) from Marathon Photos.com (providing you wore your race number on the front of your race vest and an identifiable unobscured image of you was captured on film. Details will be available on the race website.