Your London Marathon guide

The London Marathon is underway and BBC London will be bringing you the latest news and pictures from the 26.2 mile course.

Thousands of runners a quarter of the way through this year's London Marathon.

BBC London 94.9 will be at various locations across London from 8am on the morning of the race.

Photos

The leading pack of elite men runners.

We will also be updating our website with photos of the serious, and not so serious, runners.

In pictures: London Marathon 2010

The race begins with 51,000 competitors setting off in Blackheath and Greenwich.

The elite women runners start things off at 09.00 followed by the wheelchair race for men & women at 09.20.

MARATHON FACTS In 2009 Samuel Wanjiru of Kenya set the fastest ever time of 2:05:10 The fastest woman was Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain who set a time of 2:15:25 in 2003 Jerzy Kolodziej, age 86, and Irene Clarke, age 83, are the oldest competitors this year The youngest are James Bruton and Ed Hall, both 18 on race day There are 81 pubs along the route 10 Guinness World Records were set in 2009, including Sally Orange who was the fastest runner dressed as a fruit (4:32:28) The tallest costume worn while running a marathon is 4.27m or 14ft

At 09.45 it's the elite men's race, UKA/England Athletics Championships and all other participants.

The race finishes at the Mall between Green Park and St James's Park.

The London Marathon holds the Guinness world record as the largest single annual fundraising event in the world. Last year £47.2 million was raised for charity.

This year will be the first race under new sponsors Virgin which hopes the runners will raise £250 million money for good causes during its five-year sponsorship of the event.

Sir Richard Branson said: "It's an epic and inspirational event and raises a fantastic amount of money for great causes. It's the single biggest fundraising day on the planet and we want to make it even bigger."

Where to watch

A pub in Narrow Street along the marathon route.

More than half a million spectators will watch the big race on 25 April and whether you're supporting someone or just there for the atmosphere it pays to have a strategy to catch the best piece of the action.

Much of the route comes alive to the sounds of bands, cheering crowds and pounding feet so check out our guide.

Best views for the London Marathon

Travel

Getting around London via public transport is essential to catch the best views, particularly the DLR.

Get the best tips, road closures and advice with BBC London's travel presenter Steve Phillips.

London Marathon 2010 Travel Guide

Radio

BBC London 94.9 will be at various locations across the marathon route including the start in Greenwich, Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf, the Embankment and the Mall.

Special sporting guests will be joining our presenters and reporters from 8am on the day of the race.

Listen live: BBC London 94.9

TV

TV coverage begins on BBC Two from 8.30am before moving to BBC One from 10.00am through to 2.00pm on Sunday 25 April.

Digital viewers can choose which race to watch via the red button and the action will also be streamed live online.

A highlights show will be on BBC Two at 6.00pm or watch via bbc.co.uk/iPlayer.

Registering is taking place for the London Marathon until Saturday evening

BBC London's Sunday evening news bulletin will also have news on the day's events.

London Marathon forecast

Marathon history

The marathon began in 1981 when it aimed to promote long-distance running, raise money for worthy causes and give people a sense of community.

It is now in its 29th year and has raised nearly half a billion pounds for charities. It even holds a Guinness world record as the single largest annual fund raising event in the world.

The history of the London Marathon

London Marathon 2010 Travel Guide