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his annual sporting extravaganza sees thousands of runners take to the streets of the capital, passing some of its most famous sites (not that they have time to soak up the view).

Of course, running 26 miles is not everyone’s idea of ‘fun’, but we can assure you that watching other people do it certainly is, and the atmosphere among the crowds lining the route is electric.

Head to the Cutty Sark sailing boat in Greenwich at the seven-mile mark, where the runners weave their way onwards against a marvelous maritime backdrop. From here you can hop on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) across the Thames to Mudchute, where you’ll be in time to catch themagain at the 17-mile mark too.

Another good place to go is The Highway pub in Shadwell,where you’ll see the field of professional athletes – along with the odd giant banana, pantomime horse and other strangely-dressed competitors – speeding their way east around the 13-mile mark, before passing by again on their way west at 22 miles mark. By this point they’re usually looking slightly more bedraggled.

If you’re meeting friends and family who’ve made it to the finish, then head to The Mall by St James’s Palace – or why not get away from it all and jump on the London Eye for a bird’s eye view of the route spread out below.