2025 TCS Mini London Marathon Livestream: How to Watch the UK's Biggest Children's Running Event
2025 TCS Mini London Marathon: Where and When to Watch
It’s not just the pros making headlines in April—the 2025 TCS Mini London Marathon is back to celebrate its 40th year, and it’s got all the buzz you’d expect. This year, over 18,000 kids will lace up to race through central London, making it the UK’s biggest free, one-day children’s running event. Wondering how to catch the action? The answer is a mix of classic and digital platforms: BBC Sport, BBC iPlayer, and the official Mini London Marathon channels on YouTube and Facebook, so you can tune in from your sofa or on the go. Coverage kicks off at 08:25 BST on Saturday, 26 April 2025, and rolls through until about 16:00 BST. If you like a packed schedule with real-time updates, this is your spot.
Think you’ll just see masses of kids jogging? Not even close. Up front are the championship races, featuring the country’s best up-and-coming young athletes, contending for top spots between 08:30 and 09:15. It’s intense and—thanks to the likes of Rick Edwards and Swarzy Macaly in the presenting booth, plus expert commentary from Olympian Steph Twell and Ellen Ellard—genuinely exciting. The details are nailed down tight: there’s a full timetable with every wave, so hardcore fans can keep tabs on the U17/14 Wheelchair and Ambulant starts at 08:30 and 08:32, through to the U13 Girls wrapping up at 09:15.
Who’s Running and What’s New This Year?
This isn’t just a fun run—it’s a window onto the future of UK running. All in all, 18,000+ young runners will hit either a 1-mile course (for Reception through Year 7) or a 2.6K route (Years 4–12). One cool twist: entries only come through schools. No solo signups. Schools across the nation rally teams, making it a true community event where participation matters more than winning.
If you’re tuning in, don’t expect wall-to-wall running footage. The broadcast packs in interviews with trending celebrities cheering from the sidelines, plus chats with past participants who’ve gone on to big things. There’s lively pre-race build-up, runner reactions at the finish, and a look back at the event’s 40-year history. For the kids, finishing means snagging a legendary Mini Marathon medal—one of those prizes that stays in the sock drawer for years but feels huge in the moment.
What’s especially wild this year is the sheer scale: 56,000 folks are registered for the main TCS London Marathon happening the next day, so the city will be buzzing all weekend. The Mini event keeps things inclusive and inspiring, showing young runners that there’s room for everyone—whether you’re racing hard, rolling in a wheelchair wave, or just soaking up the crowd’s energy. This isn’t just a sideshow to the main race; it’s a spotlight moment for the next generation of runners.
If you love seeing youth sport at its best—or have a future marathoner in your house—the livestream is where you want to be. BBC’s coverage is thorough, interactive, and taps into the spirit of the day. Jump in early to catch the first races, or dip into the streams to soak up the stories, records, and raw fun that make the Mini London Marathon stand out year after year.