The marathon distance has its roots in the story of Pheidippides, the Greek messenger who is said to have run some 25 miles, from Marathon to Athens, to deliver the news of a Greek battlefield victory. The first Olympic marathon was held in Athens in 1896 and at 40 km, spanned just less than 25 miles. The current distance of 26 miles was first run at the 1908 Olympics.

The London Marathon, which has been held every spring since 1981, sees both experienced and amateur runners following a 26-mile route winding through the city and beyond. The race starts in Blackheath, in south east London.

The route then continues through Greenwich and across Tower Bridge. Once on the north side of the Thames, runners go through the City, passing Monument, Blackfriars and Temple. The final stretch offers iconic views of the London Eye and Parliament before ultimately ending at Pall Mall

As you might imagine, property prices differ markedly along the marathon route. As our table shows, Woolwich Common at mile three has the lowest average price for second hand properties at £302,000; St James’s, in the final two miles, has the highest at £1.547 million; while in the middle – financially and geographically at mile 13 – is St Katharine Dock & Wapping.

Here is our pick of the best available properties along the route.

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