All eyes will be on Canada Water this Sunday as the London Marathon rolls into the Rotherhithe peninsula. In the men’s race, long-distance legends Eliud Kipchoge and Kenensina Bekele will take on defending champion Alexander Mutiso, while the women’s event will see three-time Olympic gold medallist Sifan Hassan go toe-to-toe with Ruth Chepngetic, looking to kick on from smashing the world record last year.

Behind the elite athletes will be 50,000 runners of all speeds and ages. Look out for those creative, leftfield takes on running attire – past marathons have seen people run dressed as everything from rhinos to telephones to Teletubbies… all in the name of various good causes.

Blazing the trail ahead of them all will be the elite wheelchair racers. Veteran athlete David Weir will be making his 26th appearance at the event, with reigning Paralympic champions Marcel Hug and Catherine Debrunner both hoping to add to their tally of London wins. Many more wheelchair participants will join the mass participation event.

Expect a carnival atmosphere, but also expect Rotherhithe to be extremely busy. Surrey Quays Road, Salter Road and Brunel Road will be closed from 8am to 4pm.

Big queues are also expected at Canada Water Station, and people are being encouraged to use Rotherhithe or Surrey Quays overground stations as alternatives.

Click here for a map showing walking routes for spectators from Canada Water station to viewing points at Mile 8 of the Marathon (Lower Road), Mile 9 of the Marathon (Surrey Quays Road), Mile 11 (Rotherhithe Roundabout). The route to Mile 9 goes over Rafter Walk, traversing the newly created wetland habitats in Canada Dock.

In previous years the Finnish Church on Albion St has run a stall selling teas, coffees and cardamom buns, while a brass band outside Nisa on Brunel Road has added to the carnival atmosphere. The Mayflower pub near Mile 11 is an atmospheric place to grab some refreshment while waiting to cheer on your runner. Meanwhile by Mile 9, The Pacific Tavern on Redriff Road is setting up as a “London Marathon Cheer Zone for the Day”, with agency OCD Studio curating a line-up of DJ sets from morning into the afternoon, “cold beers, big cheers and post-run hangs”, and alcohol-free beer brand Lucky Saint handing out 0% beers for the runners and crowd.

For more on ways to get active in Canada Water, check out our posts on active travel (including a 5k running route through the neighbourhood) here, and on local sports organisations here.