london underground behind the scenes tour

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Hidden London Underground Tours

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Time Out says

Spooky tours of disused Underground stations and closed-off tube tunnels

London Transport Museum has a new 2022 season of its ever-popular Hidden London tours of unseen parts of the capital’s vast transport network, including some new places they’ve never visited before.

They take place on selected dates between October 12 and December 30 . 

Highlights include tours of Charing Cross and Down Street stations. The Jubilee line platforms at Charing Cross have been inoperative since 1999, and since used for lots of film and TV productions. Down Street station, meanwhile, was shut down way back in 1932 because of low passenger numbers (locals presumably all travelled by Rolls-Royce). In WWII, it was used as an air raid shelter and, intriguingly, was used by Winston Churchill during the Blitz.

Another perennial favourite are the tours of Aldwych tube station on the Strand near Somerset House, and there are also in-person tours of Shepherd’s Bush station’s hidden nooks and crannies, and the same at Euston Square .

Virtual tours allow visitors a behind-the-scenes look at the new  Elizabeth line  stations at Tottenham Court Road and Liverpool Street , as well as a look at the closed Kingsway Tunnel areas of Holborn.

Selected dates between October 12 and December 30. 

Full details of all the tours are here .

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Going underground: a subterranean tour of London's abandoned tube stations

Tours through abandoned Tube stations open a unique window onto London’s historic roots.

Standing on a strip-lit London Underground platform, I’m staring at the billboards across the tracks. Primary colours jump out above grimy rails. To the left is a placard for cheap holidays in the sun, to the right a poster for new West End play Diana’s Fortune. But the adverts are strangely vague when it comes to details. Holidays where, exactly? And why no mention of which theatre is staging the play?  

“They’re all fake ads,” says my Hidden London guide, Pat Dennis, with a laugh, pointing out posters for fictitious estate agents and non-existent clothing brands. We’re deep in Charing Cross Underground station, at the heart of the capital’s transport network, but if we were hoping to hop on the next train we’d be in for a wait. “This platform has been out of service since 1999,” he says. “It was part of the Jubilee Line. Now it’s used for films, TV shows and music videos. We’ve had Matt Damon and Daniel Craig down here, Paddington, Madonna, Dua Lipa — you name them.”  

The bogus ads, it transpires, help avoid any awkward issues over product placement. They also add to the discombobulation of entering a secret underworld. When Pat greets our group in the station’s ticket hall, we’re surrounded by a jostle of commuters and free newspapers. Then we step through an anonymous metal door and everything becomes real but unreal, with empty escalators, silent corridors and the far-off rumble of trains on other lines.

Over the following hour and a quarter, we get a full overview of this deserted wing of the station. We’re given the history of Charing Cross itself. We’re shown footage from Skyfall where James Bond slides down the same escalators we’ve just descended. We’re even taken into the cavernous dark of the ventilation shafts and construction tunnels, at one point spying through a grille, 007-style, on travellers waiting for a Northern Line train. It all feels fascinatingly clandestine.

This, of course, is very much the intention. Organised by the London Transport Museum, which funnels profits from tickets into its educational arm, these behind-the-scenes tours are run by Hidden London in eight different Tube stations. The visits make the most of the fact that multiple areas of certain stations are now disused, for reasons varying from low passenger numbers to rerouted lines.  

“All the stations we visit have their own selling points,” says Pat, explaining that tours are scheduled for different stations at different times each year, to keep demand high. Many of these tours touch on the Second World War, when the tunnels doubled as air-raid shelters. Clapham South, for example, has more than a mile of deep-level passageways, while Down Street — which Winston Churchill used as a secret wartime bunker — was closed to passengers back in 1932, yet still exists, murky and history-laden, under the streets of W1. And while the defunct platforms of Charing Cross remain modern-looking, the concealed parts of Aldwych and Euston are time capsules full of period architecture and fading posters.

( 5 of north London's most scenic walking routes .)

I head to another station, Moorgate, for the next tour. It takes its name from a former gate in the old city walls, which looked out across marshland. Today the area is all commercial buildings and cafes, but the station has plenty of history. It opened in 1865 as part of the Metropolitan Line — the world’s oldest underground — and originally had gas-lit wooden carriages trundling along its tracks.  

“The early trains didn’t even have windows,” says my guide Tommy Carr. “The logic was that there was nothing to look at in a tunnel, then they realised passengers liked seeing which stations they were stopping at.” The station was initially just a shallow one, created using the old-fashioned cut-and-cover method — digging a big trench, laying down tracks, then roofing it over again — before the deep-level underground arrived in 1900.

We venture into the belly of the station, stepping into a low-lit maze of maintenance tunnels and disused lift shafts. A tiled passageway closed since 1939 still bears fragments of adverts for soap and books; further on we’re shown an old tunnelling shield — a vast, hollow, metal cylinder lying on its side — created as a kind of protective sheath for workers, who stood inside it to hand-excavate the tunnels. Stretching 16 feet across, the shield was simply left there when work was completed.

Less than 90 minutes later I’m back in the fresh air, a little dazed. Today’s Tube is many things — functional, sprawling — and the sheer breadth and history of the network means parts of it are stuck in time.

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Explore London’s secret underground network on a Hidden London tour

Did you know that there were whole sections of London’s underground network that lay hidden in plain sight? At the London Transport Museum you can explore secret parts of London’s Underground Network on a Hidden London Tour

Sponsored post

Behind closed doors are disused stations and platforms, former ticket halls; and time-capsule corridors that have remained frozen in time since they saw their last commuter – complete with vintage signs, advertising posters and all.

Those secret spaces are usually off limits to the public, but thanks to London Transport Museum ’s award-winning Hidden London tours, you too can now gain exclusive access, both in person and online.

The Hidden London programme include tours of Aldwych disused station’ s ‘abandoned’ ticket halls, original lifts and tunnels; the remains of Piccadilly Circus’s original Edwardian station; and the disused Jubilee line platforms at Charing Cross that have featured in many famous British TV and film productions including Paddington Bear (2013), Killing Eve (2019) and A Spy Among Friends (2022).

Also on offer are tours of the original 19 th century passageways and features at west London station Shepherd’s Bush; Down Street, a bomb-proof wartime bunker and former station that lays concealed between the Piccadilly line tracks in Mayfair; and Clapham South, an expansive Second World War shelter hidden under the streets of south London.

An exclusive walking tour, Secrets of Central London , also takes you around Covent Garden and the surrounding area to reveal unique, fascinating and historical tales and titbits about this part of the city and how it has transformed over the last 200 years.

All tours are guided and share the exclusive historical stories that the museum’s experts found in its extensive archive and collection; allowing you to discover little-known facts about London, right where all this history took place.

If your next trip to London is still a long way away or if going underground simply isn’t your thing, the museum also offers a series of live virtual tours including one launched to celebrate the Tube’s 160 th birthday earlier this year, Discovering the Forgotten Underground, which explores how some spaces on the network came to be disused over the years.

The virtual tours are held live via Zoom and hosted by a tour guide, using a combination of video footage, historical documents and archive images. Other virtual tours include visits of disused stations York Road and Brompton Road, and behind the scenes glimpses into two of London’s newest Elizabeth line stations, Tottenham Court Road and Liverpool Street.

The Hidden London tours were named ’Best Hidden Gem in the World’ at the International Tiqets ’ Remarkable Venue Awards 2022 by public vote.

Tickets are available to book via London Transport Museum’s website at here.

Tours run throughout the year with new dates frequently released. Subscribers to the Museum’s free e-newsletter get 24-hour priority booking upon release.

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Train geeks will love these new tours of hidden London Underground stations

The London Transport Museum is now offering guided tours through the underground’s secret tunnels and closed stations.

The London Underground is the world’s oldest underground railway, with parts of it dating back over 150 years.

You’ll likely recognise some of its 272 functioning stations, but did you know there are more than 40 disused underground stations and countless secret tunnels hidden beneath London?

Now as part of The London Transport Museum’s Hidden London tours you can explore behind the scenes of three of London’s biggest stations.

Which London underground stations offer secret tours?

Visitors can follow guided tours inside Shepherd’s Bush, Euston and Charing Cross underground stations.

You’ll explore hidden sections of the stations, some of which haven't been seen by the public for nearly a century and are now used as ventilation shafts.

At Charing Cross, the Jubilee Line platform has been closed since 1999. It has become an iconic filming location, featuring in James Bond film ‘Skyfall’, Marvel’s ‘Thor: The Dark World’ and BBC series ‘Killing Eve’.

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Uncover the Central Line’s Victorian history

Shepherd's Bush tube station is located right next to a busy shopping centre in west London.

"This was the original terminus of the Central London Railway, which opened on 30 of July 1900," says Siddy Holloway, the engagement manager for Hidden London tours at the London Transport Museum.

When it was built, it was predicted to become one of the busiest stations of the capital. On the hidden tour, visitors are guided through the original tunnels which passengers would have taken when it first opened.

"You've got these beautiful white Victorian glass tiles and they're still here on the wall 122 years later," Siddy adds.

• Europe's most exciting long-distance train routes for 2024, including prices and how to book

Beyond the station, you’ll discover the interesting history of the Central Line. The line was built as a commuting solution for people living in the west suburbs of London and working in the City, crossing the capital horizontally.

"It is the third oldest deep tube railway," says Holloway.

"It was built with quite a large budget at the time. It was considered one of the most lucrative routes that you could build in London. And so it's got a really fascinating history - one that we haven't explored before on any of our other hidden London tours.

“So I'm really excited for people to be able to come and witness something completely different from what we've done before."

Watch the video above to learn more about exploring London’s hidden underground.

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Experience even more ‘Secrets of the London Underground’ on Hidden London disused Tube station tours

London Transport Museum’s Siddy Holloway has teamed up again with railway historian Tim Dunn to explore even more unbelievable parts of London’s Tube network in the second series of the hit documentary Secrets of the London Underground. The new series returns to Yesterday channel on Thursday 5 May 2022 at 8PM, and on catch-up at UKTV Play.

With their super-privileged access to the Tube network, even more secrets are uncovered as Siddy and Tim visit abandoned stations so hidden and long forgotten that many people have no idea they exist, like King William Street and Marlborough Road Underground stations.

In well-known stations, like Charing Cross and London Bridge, the pair also explore disused tunnels that sit right under passengers’ noses, just through a door or behind a wall. Then there are places viewers will be stunned to discover are part of the Tube system, including a disused station in a back garden in the middle of the countryside. They also explore new Elizabeth line stations before they are open to the public and go behind the scenes at the London Transport Museum Depot in Acton, west London, which houses more than 320,000 historical artefacts.

Fans of Secrets of the London Underground S2 who want to experience this hidden history first-hand can explore some of the secret locations revealed in the show on London Transport Museum’s exclusive virtual and in-person Hidden London tours.

· On the access all areas Hidden London tour of Charing Cross Underground station, which features in episode one of Secrets of the London Underground S2, guests can step behind locked doors to discover disused spaces deep beneath Trafalgar Square. Explore ‘lost’ Jubilee line platforms closed since 1999 which have now become familiar filming locations for popular blockbuster films like Bond hit Skyfall. Current tours run from Wednesday 18 May to Sunday 17 July 2022. Book tour tickets.

· King William Street, which will feature in episode three, boasts the title of the first disused deep-level Tube station. Opened in 1890 as part of the City & South London Railway which ran to Stockwell, the station’s time in operation was short lived and it closed in 1900. This concealed site, which remains out of bounds to passengers, now plays a fascinating role in the Bank station extension. On a virtual Hidden London tour of King William Street guests can ‘zoom’ in for a behind the scenes look at the station today. The next King William Street Hidden London virtual tour is on Tuesday 31 May 2022. Book virtual tour tickets.

· In episode four, Siddy and Tim explore Brompton Road disused Tube station and its covert history as a Second World War bunker after its closure in 1934. Today this disused station is off limits to the public, but on the Museum’s virtual Hidden London tour an expert guide ‘zooms’ into its fascinating history using archive photos and contemporary footage. The next Brompton Road virtual Hidden London tour is on Tuesday 31 May 2022. Book virtual tour tickets.

· The in person Hidden London tour of Kingsway Tram Tunnel, which Siddy visits in episode eight, reveals why this long-forgotten subterranean tunnel was once the most important stretch of tram track in the Capital. Opened in 1906, the tunnel was built to connect south and north London trams. Closed now for more than 70 years, many of its original features – and those of the former Holborn tram station the tunnel conceals – remain preserved today for visitors to see as they explore this forgotten relic from the Capital’s transport past. Current tours run from Wednesday 25 May to Sunday 24 July 2022.

https://london-post.co.uk/experience-even-more-secrets-of-the-london-underground-on-hidden-london-disused-tube-station-tours/

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New Hidden London underground tour goes behind the scenes of Baker Street

2023-07-12T14:23:00+01:00

Groups will be able to head behind the scenes in a new Hidden London tour of Baker Street station for the first time to celebrate the 160th anniversary of the Tube. 

Guides take visitors behind the scenes to explore Baker Street station’s past including its role as operational HQ for London Underground. 

Visitors will experience history right where it happened in exclusive locations including original platforms, disused lift shafts and corridors, some of which were last accessed by the public more than 75 years ago.

The new behind the scenes tour of Baker Street, one of the world’s first underground railway stations, is part of London Transport Museum’s celebrations to mark 160 years since the opening of the Tube. 

Baker Street Station’s fascinating history

When it first opened 160 years ago in 1863, the Metropolitan line was a pioneering solution to the congestion causing chaos on London’s busy streets. Baker Street is one of the seven original stations to open to the public along the line.

Today, the busy station is home to five underground lines and 10 platforms, the most on the Underground network. But hidden just out of sight from commuters and concealed behind locked doors lie reminders of the forward-thinkers who built the world’s first underground railway.

Baker Street is one of the seven original stations to open to the public along the Metropolitan line which opened 160 years ago.

Source: London Transport Museum

Today, the busy station is home to five underground lines and 10 platforms, the most on the Underground network. But hidden just out of sight lie reminders of the forward-thinkers who built the world’s first underground railway.

Visitors will learn about the station's history as the Operational Headquarters for London Underground.

The tour takes groups on a journey through time, they'll find out how the Underground has expanded over the past 16 decades.

Guests will have the chance to explore closed-off parts of the station, including original platforms, disused lift shafts and corridors that lay hidden in plain sight.

Groups will be taking on a journey through history to hear what the very first Victorian passengers thought of underground travel and how the Underground grew and expanded over the next 16 decades. They will learn how Baker Street has served not only passengers over the years, but also London Underground staff.

They’ll also step behind the scenes to learn about the station’s history as the Operational Headquarters for London Underground including details of staff recreational facilities such as a canteen, a rifle range and hear first-hand accounts from those who worked there over the years.

About the tours

London Transport Museum will be running the exclusive Hidden London tours at Baker Street between 6th September and 29th December 2023. Guided tours will take place on Wednesday to Sunday each week. 

All Hidden London tours are written by historical experts from London Transport Museum and are based on content drawn from the Museum’s extensive archive and collection. 

Additional dates to experience other Hidden London tours of disused Tube stations and secret spaces on the Underground network have also been released .

Down Street, one of the other tours available, had a short life as a working station from 1907 to 1932, before becoming the Railway Executive Committee’s top-secret headquarters in World War Two. 

The tours that will run in addition to Baker Street in 2023 include: 

• Down Street: Churchill’s Secret Station : Running between 30th August and 24th September, groups will explore one of London’s most intriguing spaces, hidden between the Piccadilly line tracks in Mayfair. It had a short life as a working station from 1907 to 1932, before becoming the Railway Executive Committee’s top-secret headquarters in World War Two. You’ll hear declassified war secrets and intrigues, how the railways were kept running during the war, and the stories of those who lived and worked there – including Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who secretly took refuge there at the height of the Blitz.
• Euston: The Lost Tunnels: Available on select dates between 4th October 12th November, you’ll discover a labyrinth of dark and dusty passageways once used by the travelling public, marvel at a gallery of preserved vintage advertising poster fragments that have been concealed for over 50 years and see the iconic Leslie Green station. Plus learn about the newest innovations to a Tube and Network Rail station that serves over 42 million passengers each year.
• Charing Cross: Access all areas: This tour is running on select dates between 8th November and 17th December and will take you to disused parts of the station, including the Jubilee line platforms that were closed in 1999 but which you may recognise from many famous movies and TV productions since, including Skyfall (2012), Paddington Bear (2013), and TV’s Killing Eve (2019). 

There are also a number of special Christmas dates throughout December.

Group travel organisers can contact [email protected]  or call 0343 222 5000. For more information go to www.ltmuseum.co.uk/hidden-london  

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Charing Cross Station Tour

In partnership with the London Transport Museum / Hidden London we are delighted to be able to offer an exclusive behind-the-scenes Charing Cross Station Tour. The tour of the London Underground Station features spots regularly seen on screen and stands in for a working tube station.

On this Charing Cross Station Tour, you’ll see the empty platforms, tunnels and escalators of this now empty station and visit areas not accessible to the general public.

Although it has been closed to the general public since 1999 productions to have used this station include the 23rd James Bond film, Skyfall , Thor 2 ,  The Bourne Ultimatum and it was also seen in the first episode of Series 3 of BBC’s Sherlock with Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. In the second series of Killing Eve a scene was filmed on the platform with Eve (Sandra Oh).

Please note:

• There are 20 places available on each Charing Cross Station tour.
• Access to the tour is by static escalator only, and there is no step-free access.
• There are no public toilet facilities available once on the tour.
• A member of the LTM / Hidden London team will welcome you and register you on the Charing Cross Station tour, talk through the Health and Safety requirements, issue guests with a hi-vis jacket, and check that everyone has appropriate footwear.
• Please contact Brit Movie Tours if your contact details change after you purchase your ticket(s).
• You will be sent an event reminder email up to a week before your event with all the information you need to arrive on time and enjoy the tour. Please contact us if your contact details change after you purchase your ticket(s).

Important information

• Age restrictions: Children under 14 years of age are not permitted onto the tours due to health and safety restrictions and the tour narrative is designed for an adult audience.
• Clothing: Visitors must wear flat sturdy shoes. Guests wearing open toe sandals or shoes, or high-heels, will be refused entry due to health and safety restrictions.
• Terms and Conditions: Terms & Conditions for each tour, including joining instructions, health and safety requirements and ticketing information, are available on the individual tour pages of the LTM website www.ltmuseum.co.uk and will also be sent via email with your tickets.
• Ticket price: The following groups are eligible for Concession tickets: Senior citizens (60+), students (with valid student ID card), those in receipt of state benefits, and 14-16 year olds.
• Booking Confirmation: If you don’t receive your e-ticket(s) email within 24 hours, please contact us.
• Access: Each member of your group must bring a photographic proof of ID (drivers’ licence or passport) along with their ticket to be permitted entry. This is for security reasons. There is no step-free access on this tour. The tour involves walking and may involve long stairwells (of up to 180 steps), static escalators, low lighting and uneven surfaces underfoot.
• See the escalator that Bond and Silva slide down in Skyfall
• Learn how the station has stood in for other London Underground stations
• Climb down into the huge ventilation shaft that was used in BBC Sherlock
• Walk under Trafalgar Square

About this tour

Morning departures (Wed-Sun) 10am and 11:55am

Afternoon departures (Wed-Sun) 2:35pm and 4:30pm

When selecting your departure time you may be allocated another time within the time period subject to availability

Adult (16 – 59 years) : £45

Meet where?

Inside the Northern line entrance of Charing Cross Underground station, opposite the gate line.

Ends where?

Charing Cross Station

Inclusions?

Professional guide

Exclusions?

Gratuities (optional)

Other Tour Options To Consider

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2 ½ hour guided walking tour of James Bond film locations in London including Skyfall, Die Another Day, SPECTRE, No Time to Die and real-life spy sites.

Aldwych Station Tour

Join the Aldwych Station Tour for a 75 minute guided tour of one of London’s oldest disused tube stations that has featured in several screen productions.

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Inside creepy hidden tunnel under UK’s busiest streets where you can spy on commuters – visitors wish they never entered

• James Halpin
• Published : 5:29 ET, Apr 16 2024
• Updated : 5:51 ET, Apr 16 2024
• Published : Invalid Date,

CREEPY hidden tunnels hidden under Britain's busiest streets allow visitors to spy on commuters.

However, many who have walked along the secret passages around one London underground station wish they had never entered.

London Transport Museum opened the passages in 2022, allowing people to walk the abandoned sections of select tube stations.

Some of the tunnels have been closed to the public for decades - having been used for maintenance, storage, and evacuations.

One travel influencer, Dan Thomas , toured the tunnels underneath Shephard's Bush tube station.

In a TikTok, Thomas showed abandoned parts of the station including a large staircase used for maintenance and evacuations.

He also revealed a section of the station where you could see commuters through a metal gate.

Thomas said: "In quite a few places there are spots where you can spy on unsuspecting passengers."

Tourists might even catch a look of passengers evacuating a train walking between platforms.

However, most people who enter the secret tunnels are only there because of emergency evacuations.

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One 2016 evacuation saw roughly 350 passengers trapped inside the peak-time train for 40 minutes before train crews and police led them in single file back to a train platform.

Tourists walking through the tunnels will be surrounded by cables hanging on the wall, blackened concrete, and plenty of metal.

They might even catch a look at historic posters or signs from when an abandoned station was last in use.

London Transport Museum now offers the tours at 10 stations, including Piccadilly Circus, Baker Street, and Clapham South.

Baker Street will be popular with history buffs as the station includes 160 years of history and a look at the earliest days of the underground.

Meanwhile, Down Street has a bomb shelter that was used by Winston Churchill during WW2.

Charing Cross station will be a fan of film buffs as an abandoned platform was used in Bond, Sherlock, Luther and Bourne blockbusters.

Before the tours, most people who entered the area wished they hadn't as the tunnels were mostly used for evacuations.

Dan toured Shepherd’s Bush station, which was first opened in 1900 as the western end of the Central London Railway.

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In one clip, he can see commuters walking through a station in between he holes in a large metal grate.

The railway was seen as pioneering at the time, as it provided a transport link between areas of West London and the City of London.

Charing Cross filming location

CHARING Cross, near Trafalgar Square, is typically the go-to location for any tube-based scenes for films.

The station has an old Jubilee line platform that hasn't been used by travellers since 1999.

Now the old platform acts as a purpose built film set, with the likes of  Daniel Craig , Idris Elba and even Paddington Bear filming scenes there.

Siddy Holloway, Engagement Manager for London Transport Museum's  Hidden London , told Sun Online Travel why it is a perfect location to film any underground scenes.

She said: " Charing Cross  is where we marry up underground history with pop culture because it is used extensively as a film set for Hollywood blockbusters.

"Skyfall was filmed there, Paddington, Thor, the Bourne Ultimatum, Luther, Sherlock Holmes and others.

"It's the old Jubilee Line concourse that closed in 1999 and so they can authentically create the atmosphere of the underground without disturbing passengers on the actual underground."

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Behind-the-Scenes Tour

Ever wondered what goes on behind-the-scenes at London’s defining landmark?

Booking information

Dates: Behind-the-Scenes Tours will return for winter 2024-25.

Recommendation: This tour sells out very quickly so join our mailing list to be notified of when this event goes on sale. 

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About the Tour

This fascinating tour will take you on a rare and extended look around Tower Bridge: from its iconic Towers, high-level Walkways and Victorian Engine Rooms down to its hidden depths, normally out of bounds to the public.

Led by one of our expert guides and members of our Technical team, you will discover the fascinating history of the Bridge’s design and construction, take in the unparalleled views from the spectacular Glass Floors and high-level Walkways, then get up close to the original steam engines, accumulators and boilers in the Victorian Engine Rooms .

This tour also goes behind-the-scenes to the Bridge’s operational areas including the Control Cabin, Machinery Room and the immense Bascule Chambers , which house the enormous 420-ton counterweights that form the unseen part of the iconic Bridge Lifts.

This is a thrilling experience not to be missed.

What to expect

Tower Bridge’s Behind-the-Scenes Tour is a unique experience with access to operational areas not normally open to the public.

The tour visits both indoor and outdoor areas which are naturally dirty as part of everyday Bridge operations. There are uneven floors and some of the spaces are damp and cold, especially those located underneath the Bridge and below river level - some of these are considered confined spaces and have no windows and no natural light.

The Bascule Chambers are accessed via 115 steep steps.

All visitors need to:

• Wear comfortable footwear and practical, warm clothing.
• Be of sound health in the event of an emergency evacuation from these areas.

Important information

• Due to the operational nature of some of the spaces, this tour is not fully accessible.
• Attendees must be 14 years or older; those aged 14 to 17 years must be accompanied by an adult.
• All visitors must bring photo ID with them.
• Please ensure you read the Behind-the-Scenes Tour waiver below.

Waiver - please click to read

This waiver forms section 9.6 of our general terms and conditions, which can be found in full here .

• This tour takes place in the restricted, operational areas which house the moving parts and mechanisms for raising the Bridge to river traffic and as such this tour is not fully accessible. If a Visitor has any access requirements, they should contact +44 (0)20 7407 9191 or [email protected] before booking.
• The Bascule Chambers are accessed via 115 steep steps; a combination of concrete stairs and metallic spiral staircases. The Chambers are considered confined spaces, located underneath the Bridge and below river level. As such there are no windows and no natural light. The tour includes outdoor spaces, areas which are naturally dirty as part of Bridge operations, uneven floors and damp and/or cold spaces, which are beneath river level. Visitors must therefore be of sound health in the event of an emergency evacuation from these areas.
• Tower Bridge’s Towers, high-level Walkways and Victorian Engine Rooms are fully accessible.
• Tower Bridge staff will accompany visitors at all times during the tour.
• All visitors should wear comfortable footwear (no high heels) and practical, warm clothing.
• Visitors must be over 14 years old; those aged 14 to 17 years must be accompanied by an adult.
• Due to the City of London Corporation's statutory obligation to raise Tower Bridge for river traffic with 24 hours' notice, it is possible that booked Bridge Lifts can alter the advertised time of the tour. The effect on timings is likely to be minimal, and visitors will be contacted at the earliest opportunity via email if their tour is affected. Where the service cannot be provided, ticket holders will be informed, and a full refund given.
• Where visitors arrive late for the start of a tour every effort will be made to get them to the group, however, no refunds will be given in the event of staff not being able to add them to the group.
• Tower Bridge has the right to refuse entry to visitors who have not complied with these conditions.
• Tower Bridge can take no responsibility for accidents that may ensue during this tour.

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What our visitors say

Very interesting and informative. Guides were very knowledgeable and friendly. Good size group for the tour. Would highly recommend.

Excellent tour. Seeing underneath the Bridge was so interesting. Tour guides were both great!

A fabulous and fascinating tour and insight into the history of this beautiful London icon. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and entertaining.

Related content

Sunday 21 april 2024.

The London Marathon race route will travel over Tower Bridge on Sunday 21 April. Please note, the Bridge and surrounding roads will be busy, but the attraction will be open to the public all day. 

Peres Jepchirchir sets women’s-only world record in brilliant London Marathon win

Reigning Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir crushed the women’s-only world record in winning the 44th London Marathon on Sunday, while Kenyan compatriot Alexander Mutiso Munyao pulled away from Ethiopian distance great Kenenisa Bekele to win the men’s race.

The 30-year-old Jepchirchir crossed the finish line in front of Buckingham Palace in  2hrs 16mins 16secs, beating Tigst Assefa and Joyciline Jepkosgei to break Mary Keitany’s mark of 2hrs 17mins 01secs set in a women-only race at this event in 2017.

Jepchirchir pulled away from a group of four in a sprint finish before collapsing to her knees in tears having beaten the fastest field of women ever assembled.

“I thought the race would be fast and that the record would go, but I was not expecting it to be me,” the Kenyan said.

“It’s because I believe in myself. As I crossed the finish line, I thought about how grateful I am for this to be my last event representing Kenya before I head to Paris [Olympics]. I now know I have a great chance to defend my title in Paris.”

Munyao, 27, who was pushed by Bekele until the final couple of kilometres, won the men’s race in 2hrs 04mins 01secs pumping his fist several times en route to the biggest victory of his career.

“I’m happy for winning the race today and at 40 kilometres I got some pressure from Kenenisa Bekele but I had a lot of confidence because I trained for this race,” Munyao said. “So I said: let me be confident.

“After 40 kilometres, I thought I had energy enough to win today’s marathon.”

Britain’s Emile Cairess took third in 2hrs 06 mins 46secs, all but clinching his spot on Britain’s Olympic team.

“It pretty much means I am selected, I am in the team.” Cairess said. “It was a risk [to race] but it paid off.”

Peres Jepchirchir makes history – as it happened

Live reporting, related stories, don’t forget to warm down and stretch.

Humanity at its best

London, you're looking incredible! 🇬🇧♥️ pic.twitter.com/pddeDK5fNn — TCS London Marathon (@LondonMarathon) April 21, 2024

Peres Jepchirchir talks to BBC Sport - ‘I didn’t expect to break the record’

On the win and the women’s-only world record...

“I am feeling grateful. I am so happy for the victory. I was not expecting to run a world record – I knew it might be beaten but I did not expect it to be me. I knew the history and the ladies were strong. I was working extra hard. My time was lower but I’ve come good today and set a PB.”

On making it to the Olympics...

“I am so happy to qualify for the Olympics and I feel grateful. I’m happy to be at Paris and my pray is to be there and run well to defend my title. I know it won’t be easy but I’ll try my best.”

A reminder of the women’s result and the new women’s-only world record

1️⃣ Peres Jepchirchir 2:16:16 (WR) 2️⃣ Tigst Assefa 2:16:23 3️⃣ Joyciline Jepkosgei 2:16:34 #LondonMarathon pic.twitter.com/hcNVnIVZlC — TCS London Marathon (@LondonMarathon) April 21, 2024

🇰🇪HISTORY!🇰🇪 pic.twitter.com/FdcB4sq1Kt — TCS London Marathon (@LondonMarathon) April 21, 2024

Run like the wind

Just shy of the halfway mark, Tower Bridge. 

Some of the quicker non-elite runners

Have just 1km to go. Phew...

Dave and Isabella are running for the Samaritans

Dave runs every year dressed as a telephone. The charity is close to his heart having called the Samaritans when having suicidal thoughts in the late 1980s. Last year his brother took his own life and so Dave and his daughter, Isabella, are running in memory of him. Just one of 1,000s of affecting, moving stories that are as much part of this event as Jepchirchir’s women’s-only world record. 

The BBC have posted this number for you to call if you are experiencing similar problems 0800 066 066. Lines are open 24 hours a day and calls are free. 

The men’s top three

Harry Judd is McFlying around the course

The McFly musician is doing interviews with the BBC while he’s running and looks as though he’s going OK through 28 kms. Though as he tells Gabby Logan he’s about to enter the part of the race where it’s all mental. “If you put the training in the first half feels quite easy, but then it starts to hurt.” He’s a useful cricketer, I think, and this isn’t his first marathon and he’s on course for a decent time. Judd is running for The Children’s Trust. 

The elite have finished

But there are still some 50,000 runners still out there, all with there own inspirational stories. Right now, I imagine, they are entering a world of pain, but raising a load of money for charities personal to them in the process. These are the stories that make today really matter. 

The official men’s results

• Alexander Mutiso Munyao (Ken) - 2hrs 4mins 1sec
• Kenenisa Bekele (Eth) -2hrs 4mins 15 seconds
• Emile Cairess (GB) - 2hrs 6mins 46secs 
• Mahamed Mahamed (GB) - 2hrs 7mins 5secs 

Now the battle for third

It’s between two Britons Emile Cairess and Mahamed Mahamed. 

Cairess wins it and finishes off the podium, both of them however, post PBs and register the second and third fastest times by Britons. 

Munyao wins the men’s race

The break on the Embankment proved to be the decisive one. He wins in a time of 2hrs 4mins 1sec, beating Bekele by about 14 seconds. 

WHAT A PERFORMANCE! 🇰🇪 Alexander Munyao fights of Kenenisa Bekele and wins the 2024 TCS London Marathon. #LondonMarathon pic.twitter.com/CmRY8Gv1Dp — TCS London Marathon (@LondonMarathon) April 21, 2024

Emile Cairess is in third

And Mahamed Mahamed, his fellow Briton, is fourth. They’ve past some big names such as Tola, who went off too fast at the start (some did just stop, however...). Remarkable. 

The home hopes have got stronger and stronger as the race has gone one. There’s a gap of about 30 seconds between them. 

Munyao extends his lead

He’s past Big Ben so only 1,200 metres to go. Bekele is guaranteed second. 

Munyao makes a break

The Kenyan leaves the all-time great Bekele on the Embankment and it looks as though it will be the decisive break. With about two kms to go he has a lead of about 30 metres. 

Mhairi Maclennan is first British women to cross the line

She wanted to go under two and half hours and she does exactly that finishe in 2hrs 29mins 13secs. It’s her first marathon, bravo! 

Youth vs experience in men’s race

The last five kilometres of the men’s race is a question of youth v experience. The leading two are Kenenisa Bekele, the 41-year -old Ethiopian running his fifth London marathon and Alexander Munyao, the 24 year old Kenyan running the streets of the capital for the first time. 

Battle of the Britons

In the men’s race Mohamed Mohamed is only about 50 seconds behind Emile Cairess who is outside Mo Farah’s British record but should be inside the Olympic qualifying time. 

It’s Bekele vs Munyao

They’re approaching the Embankment so about five kms to go. 

Meanwhile in the men’s race

It’s now a two-horse race. Bekele the track great is leading with Munyao second. They dropped Tola about four minutes ago. 

Jepchirchir wins!

In a new women’s-only world record in 2hrs 16mins 16secs!

Assefa is second and Jepkosgei is third. Alemu finishes in fourth. 

Jepchirchir makes a break 400 metres out

The Olympic champion has daylight between her and Assefa. 

Sprint finish in the women’s race

All four of Assefa, Jepkosgei, Jepchirchir and Alemu are all together with about 500 metres go to. 

They’ve just gone past Big Ben

And still they’re all together with about 1,200 metres to go...

Still nothing separates

The leading four women. The predicted time is still just inside the course record and women’s-only record. 

Assefa, the favourite, hasn’t been in this position before. 

So close in the women’s race

Imagine having to do a sprint finish after 26 miles...that’s what it’s going to come down to and it’s still anyone’s race between Assefa, Jepkosgei, Jepchirchir and Alemu. Squeaky bum time...

The women aren’t thinking about the record

They’ve slowed and are in a race at the moment, the leading quartet of Assefa, Jepkosgei, Jepchirchir and Alemu are only thinking about the win rather than the record. 

No sign of cracking just yet as they going in the Blackfriers underpass. Big Ben will soon come into view. 

Bekele makes a move in the men’s race

The leading pack has been stretched all of a sudden. Tola is trying to hang on to Bekele. 

It become a race

In the women’s event, everyone seemingly waiting for a rival to make a move. If they want that women’s-only world record and course record they may need to get a move on. 

The women are now approaching the Embankment

It’s now cat and mouse between the leading four of Assefa, Jepkosgei, Jepchirchir and Alemu. Five kms to go. 

Emile Cairess

Is outside of Mo Farah’s British record, but inside the Olympic time. 

Jepchirchir makes a move...

...after a water station. It’s a little tester, a surge, asking the question. It’s one the other three women Assefa, Jepkosgei and Alemu answer with ease as they soon reel her in. 

They are still well in the women’s-only world record, through 35 km in 1hr 52mins 48secs.

Only one pacer left in the men’s race

All the main contenders are still in the leading pack. Bekele looks the calmest and most serene of the lot. Mengesha lead through 25 km in 1hr 12min 45 secs. Tola was second and Atanaw third. Wonder when, if, the break will come? Who’ll make the decisive move? 

Women’s race down to four contenders

The leading group is down to four now. It’s a high-quality quartet consisting of Assefa, Jepkosgei, Jepchirchir and Alemu. 

There’s a problem with a wheelchair athlete and they have to swerve the stationary chair. 

David Weir: ‘Conditions were so tough’

The veteran British athlete David Weir, who came third in the men’s wheelchair has just spoken to the media. 

“It was tough, conditions were so tough, it was really windy,” he said. “I’m happy with my performance. I kept up with Marcel [Hug, the winner] to 20 miles, so can’t complain. I promised I’d get back on the podium and I did. Daniel [Romanchuk, who came second] is 20 years younger than me, when these guys surge, it’s hell. Can you name another athlete who has done as many marathons as me? Email me if you can.”

Asked if he planned to be at the Paralympics in the summer, he replied: 

“I’m going to take some time off, then I’ll make a decision for Paris. Or British Athletics will make that decision for me.”

Bananas have made it to Cutty Sark

So still about 20 miles to go. The TV pictures are showing a lot of happy faces, I am sure that will all change the further the charity runners get along the course. 

The men are through 20km

So nearly at the halfway mark. Tola leads the front pack having gone through 20 km in 58:20. All the main men are there. 

Bad news for Cairess

He’s lost one of his pacemakers, important he he tries to break Mo Farah’s British record of 2hr 5mins 111 secs.

The Hardest Geezer

is off for a little jog (for him...). Having run the length of Africa Russ Cook is tackling the streets of London today. 

The women are though 17 miles

Assefa still looking strong. 

All the main contenders...

...are still in the leading pack in the men’s race. Through 15km Gobena was first in 43:41, Tura, Bekele, Chahdi just behind him. 

Kosgei dropped from the leading group

In the women’s race the former world record holder is finding the pace too much and is now 50 metres or so back. Assefa leads (1hr 19 mins 38 secs for 25 km) with Jepchircher, Ketema, Alemu and Jepkosgei for company. 

The pace has now dropped a bit, they’ve just run a 5:15 mile, one of the slowest when not into a head wind. 

Catherine Debrunner wins the women’s wheelchair race

She was out in front almost from the start. She has dominated this race and wins with ease in 1hr 38min 53secs. She must be one of the red-hot favourites for gold in Paris this summer. 

That’s a Swiss double in the wheelchair races. 

NUMBER TWO FOR CATHERINE DEBRUNNER! Two🇨🇭winners in the Wheelchair races as Catherine Debrunner wins her second London Marathon! #LondonMarathon pic.twitter.com/I9tm50mJYF — TCS London Marathon (@LondonMarathon) April 21, 2024

Marcel Hug wins the men’s wheelchair race

He’s the world’s best and wins this in a time of 1hr 28 mins 33 secs. It’s his fifth win and he crosses the line untroubled by his rivals. Second, some 35 seconds or so later is Romanchuk. 

David Weir is third in his 25th London Marathon, not the result he would have wanted but in this field mightily impressive.

Everyone is now out on the roads

Elite men are going past Cutty Sark

It’s a steady pace for them. It’s 6.5 mile mark and they’ve gone through in just over 30 minutes. Tola led through 10k in 29.03, Wolde was second and Mengesha third. Bekel is in the lead group. 

Women’s race still well inside...

...the women’s-only world record. That mark is 2hr 17min 1 sec, set in London my Mark Keitany in 2017. They’re looking at 2:14 at the moment. Assefa and Kosgei are prominent. They’ve gone through 20km in 1hr 3 min 35 secs. 

Weir 45 seconds behind Hug

It looks as though the Swiss has made the decisive move in the men’s wheelchair race. 

In the men’s race

There’s a leading group of around 14, one of the pacemakers is dropping back. All the main contenders are still up there. 

Cairess inside Farah’s record time so far

The foremost British contender Emile Cairess did his first 5km in 14.47 (the kind of time that would terrify anyone who does the Park Run on a Saturday morning). That is inside Mo Farah’s British Marathon record. 

In the women’s race

One of the three pacemakers has dropped off. But it’s still a quick race, they’re 53 minutes (15 kms) in now and Assefa is on the shoulder of one of the pacemakers, with Kosgei, her main rival, next to her. 

Hug makes a break

They’ve gone through the 30km mark, so seven miles to go. He’s now got a gap of around 100 metres to Romanchuk.

The leading group in the men’s race completed their second mile in 4 minutes 49 seconds, exactly the time the women’s leaders completed their third mile. 

In the men’s wheelchair race

There are still four in the leading pack.  Weir, Suzuki, Hug, and Romanchuk. It’s very tactical race, it won’t be a quick time and with Weir’s sprint finish expect Hug to possibly make a move in the coming miles. They currently on the Isle of Dogs. 

In the women’s race Debrunner is three minutes clear and on for the victory. 

They are going at some lick. They’re looking good for a 2.12 time, it will likely slow down but the record is under threat. 

Assefa leads the pack, for company she has Kosgei, Chepengetich, Jepchirdhir, Jepkosgei and Yehualaw. 

It’s quite windy out there so expect some to drop out that leading pack. 

Palestine flags

As the elite runners leave the start line, they passed a significant collection of Palestine flags being waved.

Relaxed runners

I got to the media centre at the finish line at 9.30. And still on the underground there were dozens of people heading to Blackheath. I spoke to one runner on the train who seemed entirely relaxed about not getting to the start line until about five minutes before they were due to get off. “You don’t want to get cold hanging around,” she said. I think I’d have been so nervous I would have been there the night before. 

The elite men are under way

Tamirat Tola is the favourite, but watch out for Bekele. 

The British runners Marc Scott, Calum Hawkins and Emile Cairess are off for the British with the latter looking to Break Mo Farah’s record. 

Kelvin Kiptum tribute

Last year’s winner in a course record time died in a car crash in February. 

Before the start the runners remember the world record holder with a minute’s applause. 

Kenenisa Bekele, the Ethiopian long-distance legend, says Kiptum will always hold a place in the hearts of marathon runners.

“Kelvin of course, all of us miss him,” Bekele said. “Even within his short time, he has been setting an amazing history.

“The course record is also under his name and we are all remembering him.

“We put him in a special place in our heart because in a really within a short time he has done a lot for our sport.”

Ten minutes away from the start of the elite men’s race

And the other 49,000 runners...good luck to everyone. 

Catherine Debrunner

Is still clear in the women’s wheelchair race and looks good for the win. 

The men’s race is more interesting because Weir and Suzuki have joined the early leading pair of Marcel Hug and Daniel Romanchuk. As I type they are going across Tower Bridge, so approaching the half-way mark. 

Emile Cairess looking for Olympic qualifying mark

The Briton was sixth on his London debut last year, producing the best finish among the home runners and also recording a third-fastest British men’s time.

The men’s qualification standard is time two hours eight minutes and 8.04 seconds. Cairess ran a 2:08:07 last year so the mark for Paris is doable for him.

Wheelchair races

It’s Marcel Hug in front with Daniel Romanchuk for company. David Weir has been dropped and is in third along with Japan’s Suzuki, those two need to work together. 

In the women’s race Switzerland’s Catherine Debrunner has pulled clear in the women’s wheelchair race. She’s reeling in some of the slower male runners.

The three pace setters

Are leading the bunch but already the pace is quick, Assefa is looking good, as you would expect. 

It’s already a fast pace

And the lead group is already splintered into three groups. 

The elite women are off

Will the course record go? Tigst Assefa certainly thinks it will go today in what has been called ‘the best field ever for thr women’s London Marathon’ and ‘harder to win than this summer’s Olympics’. 

The ones to look out for along with Assefa, are Brigud Kosgei (two-time winner in London), Ruth Chepngetich, Tigist Ketema and Megertu Alemu. 

ELITE WOMEN | The greatest women's field in London Marathon history sets off! After Tigst Assefa's incredible performance in Berlin, could we see a World Record today? #LondonMarathon pic.twitter.com/BUgKMO3eHt — TCS London Marathon (@LondonMarathon) April 21, 2024

Life and art intertwined

Eastenders actors Emma Barton and Jamie Borthwick will be running today, but as their characters Honey and Jay...they have certain spots they have to be on the route and those scenes will be in tomorrow’s episode. 

And they’re off!

This is more akin to cycling than running, you can draft etc. It’s not as punishing as the running (though I am not sure how my arms would take a 26.2 mile race in a wheelchair...), hence you can do a marathon in Boston one week and then race in London the next. 

Elite Wheelchairs | LET'S GO! Our Elite Wheelchair race is away. We're incredibly proud this year to be the first Major Marathon to offer equal prize money to our wheelchair athletes and runners. #LondonMarathon pic.twitter.com/Cb7P6WLVqq — TCS London Marathon (@LondonMarathon) April 21, 2024

Nearly time for the wheelchair races to get under way

In the women’s race Britain’s Eden Rainbow-Cooper is the favorite, having won in Boston on Monday. She is facing four former winners of this race so the field is stacked. 

In the men’s race David Weir will be looking to add to his eight victories in this race. He was third in Boston and his main rival will be Marcel Hug. The Swiss won all six majors last year and again will be the man to beat. 

AKA Russ Cook is running today. This should be like a walk in a park for Cook who, as I am sure you know, has just run the length of Africa. His number is 14136 is you want to follow him on the app...

READ: ‘Hardest Geezer’ completes momentous run along length of Africa

The calm before the storm

An emotional, moving event

The London Marathon is about so much more than the professionals running jaw-dropping times. So we’ll also be checking in on the ‘fun’ runners (from personal experience, not sure there’s much fun to be had during a marathon...) every one who’ll likely have their own inspiring story – what got them to the start line? Who and what are they running for? This is one of the most beautiful sporting events around, one where you can park your cynicism and simply applaud all those taking part. 

One of those tackling the 26.2 miles is Nathaniel Dye. The former ultra-runner was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in 2022 and has not trained beyond a 5km Park Run. 

Here’s his moving and inspiring story. 

READ: ‘I have terminal cancer, but I will run the London Marathon playing a trombone’

The London Marathon route follows its usual course, starting in Greenwich and Blackheath where entrants are split into three lines which converge at the three-mile mark. The route heads east into Woolwich, then back west towards Greenwich town centre, through Rotherhithe and Bermondsey. From there it crosses north over Tower Bridge, which signals the approximate halfway mark. Athletes then complete a circuit around Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs before the course runs west along the north bank of the Thames past the Tower of London towards Trafalgar Square and onto the Mall where it finishes in front of Buckingham Palace.

To download a map of the course, click here .

Some of London’s most famous landmarks feature on the course.

• Cutty Stark, mile six
• Tower Bridge, mile 12
• Canary Wharf, miles 15 and 18
• Tower of London, mile 22
• London Eye, mile 25
• Big Ben, mile 25
• Buckingham Palace, mile 26

• The elite and wheelchair races set off at staggered times, with the elite wheelchair men’s and women’s races getting under way at 9.05am. 
• The elite women’s race starts at 9.25am, while the elite men hit the road at 10am. 
• The masses also start at 10am, in waves until 11.30am.

Britain’s hope in the men’s race

Emile Cairess will lead the host nation’s hopes in the elite men’s race, having finished sixth on his debut last year.

Cairess is aiming to better the Olympic qualifying mark to join training partner Phil Sesemann in the Team GB squad for Paris.

The 26-year-old, though, also has one eye on a long-term target of breaking Sir Mo Farah’s six-year-old British marathon record, which was set in Chicago.

“I have a time in my head. I will be trying to run maybe about three-minute kilometres,” Cairess said.

“Mo’s British record is something I definitely want to beat in the near future, but I am not looking at that this weekend.”

Super shoes create new possibilities

There’s a line towards the end of Shawshank Redemption uttered by Red, the one film character I defy anyone to dislike (if you do dislike him, then I despair...) where he utters: “Seriously, how often do you look at a man’s shoes?”

It’s a line that that I have often thought about since I first watched the celebrated film and – unless you happen to be wearing pointy, black school shoes with the laces on the side – the answer from me is “not that much”.

But that won’t be possible today when a lot, if not all, the talk will be of shoes. Yep, technology has come to long-distance running with spectacular results and there is talk of records possibly being broken today.

Tigst Assefa wore the now almost mythical Adidas Adios Adizero Pro Evo 1 carbon running shoes (nice pithy name there) for her world record run in Berlin last year. The Ethiopian crossed the line in 2hr 11min 53sec, shaving more than two minutes off Brigid Kosgei’s 2019 landmark of 2hr 14min 04sec. A former 800m specialist, Assefa only raced the marathon for the first time two years ago before winning the 2022 Berlin race with what was then the third fastest women’s run in history.

Kosgei’s record, which itself beat Paula Radcliffe’s 2003 world record of 2hr 15min 25sec, was also set in the era of the new super-cushioned carbon-plated shoes that emerged in 2016 with Nike’s Vaporfly and then Alphafly innovations.

Today, Assefa is out at the very least to break at least one record, the course record.

“I am very happy to be in London for the first time,” the 27 year old said. “I did train very well for Berlin and I have trained well for this one. God will show how good I am on Sunday.

“I have prepared very well for this race and I am sure I can beat the course record here. As I am sure all my competitors here will feel as well. Regardless of whether it is London or Berlin, it will not change my strategy at all.

“I am here to win.”

In the men’s race shoes will also be a key factor. But last year’s winner Kelvin Kiptum will not be at the start line after his tragic death in a car crash in February. The Kenyan broke the course record with a time of  2hr 1min 25sec last year. The London Marathon will honour the Kenyan in a series of tributes today.

In his absence Tamirat Tola starts as favourite and, having won in New York last autumn, the Ethiopian feels a carefully planned build-up will give him every chance of adding the London Marathon title to his Stateside success.

The 32-year-old locked a new course record of two hours, four minutes and 58 seconds when he won in Manhattan and has high hopes of another fast time in the UK capital.

”[Winning in] London is not easy, but I worked hard to win New York and my training has all been OK since then, so I am ready,” said Tola, who also won the 2023 Great North Run title.

“Everything is good with what my coaches have prepared for me to win, so we can hope for a good result on Sunday.”

Stay here for all the action on London’s roads and watch out for those shoes...  

• London Marathon 2024 guide: When is it, route, records and how to watch
• Amateur running times are tumbling and super shoes are to thank
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Middle East latest: Baby delivered after mother killed in Rafah strike; Netanyahu vows to 'increase pressure on Hamas in coming days'

A baby girl was delivered in an emergency caesarean section after her Palestinian mother was killed by an Israeli attack in the Gaza city of Rafah. Meanwhile, Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will "increase the political and military pressure on Hamas in the coming days".

Sunday 21 April 2024 21:49, UK

• Israel-Hamas war

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• Iran 'displayed power' in attack on Israel, Supreme Leader insists - despite failure
• Baby delivered in emergency C-section after mother killed in Rafah strike
• Netanyahu: Israel will increase pressure on Hamas 'in coming days' 
• Sean Bell: New details hint at impact of Israeli strike on Iran
• At least 14 Palestinians killed in West Bank raid, authorities say
• Analysis: Iran isn't biggest threat to the coalition right now
• Live reporting by Bhvishya Patel and (earlier)  Narbeh Minassian

Earlier today, Iran's supreme leader dismissed any discussion of whether Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile attack on Israel hit anything there.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's comments to senior military leaders did not not touch on the apparent Israeli retaliatory strike on the central city of Isfahan on Friday, even though air defences opened fire and Iran grounded commercial flights across much of the country.

The 85-year-old made the comments in a meeting attended by the top ranks of Iran's regular military, police and paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, a powerful force within its Shiite theocracy.

We have been reporting this weekend on the Israeli raid at Nur Shams, in the occupied West Bank.

The raid began in the early hours of Friday and troops were still exchanging fire with armed fighters into Saturday.

Here are some of the images that have emerged from the region...

By Alex Crawford , special correspondent

The UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon has told Sky News the dangers in the region have not gone away and called for calm, wisdom and de-escalation as a matter of urgency.

Joanna Wronecka spoke from her office in Beirut about her worries and appealed for restraint from all those involved.

"I'm very concerned," she said. "Because we need just a small miscalculation and the situation can escalate even more."

She was referring to the spike in cross-border firing between the Israeli military and the Lebanese Hezbollah fighters who've been trading attacks with growing intensity since 7 October.

You can read Crawford's full piece here...

The campaigner who was called "openly Jewish" by a police officer last weekend, has been offered a meeting with a senior Metropolitan Police officer.

In a statement, the force said assistant commissioner Matt Twist had written to Gideon Falter, chief executive of the Campaign Against Antisemitism, to offer a private meeting.

The meeting is "to both apologise to him personally and discuss what more the Met can do to ensure Jewish Londoners feel safe", the police said.

We reported this morning the Board of Deputies of British Jews will meet Met Police chief Sir Mark Rowley this week, along with the Jewish Leadership Council and antisemitism charity CST regarding the incident (see post at 2.05pm).

 A baby girl was delivered in an emergency caesarean section after her Palestinian mother was killed along with her husband and daughter by an Israeli attack in the Gaza city of Rafah, Palestinian health officials have said.

The baby is stable and improving gradually, Mohammed Salama, a doctor caring for her, said.

Her mother, Sabreen Al-Sakani, had been 30 weeks pregnant.

The baby will stay in hospital for three to four weeks, Dr Salama said.

"After that we will see about her leaving, and where this child will go, to the family, to the aunt or uncle or grandparents. Here is the biggest tragedy. Even if this child survives, she was born an orphan," he said.

Israel has carried out near-daily air raids on Rafah, where more than half of Gaza's population of 2.3 million have sought refuge from fighting elsewhere.

It has also vowed to expand its ground offensive to the city on the border with Egypt despite international calls for restraint.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had a telephone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today and discussed the state of the region, a spokesperson for the German government has said.

"The chancellor emphasised that it was essential to avoid a regional escalation," the spokesperson said.

It comes as Iran and Israel, who have been locked in a shadow war for years, try to dial back tensions following a series of escalatory attacks between them as the Israel-Hamas war inflames the wider region.

Israel war cabinet member Benny Gantz has spoken with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and asked him to reconsider the decision to sanction the IDF's Netzah Yehuda battalion, the American news website Axios reports, citing Mr Gantz's office.

For context : This weekend a report from Axios claimed the US was expected to announce sanctions within days on the IDF battalion for human rights violations in the occupied West Bank.  

Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu has already responded, warning it is "forbidden" to sanction the IDF.

The Axios report adds it would be the first time the US has imposed sanctions on an Israeli military unit.

Israel and Iran have been at war for decades but they have been fighting in the shadows.

Analysts believe both countries are now trying to ease tensions following a series of escalatory attacks between them.

Here, our international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn   explains how we got here and what could be next.

We have been reporting today on Israeli strikes on the southern Gaza city of Rafah overnight which killed 22 people, including 18 children, according to health officials.

Now, the IDF has responded to the overnight strikes.

"At the given times, the IDF struck several military targets of the terrorist organisations in Gaza including military compounds, launch posts and armed terrorists," it said in a statement.

For context : Israel has carried out near-daily air raids on Rafah, where more than half of Gaza's population of 2.3 million have sought refuge from fighting elsewhere.

It has also vowed to expand its ground offensive to the city on the border with Egypt despite international calls for restraint, including from the US.

Israel will "increase the political and military pressure on Hamas in the coming days", Benjamin Netanyahu has said.

Speaking before the Jewish holiday of Passover that starts tomorrow, the Israeli leader said all proposals for the release of hostages had been "outright rejected by Hamas".

"In the coming days we will increase the military and political pressure on Hamas because this is the only way to free our hostages and achieve our victory," he said.

He also responded to reports of imminent US sanctions on the IDF religious battalion Netzah Yehuda saying: "If anyone thinks they can impose sanctions on a unit in the IDF I will fight it with all my might."

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