How to Watch London Marathon 2023 Live Online?
On April 23rd, 2023, London will be hosting its 43rd annual marathon. The event marks one of the world’s biggest mass participation races and is viewed by thousands in the UK thanks to BBC iPlayer. But what about the rest of the world?
The action is on, as racers will go through 26.2 miles of London sights before ending in St James’s park. In other words, it’s a must-see event that anyone around the world should be able to watch.
So, what can we do about the geo-restrictions blocking your way? We’ll handle this. This is how you can stream the 2023 London Marathon live online in the UK, Canada, USA, Australia, and the rest of the world.
London Marathon on BBC – Quick Steps
Time needed: 4 minutes
What makes this very easy is the fact that BBC iPlayer is completely free. So, to watch the 2023 London Marathon outside the UK, the following steps should be taken:
- Sign up with a VPN service.
Premium ones are recommended. For seamless streaming, give ExpressVPN a try.
- Download the VPN application.
Install the software on your Android, iOS, PC, or Mac.
- Activate the app.
Submit your username and password.
- Connect to a UK server.
A British IP address will be acquired in the process.
- Launch BBC iPlayer’s website or app.
Sign in with your account.
- Watch London Marathon 2023 live.
Enjoy the 43rd edition of the race live wherever you are.
London Marathon 2023 Live – The Full Walkthrough
We have more details to discuss, including those regarding BBC iPlayer’s geoblocking and Virtual Private Networks. You can check everything in the following walkthrough:
What You Need
To watch the 2023 London Marathon on BBC iPlayer, you’ll need everything on the list below:
- A VPN subscription.
- An account with BBC iPlayer.
- A BBC iPlayer compatible device.
BBC iPlayer – British to the Core
In the United Kingdom, the BBC will broadcast the marathon live online for free. That’s one of the reasons why the race became very popular among streamers.
Last year, 40,000+ runners took on the race from Greenwich to The Mall. That was a delight for those who watched the race on BBC iPlayer. However, that’s not possible for anyone living abroad as the channel applies geo-blocking.
This is an issue for British ex-pats living overseas. If you try to watch live or on-demand TV on the BBC outside the UK, you get the following geo-error instead.
“This content is not available in your location.”
Worldwide marathon fans, don’t fret. All you need to do is use a VPN and follow the steps provided above. Once you do, you can stream the marathon wherever you may be.
What is VPN?
Using a virtual private network will allow you to stream the London Marathon at the same time it airs in the UK.
But how does it do it? When you connect to a VPN server, the cybersecurity tool will protect your data with military-grade encryption. This makes it almost impossible for cybercriminals and third parties to intercept your browsing activities.
Not only that, but the VPN also cloaks your identity by hiding your IP address and granting you one in the country where the server is based. Now, with a new virtual location, you can access geo-restricted content wherever you may be.
For example, if you connect to a UK server, you’ll receive a British IP address. As a result, you’ll be able to stream BBC iPlayer even if you reside outside the United Kingdom.
Since there are so many VPNs to choose from, finding the right one can be quite a difficult task. They promise to grant you access to geo-blocked websites from around the world.
Out of all the VPN providers I have tried, ExpressVPN works the best with BBC iPlayer. Here’s our list of the best VPN services you can use to watch the London Marathon 2023 from anywhere in the world.
- Best for streaming and privacy
- High speed servers in 160 VPN locations
- Works for Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu
- 24/7/ live chat support
- 3 extra months free on annual plan
- UltraHD streaming
- Free Smart DNS proxy
- Unblocks all major streaming services
- Limited Time 72% Discount
- Unlimited VPN connections
- Over 1000 servers
- Ad-blocking feature available
- User-friendly application
- Exclusive Smart VPN feature
- Standalone Smart DNS subscription available
- Extra security features
- Extensions for Firefox and Chrome
- Split-tunneling available
No VPN? Use Smart DNS Proxy
Alternatively, you can use Smart DNS proxies to unblock geo-restricted sites like BBC iPlayer outside the UK.
Keep in mind that whether you can actually access the BBC in the USA, Canada, or Australia using Smart DNS depends on the proxy service you are using. Not all Smart DNS proxy services support unblocking BBC abroad.
- Smart DNS is compatible with any streaming device. You can watch the London Marathon on iOS, Mac, Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast, PS3/PS4, Amazon Fire TV, and Xbox.
- Smart DNS does not change your IP address nor does it encrypt your traffic as VPN does.
- If your ISP uses transparent proxies or DNS hijacking, then Smart DNS will probably not work for you.
- Smart DNS also doesn’t guarantee any anonymity online since your IP address is still visible to the sites you visit.
You can sign up for a free Unlocator trial to try out Smart DNS yourself. The popular Smart DNS proxy service offers a free 7-day trial period and does support unblocking BBC iPlayer on virtually all streaming devices.
London Marathon 2023 – FAQ
For additional information about the 2023 London Marathon, give this FAQ section a quick read:
When Will the London Marathon Take Place?
The 2023 London Marathon will take place on April 23rd, 2023.
Where Will the Race Start?
The race will begin at the leafy Blackheath and all the way to St James’s park.
How Long is the Race?
The race will run for 26.2 miles, which gives us enough distance to enjoy one of the best marathons in the world.
Can I Watch the 2023 London Marathon for Free?
Yes! The marathon is broadcasted on BBC iPlayer, which is a completely free channel.
Do I Need an Account to Watch BBC iPlayer?
Although free, you still need to create a free account to stream BBC iPlayer’s content.
Can I Watch the London Marathon on Kodi?
You can stream the marathon using your Kodi platform once you download and install the BBC iPlayer official add-on.
How to Watch London Marathon 2023 Online – Wrap Up
That’s all you need to know about how to stream the 2023 London Marathon live online from anywhere in the world. Should you need further instructions, simply drop a comment below, and we’ll do our best to help you out.