London Triathlon: the London T100 at ExCeL and Royal Victoria Dock

The London Triathlon now runs as the London T100 Triathlon, based at ExCeL London with the swim in Royal Victoria Dock. The official site lists age-group races over T100, Olympic, Sprint and Super Sprint distances. The next edition is on 21–22 August 2027, and the 2026 races took place on 25–26 July 2026.

The event was previously known as the AJ Bell London Triathlon. The official T100 Triathlon website no longer uses that name, so you will find it under "London" on the T100 site. Its age-group races (open to amateurs, who race against others in their age band) are listed on the London page of that site. Tri Almanac is an independent guide and is not affiliated with T100 Triathlon or the PTO.

London Triathlon 2027 date

The official participate page gives 21–22 August 2027 for the London T100 Triathlon. This is later in the summer than 2026, when the races took place on 25–26 July and the results are now on the official site. Entry details, prices and the race schedule for each distance are on the organiser's page. We have not listed entry prices here because they were not part of what we checked, and they change during the entry period.

For other races in the 2027 season, see our UK triathlon events calendar, which lists only dates published on organisers' own websites.

Distances at the London T100 Triathlon

The official page lists four age-group distances:

The T100 distance adds up to 100 km in total. The Olympic matches the standard distance used by British Triathlon. Our guides to the Olympic triathlon and the sprint triathlon explain what each involves.

The swim in Royal Victoria Dock

The swim takes place in Royal Victoria Dock in the Royal Docks, next to ExCeL London. The organiser describes it as a freshwater dock swim. The official participate page lists the swim as "18-24C (Wetsuit)". Treat that as the organiser's guide to expected conditions. The water temperature on race day decides the final wetsuit call, and the race confirms it in its athlete information and briefing.

For context, the British Triathlon Competition Rules 2026 make a wetsuit mandatory below 15.9 °C and forbid it above 22 °C for swims up to 1500 m for age-groupers up to 59, and above 24.6 °C for older athletes and for swims of 1501 m and longer. We have not confirmed which rulebook the London T100 races use, so follow the event's own instructions. Our guide to British Triathlon rules explains the full wetsuit table.

Practise sighting before the race, which means lifting your eyes briefly every few strokes to check the next buoy. In open water there are no lane lines to follow.

What we could not verify

Some details matter for planning but were not confirmed on an official page when we checked on 6 October 2026:

• Closed roads. We could not confirm whether the bike course runs on fully closed roads, or its exact route. Read the event information page on the T100 site.
• Minimum age. We could not confirm the minimum age for each distance. British Triathlon sets 15 for super sprint and sprint and 17 for standard distance, but organisers can set their own limits. Check the event information page before you enter.
• Entry prices and cut-off times. These are on the organiser's site and change during the entry period.

How to get ready for the London Triathlon

For many age-groupers the hardest part to prepare for is the open-water swim. If most of your swimming is in a pool, plan regular open-water sessions in the months before the race. Swim in your wetsuit, practise sighting and starting in a group, and get used to swimming without a wall every 25 or 50 metres.

Train in open water in London

London Royal Docks Open Water Swimming, run by Love Open Water, uses Royal Victoria Dock itself, at E16 1AH, a few minutes' walk from Royal Victoria DLR station. That makes it the closest training venue to the race swim. Its page lists loops from 150 m to 750 m and squads in the summer season (May to September). One caveat: the venue page says "This venue is reopening in Summer 2026", and the page had not been updated when we checked, so its current status is not stated. Check with the operator before you plan around it.

According to Love Open Water's page:

• You need NOWCA membership and a wristband, then you book through the ACTiO app or the ACTiO website.
• A tow float is required for all swimmers, along with a bright hat. A tow float is an inflatable buoy on a waist belt that makes you visible to safety crew.
• The benchmark is that you can swim 400 m unaided.
• A wetsuit is not compulsory, and wetsuit hire costs £10 per session (checked 6 October 2026; prices change).
• A Cold Water Induction is compulsory from November to March and whenever the water is below 15 °C.

Our guide to open water swimming in London covers other supervised venues across the city. Only swim in open water at supervised venues and organised sessions. Never swim in the docks, the Thames or canals outside them.

Bike and run

For the bike and run, follow a structured plan for your distance, such as our Olympic triathlon training plan. Practise bike-to-run sessions so your legs know the feeling of running straight off the bike. Rehearse your transitions at home, from removing your wetsuit to clipping your helmet before you touch the bike. If you have a medical condition or have been inactive, see your GP before you start hard training.

Frequently asked questions