70 days 8,000 runners 8,000 miles Torch relay FAQs
Routes
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- Day 1 Land's End to Plymouth May 19
- Day 2 Plymouth to Exeter May 20
- Day 3 Exeter to Taunton May 21
- Day 4 Taunton to Bristol May 22
- Day 5 Bristol to Cheltenham May 23
- Day 6 Gloucester to Worcester May 24
- Day 7 Worcester to Cardiff May 25
- Day 8 Cardiff to Swansea May 26
- Day 9 Swansea to Aberystwyth May 27
- Day 10 Aberystwyth to Bangor May 28
- Day 11 Beaumaris to Chester May 29
- Day 12 Chester to Stoke-on-Trent May 30
- Day 13 Stoke-on-Trent to Bolton May 31
- Day 14 Bolton to Liverpool June 1
- Day 15 Liverpool to Castletown June 2
- Day 16 Belfast to Portrush June 3
- Day 17 Carrick-a-Rede to Londonderry June 4
- Day 18 Londonderry to Newry June 5
- Day 19 Dublin to Belfast June 6
- Day 20 Newcastle to Moorfields June 7
- Day 21 Stranraer to Glasgow June 8
- Day 22 Glasgow to Inverness June 9
- Day 23 Kirkwall to Lerwick June 10
- Day 24 Stornoway to Aberdeen June 11
- Day 25 Aberdeen to Dundee June 12
- Day 26 St Andrews to Edinburgh June 13
- Day 27 Edinburgh to Alnwick June 14
- Day 28 Alnwick to Newcastle upon Tyne June 15
- Day 29 Gateshead to Durham June 16
- Day 30 Durham to Middlesbrough June 17
- Day 31 Middlesbrough to Hull June 18
- Day 32 Hull to York June 19
- Day 33 York to Carlisle June 20
- Day 34 Dumfries to Bowness-on-Windermere June 21
- Day 35 Kendal to Blackpool June 22
- Day 36 Lytham St Anne's to Manchester June 23
- Day 37 Salford to Leeds June 24
- Day 38 Leeds to Sheffield June 25
- Day 39 Sheffield to Cleethorpes June 26
- Day 40 Grimsby to Lincoln June 27
- Day 41 Lincoln to Nottingham June 28
- Day 42 Nottingham to Derby June 29
- Day 43 Derby to Birmingham June 30
- Day 44 Birmingham to Coventry July 1
- Day 45 Coventry to Leicester July 2
- Day 46 Leicester to Peterborough July 3
- Day 47 Peterborough to Norwich July 4
- Day 48 Norwich to Ipswich July 5
- Day 49 Ipswich to Chelmsford July 6
- Day 50 Chelmsford to Cambridge July 7
- Day 51 Cambridge to Luton July 8
- Day 52 Luton to Oxford July 9
- Day 53 Oxford to Reading July 10
- Day 54 Reading to Salisbury July 11
- Day 55 Salisbury to Weymouth July 12
- Day 56 Portland Bill to Bournemouth July 13
- Day 57 Bournemouth to Southampton July 14
- Day 58 Southampton to Portsmouth July 15
- Day 59 Portsmouth to Brighton July 16
- Day 60 Brighton to Hastings July 17
- Day 61 Hastings to Dover July 18
- Day 62 Deal to Maidstone July 19
- Day 63 Maidstone to Guildford July 20
- Day 64 Greenwich to Waltham Forest July 21
- Day 65 Redbridge to Bexley July 22
- Day 66 Lewisham to Wandsworth July 23
- Day 67 Kingston to Ealing July 24
- Day 68 Harrow to Haringey July 25
- Day 69 Camden to Westminster July 26
- Day 70 Hampton Court to Olympic Stadium July 27
70 days; 70 routes
- Day 1 Land's End to Plymouth
- Day 2 Plymouth to Exeter
- Day 3 Exeter to Taunton
- Day 4 Taunton to Bristol
- Day 5 Bristol to Cheltenham
- Day 6 Gloucester to Worcester
- Day 7 Worcester to Cardiff
- Day 8 Cardiff to Swansea
- Day 9 Swansea to Aberystwyth
- Day 10 Aberystwyth to Bangor
- Day 11 Beaumaris to Chester
- Day 12 Chester to Stoke-on-Trent
- Day 13 Stoke-on-Trent to Bolton
- Day 14 Bolton to Liverpool
- Day 15 Liverpool to Castletown
- Day 16 Belfast to Portrush
- Day 17 Carrick-a-Rede to Londonderry
- Day 18 Londonderry to Newry
- Day 19 Dublin to Belfast
- Day 20 Newcastle to Moorfields
- Day 21 Stranraer to Glasgow
- Day 22 Glasgow to Inverness
- Day 23 Kirkwall to Lerwick
- Day 24 Stornoway to Aberdeen
- Day 25 Aberdeen to Dundee
- Day 26 St Andrews to Edinburgh
- Day 27 Edinburgh to Alnwick
- Day 28 Alnwick to Newcastle upon Tyne
- Day 29 Gateshead to Durham
- Day 30 Durham to Middlesbrough
- Day 31 Middlesbrough to Hull
- Day 32 Hull to York
- Day 33 York to Carlisle
- Day 34 Dumfries to Bowness-on-Windermere
- Day 35 Kendal to Blackpool
- Day 36 Lytham St Anne's to Manchester
- Day 37 Salford to Leeds
- Day 38 Leeds to Sheffield
- Day 39 Sheffield to Cleethorpes
- Day 40 Grimsby to Lincoln
- Day 41 Lincoln to Nottingham
- Day 42 Nottingham to Derby
- Day 43 Derby to Birmingham
- Day 44 Birmingham to Coventry
- Day 45 Coventry to Leicester
- Day 46 Leicester to Peterborough
- Day 47 Peterborough to Norwich
- Day 48 Norwich to Ipswich
- Day 49 Ipswich to Chelmsford
- Day 50 Chelmsford to Cambridge
- Day 51 Cambridge to Luton
- Day 52 Luton to Oxford
- Day 53 Oxford to Reading
- Day 54 Reading to Salisbury
- Day 55 Salisbury to Weymouth
- Day 56 Portland Bill to Bournemouth
- Day 57 Bournemouth to Southampton
- Day 58 Southampton to Portsmouth
- Day 59 Portsmouth to Brighton
- Day 60 Brighton to Hastings
- Day 61 Hastings to Dover
- Day 62 Deal to Maidstone
- Day 63 Maidstone to Guildford
- Day 64 Greenwich to Waltham Forest
- Day 65 Redbridge to Bexley
- Day 66 Lewisham to Wandsworth
- Day 67 Kingston to Ealing
- Day 68 Harrow to Haringey
- Day 69 Camden to Westminster
- Day 70 Hampton Court to Olympic Stadium
Explore our map to find out where the torch is going each day or check the text version to see a list of locations.
- Map colour key
- Past day
- Today
- Future day
- Find out more
Estimated arrival times
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Bushy Park
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Hampton Court
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Teddington Lock
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Richmond Riverside
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Dukes Meadow
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Putney Embankment
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Battersea Bridge
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Battersea Park
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South Bank
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Tower Bridge
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Olympic Stadium
- Map colour key
- Start stop
- Finish stop
- Past stop
- Torch location
- Future stop
- Approximate route
- Find out more
Estimated arrival times
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Bushy Park
- Bushy Park
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Hampton Court
- Lion Gate
- Maze
- Great Fountain
- Main Courtyard
- West gate
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Teddington Lock
- Teddington Lock
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Richmond Riverside
- Richmond Riverside
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Dukes Meadow
- Dukes Meadow
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Putney Embankment
- Putney Embankment
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Battersea Bridge
- Battersea Bridge
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Battersea Park
- Battersea Park
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South Bank
- South Bank
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Tower Bridge
- Tower Bridge
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Olympic Stadium
- Olympic Stadium
Torch Relay News
Watch/Listen
-
Watch Olympic torch relay highlights -
Watch 'Olympomania' at Hyde Park -
Watch Torch visits Downing Street -
Watch 'Eddie and Patsy' carry flame -
Watch Bollywood star carries flame -
Watch Olympic torch: Banks at Wembley -
Watch Torch visits EastEnders set -
Watch Tennis stars in Olympic torch relay -
Watch South London hosts torch relay -
Watch Skier takes flame on London Eye
0655: Hello, fancy seeing you here!
So it's Friday, 27 July 2012. It's been seven years in the making and it's finally here - the London 2012 Olympics open this evening!!
Bit first we have the final day of the torch relay, which will kick off very shortly at Hampton Court Palace.
The Olympic flame will negotiate the maze at the palace before boarding the royal rowbarge Gloriana.
A team of oarsmen and women will transport the flame down the River Thames in a cauldron to Tower Bridge.
The relay ends late in the evening with the lighting of the Olympic cauldron during the Games' opening ceremony.
It is set to be a cracking day. So sit back and enjoy the ride.
0657: Your writers this morning are Ian Hughes and Helen Bushby.
We are delighted to have your company and look forward to hearing from you. You can tweet us here @BBC2012 or send a message on our BBC London 2012 Facebook.
0700: And our first torchbearer of the day is Rosie Hynes, nominated for her basketball achievements. She played womens basketball for England U16s and England U18s, and is currently part of the Great Britain under 20s squad.
0710: The flame is now with Ed Berman.
0714: Richard Todd Bradley sets off for his stint with the flame. A crisp jog from Richard and he passes the flame to Alain Lunzenfichter.
0716: Richmond Council tweets: "1,000 people now standing on Hampton Court Bridge! 1,200 at Pier 3 and 100 a Tedd Lock! #london2012."
0717: Alain is a sports journalist. He has been travelling all over the world for more than 35 years going from one event to another, from Olympic Games to Olympic Games.
He has been President of the Association of the Olympic journalists (OJA) since 2006.
0719: Alain sets of at a decent clip and soon makes it to the gates of Bushy Park.
0720: The next torchbearer is Klara Weaver, a promising rower who was double junior European champion when she was 16, she has won four national titles, and has won Women's Henley twice.
Klara volunteers at an Alzheimer's charity and is working on completing a medical degree at Imperial.
0722: Klara is in the middle of the maze at Hampton Court Palace now.
0723: She's leading the way confidently while the Torch Security team follows. Great shots form helicam, showing the relay negotiating its way through tthe maze.
0727: The flame has emerged from the maze and has now passed to Cara Dartnell-Steinberg
The 13-year-old was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of six. She was one of the first children in the UK to use the insulin pump and has subsequently helped many other children learn about the pump.
She works on behalf of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and has led a walk team of dozens of people each year since she has been diagnosed and helped raise thousands.
0730: Are you ready for the mass bell-ringing at 08:12?
Conceived by Turner Prize-winner Martin Creed, All The Bells encourages everyone across the UK to ring a bell for three minutes.
Thousands of bells are expected to be rung including church bells, hand bells, bicycle bells and doorbells.
0730: Next up with the flame is Jane Caldwell, who works for a children's charity and also mentors young people.
0733: With the palace providing a glorious backdrop, Jane and Mark Levy kiss torches.
0734: For the past 14 years Mark has travelled the world producing TV programes showcasing the inspirational stories of Olympians and unique cultural aspects of the host countries for the American audience.
0736: Whoops and cheers for Mark, who is sporting a massive grin. And who wouldn't??
0738: The next torchbearer is Lauran Ferebee.
The 15-year-old is a young carer, helping her mother look after her younger sister who is 10.
0740: Lauran passes the flame to four-time Olympic rowing gold medallist Matthew Pinsent.
He is the final torchbearer at the palace and will carry the flame through the Great Gate and taken on board the royal rowbarge Gloriana.
0742: Matthew walks down some steps to the river, where the Gloriana awaits.
A magnificent sight as Matthew lights the cauldron on the boat.
0749: BBC London 94.9 reporter Jason Rosam tweeted this picture of the moment when Matthew Pinsent lit the caudron on the Gloriana.
0749: To the sound of three cheers from the crowd, the Gloriana sets off down the River Thames.
0750: The team of oarsmen and women on board the Gloriana are rowing the flame down river to Tower Bridge.
0753: Jennifer Schmidt tweets: "@BBC2012 can't believe it's the last day of #torchcam! The last 70 days watching from America have been very special. Gonna miss it!"
We know just how you feel Jennifer!
0754: It's not the first time the Gloriana has starred in such spectacular fashion - the £1m royal barge Gloriana led the river pageant during the Diamond Jubilee in June.
Right now it is being rowed by 16 crew, who were chosen from a squad of 28 on-board rowers on the day.
The squad is made up of former British Olympic rowing crews going back to the 1948 Games as well as future Olympians and includes Games gold medal winners James Cracknell and Jonny Searle.
0756: If you want to know how the BBC's 2012 theme music was made, here's a brilliant behind-the-scenes video.
It'll be available as a digital only download very soon.
0802: What a day for messing about on the river!
Faheem Aslam tweets: "@BBC2012 what a glorious sight of the flame being rowed down the thames.our day is finally here 2nyt.will miss the torch relay bigtime."
0806: It really is a truly spectacular sight as the Gloriana leads the flotilla down the River Thames. The golden flags on board the royal barge are gently fluttering in the breeze.
0810: Want to know more about what's happening this evening? Catch up on all the latest build-up to the opening ceremony here.
0812: The bells, the bells!
0813: An incredible cacophony of sound as Big Ben - and thousands of other bells across London and the UK - chime.
0815: Did you find a bell to ring out? That was brilliant!
0820: Stunning helicopter shots on BBC torchcam of the flotilla making its way down the Thames - rowboats galore and cyclists on the river path. What a sight!
0821: Martin Creed, the creator of All The Bells, has told BBC Breakfast about his motivation behind his piece.
"I was initially thinking of making a scuplture but then people would have had to go to one place to see it. So I thought of music, as it would go out across the county," he said.
0822: I wonder how many people joined in across the country.
Kathryn Louise Geels abstained but she did have a good excuse as she explained in this tweet: "I'm not ringing the cow bell I have because my housemate is asleep #London2012 #Bells @BBC2012."
0825: PA Photographer Ben Birchall has tweeted this amazing picture: "I'm not often proper amazed... But this truly IS amazing. The crowds are phenomenal."
0830: Cook for London tweeted this picture of bell ringers at Borough Market.
0833: What a creative lot we are in the UK. Evidence provided by Laura's tweet: "@BBC2012 my daughters just went mental on pan lids to join in with the bell ringing :)."
0836: Excitement reaching fever pitch? You betcha.
Here's what British diver Tom Daley thinks. He tweeted: "I can't believe the @Olympics @London2012 start today!!!! So excited!! So my #FF goes to @PeterWaterfield (my synchro partner for the games)".
All the very best to Tom and Peter for the Games!
0846: A BBC torchcam welcome to Jon Greko in the Unityed States, who tweets: "@bbc2012 Watching live from Kalamazoo, Michigan! It maybe 3:45 in the morning but I can't wait for the @London2012 @Olympics to start."
0848: The torch relay will pause at 12:40 BST between London Bridge and Tower Bridge for the "final" torchbearer to step from the Gloriana onto the giant Olympic rings barge, moored in front of City Hall.
0850: If you missed the mass bell ringing this morning, where were you?? You can, however, read all about it here.
0855: The Gloriana and the flotilla have come to a stop at Teddington lock.
0906: So much love coming from you guys on twitter for the BBC 2012 team. Dougal Murphy tweets: "@BBC2012 Ian, Sarah, Ian, Claire, Jenny, Mike, Jane, Christine, Martin, Neville and all on #bbctorchcam #TorchRelay team: #gonnamissyouguys."
All we can says is rightbackatcha - and thanks a million to everyone who has watched and supported the relay.
0908: And Aquiss Broadband tweets: "@BBC2012 Lets not forget the torchcam convoy running team. They will be really missed! Surely we can give them a role tonight?!!!!"
0909: The Gloriana is back on the move. And the oars are lowered into the water once more.
Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream, merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily... 2012 is but a dream!
0914: Meanwhile, BBC's Claire Heald tells us: "Overcast skies, reflected in the artwork on the Olympic Park this morning, are adding to the muted atmosphere before tonight's celebrations for the opening ceremony.
"The drill noises and final dressing the Park activities of yesterday afternoon seem to have abated. Although they may just not have started yet...
"What you can hear is the constant whirring of golf buggies, speeding about those who are important, busy or lucky enough to need one.
"And people's feet crunching on the still-new gravel, as they walk to their Games time jobs."
0919: Claire adds: "From tomorrow, this expanse of Park will be filled with spectators heading to the first sports sessions of the XXXth Olympiad. It's the last morning the staff and volunteers have it to themselves."
0920: London Mayor Boris Johnson told BBC London's Breakfast Show that 3.9m people in London alone have seen the Torch. They were estimating that about 1.5m would see it so they're more than double that, he said.
0921: Matthew Pinsent said the experience of carrying the torch was "wonderful, wonderful" and he added he liked the "rowing theme" of the event.
0923: At the moment you are seeing shots of the barge from helicam, but we will switch to some closer shots very soon.
0930: Is it going to rain on the parade later? Check out the weather forecast here. Regardless, surely nothing will dampen the spirits!
0940: For those of you who wanted to see this morning's Archery, there will be highlights on the BBC Sport website later. More details to follow.
0945: BBC 2012 team journo Martin Gough tweeted us this picture and said: "Crowds out in force at Barnes Bridge. Still 30 mins or so before Gloriana arrives @bbc2012."
0952: On board the Gloriana are seven young torchbearers, who will each get a trun to carry the flame over the course of the morning.
Akosua Scantlebury, 25, works with youth clubs and she carried the flame past Richmond Riverside.
Junior rower Anastasia Chitty, 18, will carry it in Chiswick. Nathalie Murphy, 25, who makes fundraising films, gets a turn at Putney. Football coach Terry Bobie Agyekum, 20, is up at Battersea Park. Weightlifter Jimmy Hazard, 19, will take the flame past Parliament and the London Eye. Yusuf Jimacale, 21, who works with a community football programme, will carry his torch from Millennium Bridge.
0954: Is this a new form of tourism? Campievanner tweets: "@BBC2012 Thanks to torchcam I revisited parts of UK I have been to & seen parts I need to visit without leaving work,home or bed. Miss you."
1000: Interesting soundtrack at the Olympic Park, as Claire Heald tells us in a tweet: "Waiting for Jaques Rogge in the IOC press conference. They're playing out Kung Foo fighting on the PA."
Fast as lightning? A little bit frightening? It's a cult classic, yeah, but today I'd advise you to get your ears around some magnificence from Elbow instead.
1007: Are there any former Olympic sports that you'd like to see re-instated to the Games?
How about any of these? Tug of War, Rope Climbing, Swimming Obstacle Race.
BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat have produced an image gallery of some of the more unusual sports.
1012: We can see one of the torchbearers carrying the flame on the Gloriana.
1014: Anastasia Chitty stands, holding the torch aloft, and waves to spectators overhead on the bridge.
1015: Anastasia won a silver medal at the World Junior Rowing Championships racing in the GB coxless four.
1020: The president of the International Olympic Committee) Jacques Rogge has said at a press conference: "This morning we had a meeting with Locog and I am pleased to say London is ready and we are eagerly waiting the opening ceremony."
Excellent news. No last-minute dusting or hoovering to do? That was always the case when my mum had visitors. I should add that she keeps an impeccable household!
1025: Good knowledge from Stephen E Morgan, who makes a very good point in his tweet: "@BBC2012 Bring Rugby back to the Olympic Games, USA must be tired of holding the Gold since the last Rugby event in 1924 :@)"
1025: The Groovini tweets: "Oh geez, torchcam is making me teary. What am I going to be like when the Games actually begin? Yay Olympics!"
1032: Not sure if this was the wisest tweet from Simon RJ: "@LBRUT great to see the Olympic tourch go past on the river - I wonder of my boss has noticed I am not in the office yet! ;)
However, special dispensation HAS to be granted today, surely!
1036: Carrie Forde tweets: "Happy Olympics day! The #OlympicTorch passed through #Richmond on it's final leg to the Olympic Stadium. #London2012."
1040: Just getting a view of the underbelly of the helicopter which has been providing our amazing images of the torch going down the Thames. Watch this space for more torch shots when they come through!
1048: This current shot you can see is coming from the media boat not far from Gloriana. You will see the occasional shot of BBC reporter Robert Hall, who is reporting on today's events, but this feed will also bring you up close and personal with the torchbearers! Get your sea legs ready!
1053: Sound on torchcam at the moment will be intermittent, but you can still enjoy the river views.
1054: A vote coming in to see the Tug of War back in the Olympics. Dailyexpresslol tweets: "@bbc2012 - it has to be tug of war - what greater team sport is there and not being completely in shape is a bonus for the anchor."
1059: We had one extra bank holiday this year but maybe we should have had two, and allowed everyone out of the workplace for the fnal day of the torch relay.
Andrew Bennett tweets: "@BBC2012 just leaving the office to see the torch pass Bishops Park. Only one person left in the office #oops."
And he's not the only, as The Backstage Centre reveals: "The #olympictorch will be near @CCSkills office again today! Big group of us headed down to #towerbridge to watch it float by @bbc2012."
1101: Here is a picture tweeted by the London Port Authority of torchbearers waiting at Imperial Wharf for Gloriana:
1107: Robert Hall is now reporting about the "ceremonial finale" as the torch prepares to pass Westminster and the Houses of Parliament. "I think the crowds are only going to get bigger," he adds.
1108: More suggestions coming in for additional Olympics sports. This one is from Dick Mowbray, who tweets: "@BBC2012 Restore the 'race in armour' to the Olympics - and get all the olympic athletes to swear the Olympic oath before 'Zeus horkios'."
1112: BBC London 94.9 reporter Jason Rosam tweeted this picture and added: "Crowds starting to gather in Battersea Park to see the #OlympicFlame on its last day."
1121: The lighting of the cauldron at the Olympic Ceremony this evening is "one of the best kept secrets," according to IOC President Jacques Rogge. "I would love to know (who will light it), but I don't know," he has said.
We'll all have to watch tonight to find out. Coverage of the Olympic Opening Ceremony starts from 19:00 BST on BBC One - the main event begins at 21:00 BST.
1140: We're hoping to bring you pictures from the helicopter soon.
1142: And here they are, wonderful images of the London Eye as the helicopter flies past. Now zooming down on the Gloriana and the flotilla.
1145: The pictures have just shown the Gloriana passing underneath Westminster Bridge.
The next torchbearer will carry the flame when the barge passes the Tate Modern.
1151: The Gloriana is expected to reach Tower Bridge at about 12:45.
It is there that the final torchbearer of the morning's relay, 22-year-old basketball player Amber Charles, who played a key role in London's winning bid, will carry the flame in front of City Hall and Tower Bridge.
1158: We will soon be switching to the live text commentary here, where you can follow the rest of the relay and stay across all the news and events until 18:30.
From all of us here in the BBC 2012 team we'd like to say a MASSIVE thank you to all of you for joining us on this amazing 70-day torch relay.
We know from your messages that you've been thrilled, excited, inspired, moved - and have been largely united in your support of #bbctorchcam.
1200: That's all from us here folks! Have a fantastic Olympics!!
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