The final leg will run from Hampton Court Palace , the former home of King Henry VIII , before arriving at the opening ceremony on July 27 . Actors dressed in ancient Greek costumes light the Olympic torch at original stadium . Solemn lighting marks the start of torch 's year - long journey to Britain . Torch will be carried by 8,000 relay runners and run 500 miles across Europe . First light is Greece 's champion swimmer Spyros Gianniotis .
Actors dressed in ancient Greek costumes light the Olympic torch at original stadium . Solemn lighting marks the start of torch 's year - long journey to Britain . Torch will be carried by 8,000 relay runners and run 500 miles across Europe . First light is Greece 's champion swimmer Spyros Gianniotis .