Great North Run 2025 route and how to get there

Metro operator Nexus is urging people to allow plenty of time for their journeys to the Great North Run start line

Thousands of runners will descend on the streets of Newcastle and beyond this weekend for the annual Great North Run.

The famous half-marathon, which starts in Newcastle, heads through Gateshead and South Tyneside before finishing in South Shields, is expected to attract about 60,000 people on Sunday.

A number of road closures will be in place as people take on the 13.1-mile (21km) challenge.

Travel bosses are expecting busy services with the possibilities of delays and disruption across the transport network.

Route layout

Starting on Newcastle city centre's central motorway, the route takes runners through road tunnels onto the Tyne Bridge and into Gateshead, heading to the A184 towards Heworth.

Between miles three and eight, runners will cross to the A194 which will then become an uphill route at miles eight to 12.

The final stretch involves a downhill incline towards the sea view in South Shields.

Those taking part in the Great North Run (GNR) for the first time are being urged to expect crowds both on and off the race route, as thousands of spectators will also be watching.

• Bereaved dad's Great North Run keepy-uppies quest

• The Great North Run race to get home afterwards

About 60,000 runners are expected to turn out

Going by Metro

Metro operator Nexus said GNR day is the busiest of the year for the network and is urging participants and spectators to allow for extra time when travelling.

Haymarket, Monument and Jesmond Metro stations are about a 15 to 20-minute walk to the start line, with the nearest station at the finish being South Shields, which is also a 15-minute walk away.

Additional Metro services will be in place but some stations will be closed throughout the day to allow for crowd control measures to take place, Nexus said.

• Haymarket will have a no entry system between 08:00 and 10:40 BST, with passengers asked to use Jesmond instead

• Jesmond will be closed from 10:30 until early afternoon, and passengers are being advised to Haymarket or Monument

• Manors station will be closed from 10:30 until early afternoon, and passengers are advised to use Haymarket instead

• Chichester will be closed from 13:00 until early evening and South Shields is being recommended as an alternative

Nexus are also urging people to buy GNR Rover Tickets in advance to avoid ticket machines queues on the day.

The £6.50 Rover day ticket and wristband gives unlimited travel on Metro, buses and the Shields Ferry around the event.

They are valid on Metro, the Shields Ferry and buses in Tyne and Wear, Northumberland and County Durham and on Northern trains between Sunderland and Newcastle.

Shields Ferry times

The Shields Ferry, which takes passengers from South Shields to North Shields across the River Tyne, will operate from 08:00 BST, with extra crossings in place from 10:00 until 18:00.

Nexus said people should expect "a significant wait on the way home" due to the number of people travelling.

Bus services 19 and 317 will operate a Sunday timetabled service directly from North Shields ferry landing, at the bus stop on Duke Street to take people to and from the crossing.

Choosing the bus

Eldon Square and Haymarket bus stations in Newcastle city centre are a 15-minute walk from the start line.

Express R1 shuttle bus services will run at least every 10 minutes from 07:15 BST to 16:00 between Newcastle and South Shields, organisers say.

Local bus services will not operate from South Shields Interchange on the day until 19:00.

Bus passengers are being advised to use the stop at BT Call Centre on Ferry Street instead.

Trains to Newcastle Central

Getting to Newcastle from outside of the region can be done via direct trains services to Newcastle Central.

The station is a 30 to 40 minute walk away from the start line.

Trains from London to Newcastle take around two hours 50 minutes, while trains from Liverpool Lime Street to Newcastle take around three hours 15 minutes, depending on which travel provider you use.

Travelling by car

There will be several  road closures the day before the run and during, including the A167 Central Motorway where the run starts, as well as the Tyne Bridge.

• A167 Central Motorway - closed from 20:00 Saturday to 18:30 Sunday

• A184 between Park Lane/Felling Bypass to Whitemare Pool Interchange - closed from 09:00 to 17:00 on Sunday

• A194 (M) from Whitemare Pool Interchange/Leam Lane to John Reid Road Roundabout (A1300) - closed between 09:45 and 16:00 on Sunday

• John Reid Road (A1300) to Prince Edward Road (A1300) to Redwell Lane/Coast Road (A183) roundabout - closed between 09:45 and 16:00 on Sunday

• Coast Road (A183) closed from 08:00 to 17:30 on Sunday between Redwell Lane to Mowbray Road

• Bents Park Road - closed from Sea Way to Mowbray Road from 02:45 on Sunday until 17:30.

Additional road closures will also be in place across Newcastle city centre and South Tyneside.

A full list can be found on Newcastle City Council and South Tyneside Council websites.