Great North Run 2025 timings, arrival rules and road closures confirmed with a month to go

Full guide to the Newcastle to South Shields AJ Bell Great North Run for September 7, from first road closures to finish line fun

14:44, 11 Aug 2025

The Great North Run flypast always makes for a striking photo(Image: PA)

Excitement is building for the Great North Run which will once again land the North East in the national and international spotlight. With around 60,000 runners, including celebrities and an Olympics icon [1], expected to descend upon the city on September 7 - and 200,000 or so spectators lining the 3.1-mile route to cheer them on - all the groundwork is in place for another spectacular occasion.

This is the 44th year of the world-famous half-marathon, which is a huge money-spinner for charities as well as a big boost to the local economy as a whole. On the morning of the run, Newcastle [2] is always buzzing and the same atmosphere follows on into South Shields [3] where a party atmosphere reigns for everyone passing the finish line.

While regular participants know the format for the big event and how the day plays out, the run attracts newcomers every year, often inspired by friends' experiences or by what they see on TV.

There can be changes to the programme too, such as the introduction last year of new procedures for the baggage buses and this year sees different plans for a 'striped' colour wave category.

So our guide to the 2025 AJ Bell Great North Run [4] is designed to share all there is to know about the big day on Sunday, September 7 whether regulars just want to check start times or first-timers need to know exactly what happens upon arrival. There is information here too for spectators, including travel tips and best places to watch the action, as well as that all-important weather forecast which we will be updating regularly - as with all aspects of the guide - right up to the date of the event.

Guide to Great North Run 2025

Where and when to arrive

The Great North Run starts at 10.50am, with timing break-downs given below. The race starts on Newcastle's A167 Central Motorway and runners will line up close to both the Town Moor and Exhibition Park.

On arriving in Newcastle, it's recommended that people use one of the city centre car parks (if driving) and then walk to the Great North Run start line on the Central Motorway.

The nearest Metro station is Haymarket.

The Central Motorway obviously will be shut to traffic in the lead-up to the run. On the day, the elite athletes are always the first to start - and ahead of that the celebrity runners [5] will be among those doing interviews at the start line - then the mass of runners will set off in their colour waves.

Everyone will have been allocated a colour upon picking up their unique run number, which has a timing chip attached and is to be pinned to running tops. Wave colours determine arrival time, arrival route and assembly information.

Colour wave start timings

Arrival times - the earliest arrival times are 8am for striped and orange runners; 9am for green and 10am for pink.

Here are the times each wave will start:

10.20am - elite wheelchair

10.25am - elite women

10.27am - visually impaired

10.35am - warm-up

10.50am - elite men, orange wave and striped

11.25am - estimated start time of green wave

12noon - estimated pink wave

Arrival procedures

Runners' hubs were introduced for the first time last year, with one positioned on the Town Moor and the other on Claremont Road to provide toilet facilities and access to the baggage buses. There's also an information point here.

Runners with a striped race number will use a new baggage bus marked 'striped' which will be on the Town Moor. Others will use the bus corresponding to their wave colour: the buses for orange and pink also will be on the Town Moor while the one for the green wave will be found on Claremont Road.

Watch this space for baggage bus times to come.

Travel tips

Given the huge pressure for parking in Newcastle, the advice is always to use public transport, where possible, to reach the city and to leave plenty of time for the journey. A good buy is a Great North Run Rover Day Ticket [6] wristband for GBP6.50 for use by runners and spectators to travel all day on September 7 on the Metro, buses, Shields Ferry and northern trains between Newcastle and Sunderland [7]: see here [8].

Those buying tickets on the day are advised to pay by card or use contactless to avoid both machines running out of change and some long queues. Travel information to help plan routes can be found on the Nexus website here [9].

Red Arrows timings

The RAF aerial display team are a highlight of the run start and always missed on the years they have commitments [10] elsewhere.

The good news is they will be back this year for their usual Newcastle flypast as well as the display at South Shields.

11.30am - Tyne Bridge flypast. Have cameras at the ready to capture that iconic sight as the jets trailing plumes of red, white and blue smoke roar over the Tyne Bridge.

1.45pm - aerial display. Around this time the Red Arrows will show off their skills in South Shields.

TV coverage

As usual the Great North Run will be broadcast live on BBC [11]1.

The programme will begin with pre-race scenes at the start line, where music will be playing and the atmosphere building, with interviews including celebrities also shown being shown on a big screen.

TV timings: Live coverage will begin on BBC1 at 10am on the day. The programme will continue until 2pm.

Famous faces to spot

There are always several celebrities and well-known TV faces taking part the run - all fresh and sparkling at the start then sometimes a bit less glam at the end - and there's an 'all in it together vibe". Among the big names on the line-up this year is someone who will probably find the event just a walk in the park.

Olympic Gold medallist runner Dame Kelly Holmes will be joining the run and other well-known faces will include fellow sportsmen and women, such as Eilish McColgan, and TV reality stars from the likes of The Traitors and Love Island.

Our local Dragon's Den star Sara Davies will be back in action too: find the big names taking part here [12].

Great North Run route

The run's spectacular setting is well-known not just to regular participants but also to millions of viewers who watch the event on TV each year. The 13.1-mile route begins in the centre of Newcastle [13], with tens of thousands runners setting off from Central Motorway and heading down the A167 towards the Tyne.

They cross over the Tyne Bridge [14] onto Gateshead [15]'s Felling Bypass and there is always music to give them a boost along the way. At White Mare Pool they they will press on (from the A184 to A194) towards South Shields [16] and head towards that memorable view of the sea and the traditional finish line at the coast.

The run will end on The Leas in South Shields.

Find a route map information here [17].

Best spectating spots

The Town Moor is the place to enjoy some of the pre-race atmosphere while key vantage points for spectators include the bridges over the Central Motorway to see the flow of runners below or else head down to the Tyne Bridge area or Quayside to watch the runners pass by. Of course, due to ongoing restoration work, crowds won't be able to line the iconic bridge like they used to.

Tyne Bridge restoration - spectators will not be able to stand on the bridge between its towers to cheer on the runners. As was the case last year,[18] only one walkway is open and this must be kept clear for anyone wanting to cross, supporters will have to make do with space, if they can find it, on the approaches to the bridge instead.

Those watching out for a participant are advised to choose a viewing point and stick to it or else they risk getting lost in the crowds and missing their loved ones entirely.

Other vantage points can be along the route of the A184 Felling Bypass.

Tracking the runners

Family and friends can to keep an eye on a runner's progress by using a tracker via the Great Run App. This is free and available from the iTunes App store and the Google Play Store: see here [19].

Getting home

Obviously South Shields will be hugely busy and leaving at peak times will mean queues however you travel. That goes for the Metro which is still the recommended form of travel and will have extra trains running.

Some stations will be closed or have limited access during the run so check the Nexus website here [20] and see the Great North Run event guide here [21].

Great North Run road closures

Temporary road closures and restrictions will be in place in Newcastle, Gateshead and South Shields on September 7 to ease the pressure along the Great North Run route.

Closures in Newcastle will of course include the Central Motorway (A167) and Tyne Bridge and here is the list of road which traditionally see restrictions in place and an idea of timing, which can be subject to change.

Newcastle road closures until 6.30pm. Note: 2025 timings for affected Newcastle roads have yet to be confirmed

The A167(M) between Cowhill and Great North Road is set to be closed, north and southbound, from 8pm on the Saturday before until 6.30pm on Sunday, although the target opening time is usually earlier, around 6pm

Newcastle road closures 8.45am to 5pm

Newcastle Central Motorway from the Great North Road to the north side of the Tyne Bridge. (The target opening time is sooner)

Newcastle road closures 6.45am-1pm

Claremont Road from Queen Victoria Road both north and southbound

Newcastle road closures 9am-5pm

Tyne Bridge to Whitemare Pool (A194) roundabout

Gateshead road closures 9.45am-5pm

A194 Leam Lane from Whitemare Pool to A19 Lindisfarne Roundabout eastbound

South Shields road closures from 9.45am-4pm.

Leam Lane (A194) northeast bound carriageway only from White Mare Pool to the roundabout at John Reid Road
John Reid Road (A1300) eastbound carriageway from A194 to the roundabout at King George Road (A1018)
Prince Edward Road and Redwell Lane (A1300) from King George Road (A1018) to Coast Road (A183)
Sea Road (A183) from New Crown roundabout in a north easterly direction for 180metres
Station Road, south bound for its entire length
Howard Street (A185) for its entire length
John Reid Road (A1300) / Winskell Road
Mowbray Road except for the crossing between Iolanthe Terrace and Westoe Avenue
Maxwell Street from its junction with Western Approach eastwards for 40 metres
Newcastle Road eastbound from the off slip leading to White Mare Pool Interchange for 600 metres and westbound from the off slip leading to White Mare Pool Interchange for 600 metres
Newcastle Road (A194) North-eastern carriageway from the Hobson Way junction with Jarrow Road junction (A185)

South Shields road closures from 8am-5.30pm

Coast Road (A183) south for 410 metres from its junction with Redwell Lane and between Redwell Lane (A1300) and New Crown Roundabout

South Shields road closures from 2.45am-5.30pm

Bents Park Road from the New Crown roundabout to 70 metres southeast of Sea Way

South Shields road closures from 7am-1pm

Church Bank for its entire length (except for access to Jarrow Hall and St Paul's Church)

For parking restrictions in South Shields on Great North Run day see here [22].

Weather forecast

We'll be bringing all the predictions from the Met Office concerning Newcastle and South Shields Great North Run and an hourly break-down for the day itself. It's too early to have this forecast yet but, when available, we'll share it.

To help with preparation, it's worth bearing in mind the lengthy spells of warm weather we've been having so this year's run could see knock-on higher temperatures than usual.

The finish line

The end of the run in South Shields is all about celebrating, relaxing and socialising while many of the charities to benefit through runners' sponsorship are there to celebrate too.

Alongside the charity village is an Apres Run Zone where runners can chill out.

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This area has its own beer and entertainment tent; exhibitors stalls; food and drink outlets and a massage zone. There will be lots of music to whip up that party mood too.

The 2026 Great North Run

Having trialled an early September ballot for the following year's run, organisers may well do the same this year so watch this space. The idea is to offer people an extra chance to secure a place in the next event but the usual January ballot takes place too,