The Great North Run: Route, Road Closures and Spectator Guide

The Great North Run is the world's largest half marathon and one of the biggest days in Newcastle's calendar. It takes place each September, sending tens of thousands of runners along 13.1 miles from the heart of the city out to the coast. If you are new to the city, planning to spectate, or thinking about entering, here is how the day works and what to expect around the city centre.

What the Great North Run is

Founded in 1981 by the former Olympic runner Brendan Foster, the Great North Run has grown into the largest event of its kind anywhere, with a field usually in the region of 60,000 finishers. It draws elite athletes alongside club runners and thousands of people raising money for charity, and its atmosphere is as much of a draw as the running. The route ends at the seafront, so the event effectively links Newcastle, Gateshead and South Tyneside for one Sunday every autumn.

The route

The half marathon starts in Newcastle city centre, on the A167(M) Central Motorway near the top of the city, with the runners setting off in waves. From there the field heads south and crosses the Tyne Bridge into Gateshead, which is one of the iconic images of the day and a highlight for runners and spectators alike. The course then follows the main road out east towards the coast, running through South Tyneside before finishing on the seafront at South Shields. If you want to follow the finish end of the course, our sister site covers the coastal stretch and the finish area at southshields.org.

Best for: The single most atmospheric spot to watch is the Tyne Bridge, where the runners cross the river in a continuous stream. Get there early, as the approaches fill up fast.

Best spectator spots in the city centre

For city-centre viewing, the early miles are the place to be. The start area near the Central Motorway gives you the sight of the waves setting off, though it is busy and access is tightly managed. Many people prefer to head down towards the river: the Newcastle Quayside offers open riverside space and a clear view as the runners pour over the Tyne Bridge, and it is an easy walk from the city centre with cafes and pubs nearby to make a morning of it.

The Town Moor, the vast common just north of the centre, is traditionally used as an assembly and baggage area on the day and is worth knowing about if you are meeting a runner before or after. Further along, the roadside verges heading east give a steadier, less crowded view if you would rather avoid the crush at the bridge.

Road closures on the day

The Great North Run brings extensive road closures across Newcastle, Gateshead and South Shields, and they have a real effect on the city centre for most of the morning. The Central Motorway and the Tyne Bridge close to traffic, along with a network of surrounding roads, and closures are typically in place from the early hours until the afternoon while the course clears. If you are driving anywhere near the centre or the river that morning, expect diversions and long delays, and plan to be where you need to be well before the start.

A Red Arrows flypast has long been a traditional feature of the event, usually passing over the start and the bridge area, so it is worth keeping an eye on the sky if you are near the river early on.

Getting around on the day

The clear advice on Great North Run day is to leave the car at home. With so many roads shut, the Metro is by far the best way to travel, and it runs a busy service to move crowds towards the start and out to the coast for the finish. Expect it to be extremely full, so allow far more time than usual and be ready to queue at stations near the start and finish. For a fuller picture of moving around the city without driving, see our guide to getting around Newcastle city centre without a car.

Central Station, Monument and Haymarket are the handiest Metro stops for the city-centre start and the Quayside spectator spots. If you are meeting a runner afterwards, agree a spot well in advance, as mobile networks tend to be overloaded and the crowds make it hard to find people on the day.

How to enter

Entry to the Great North Run is mainly through a public ballot, which usually opens in the autumn for the following September's race, with the draw taking place shortly after it closes. Places are limited and demand is high, so a ballot entry is no guarantee of a spot. If you are not successful, charity places are widely available: many charities hold guaranteed entries in return for a fundraising commitment, which is also how a large share of the field takes part. A second ballot round for any remaining places is often held early in the new year. For the next date and to enter, check the official Great North Run organisers before committing, as fees, dates and the ballot timetable are set year to year.

Spotted something on this guide that needs updating, or know a great local spectator spot we have missed? Let us know and we will keep it current.