The finish area
- Runners finish on the South Shields coast. The finish area is at Bents Park, which is where the shuttle buses leave from.[2]
- The finish area is very big. Study the map beforehand and get there early to grab a spot on the final straight.[3]
- Meeting your runner: use the official meeting point. Look for the flying banners with letters on them and meet at the letter of your surname.[3]
- In 2026 the elite and club runners started finishing at about 11:00.[3] 2027 TBC
- The 2026 race had 63,000 participants.[1]
Where to watch
Pick one spot: the start in Newcastle, somewhere on the route, or the finish in South Shields. Transport is so busy that it's almost impossible to see a runner in more than one place.[4]
If you're coming to the finish, go straight there and arrive early.[3]
Getting there & getting away
With road closures and limited parking, public transport is the best way to get to and from the finish.[2][4] Here's how it worked in 2026 2027 TBC:
R1 express shuttle (Go North East)
- Newcastle (St Mary's Place) to the finish at Bents Park: 07:00 to 16:00.
- Bents Park back to Newcastle (St Mary's Place and Central Station): until about 18:00.
- Buses are very busy, so expect delays on the way home.[2]
Shields Ferry
- The South Shields ferry landing is about a 20-minute walk from the end of the run.
- On race day in 2026 the ferry ran from 07:45 (from South Shields) to 18:00, with extra crossings.
- It's the ferry's busiest day of the year, so expect a long wait. There's a queuing system on Harton Quay.[4][5]
- In 2026 the 552 shuttle ran from Bents Park to the South Shields ferry landing from 09:00 to 14:00, then direct to North Shields Transport Hub from 14:00 to 18:00.[4]
- On the North Shields side, buses 19, 317 and 333 run their normal Sunday timetable from Duke Street.[4]
Local buses
In 2026 the South Shields bus interchange was closed until about 19:00. Town-centre services stopped on Station Road (opposite Home Bargains) instead.[4]
Plan on race day with the Travel North East Great North Run page and Go North East.
Parking
Car parks will be busy and roads along the route will be closed. Plan your route to and from the car park in advance.[4] The roads will be extremely busy, so leave extra time.[3]
Normal seafront parking prices are on our Parking guide. Race-day arrangements for 2027: TBC
Road closures
These South Tyneside roads were closed for the 2026 race. Expect a similar list for 2027 TBC.[6]
- Coast Road (A183) between Redwell Lane and the New Crown roundabout, plus 410m south of Redwell Lane
- Prince Edward Road and Redwell Lane (A1300), from King George Road to Coast Road
- John Reid Road (A1300) eastbound, from the A194 to King George Road
- Leam Lane (A194) north-east-bound, from White Mare Pool to John Reid Road
- Sea Road (A183) for 180m from the New Crown roundabout; Bents Park Road
- Seafield Terrace (Ocean Road to Beach Road)
- Mowbray Road (except the crossing between Iolanthe Terrace and Westoe Avenue)
- Plus sections of Newcastle Road (A184/A194), Church Bank, Shaftesbury Avenue and Maxwell Street
Diversions are signposted on the day.[6] Check the South Tyneside Council website for the 2027 list nearer the time.
Eat, drink & wait for the crowds
Regular runners' advice: don't rush home. Have a rest, find something to eat in South Shields or go to the pub, and let the crowds die down.[7]
Ocean Road and the seafront are a short walk from Bents Park. Expect queues everywhere on race day.