In short
The 2027 Great North Run is on Sunday 12 September, a half marathon from the Central Motorway in Newcastle city centre, over the Tyne Bridge, to the seafront in South Shields, with 63,000 runners taking part in 2026. Runners do best in Newcastle city centre or Jesmond, 15 to 20 minutes on foot from the start, while supporters who want the finish and the meeting point should stay on the South Shields seafront. Ballot places were drawn on 21 September 2026 and a second ballot follows in January 2027, so book a room with free cancellation now.
Course sheet In race order, not to scale
- Central Motorway, NewcastleStart on the A167(M) near Claremont Road and the university
- Tyne BridgeOver the Tyne into Gateshead between miles 1 and 2, closed to spectators during restoration works
- Gateshead, A167mile 2 (km 3) · cheer spotAround mile 2, with music by the bridge and Gateshead Metro close by
- Gateshead International Stadiummile 3 (km 5)Mile 3 on the Felling Bypass, then a gradual climb to mile 5
- Leam Lane, Tyne Tunnel turn-offmile 8 (km 13)Mile 8, where the long climb to mile 12 begins
- John Reid Road, South Shieldsmile 9.5 (km 15) · cheer spotMiles 9 and 10 on the hardest uphill stretch, a walk from Tyne Dock Metro
- Coast Road, South Shieldsmile 12 (km 19) · cheer spotFirst sight of the sea at mile 12, then the final stretch along the seafront
- South Shields seafrontFinish on the Coast Road, with the A to Z meeting point just beyond
Race morning
The start is a walk from the city centre: Haymarket, Monument and Jesmond Metro stations are each about 15 to 20 minutes on foot from the start, and the Metro runs extra trains but is extremely busy from early morning, with queues and crowd control. In 2026 Haymarket station was exit only from about 08:00 to 10:40, and Jesmond and Manors closed from 10:30. Your wave colour, shown on your race number, sets your arrival time, route and assembly area, published in the event guide about a month before, and baggage buses in your Runners Hub take your bag to South Shields. The 2027 race page lists a 10:50 start, the same time the masses set off in 2026.
Where to stay
Pick an area to see hotels and rentals there at live prices.
Start Finish Acheer spot Course
Live map · Newcastle city centreHotels and rentals at live prices, Fri 10 Sept to Mon 13 Sept
Open the live map for Newcastle city centre ↗
Prices and availability come from booking sites through Stay22. Change the dates on the map if you are staying longer.
Watch the race
Choose one spot on the course and then the finish, or two spots at most: the organisers and the Metro operator both warn that closed roads and packed trains make several sightings almost impossible, and the Tyne Bridge was closed to spectators in 2026.
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mile 2 (km 3)
Gateshead, A167
Runners come off the Tyne Bridge into Gateshead and run along the A167 around mile 2, where in 2026 a live music stage stood at the Gateshead end of the bridge and the Brooks Hype Zone was just after the marker. It is about 5 minutes on foot from Gateshead Metro station, which has direct trains towards South Shields for your next stop.
Stays near Gateshead, A167 ↗ -
mile 9.5 (km 15)
John Reid Road, South Shields
Miles 9 and 10 are on John Reid Road, in the uphill stretch from mile 8 to 12 that many runners find hardest. From Gateshead, take the Metro towards South Shields to Tyne Dock and walk about 15 minutes south; a runner on 10-minute miles takes about 75 minutes from mile 2 to here, so allow for queues at the station.
Stays near John Reid Road, South Shields ↗ -
mile 12 (km 19)
Coast Road, South Shields
The sea comes into view at mile 12 and the last stretch runs along the seafront past the biggest crowds, so arrive early for a place at the barriers. From John Reid Road you will usually not beat your runner here (about 30 minutes on 10-minute miles), so go straight to the meeting point instead; the end nearest the finish is about 15 minutes on foot from South Shields Metro station.
Stays near Coast Road, South Shields ↗ -
Meet your runner
Wait under the large A to Z banner for the first letter of your runner's surname, in the reunion area a short distance past the finish line. Phone signal can drop with the crowds, so agree the letter in advance. In 2026 elite and club runners started finishing from about 11:00, and the event village showed the BBC coverage on a big screen while supporters waited.
The official hotels, explained
NIRVANA is the race's Official Travel and Accommodation Package Provider, selling hotels in Newcastle, on the coast and in Sunderland, university rooms by the start (the Official Start Line Runners Village), the Official Campsite about 800 metres from the finish, race-day coaches and start-to-finish transfers for supporters. Its deposit, minimum stay and cancellation terms are not shown on the event page, so check them at checkout before you pay.
| Official hotel offer | Our maps | |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs it | NIRVANA | Every hotel and rental near each area |
| Prices | Accommodation from £75 per person and transport from £10 per person (official race page, 2027). | Live prices from several booking sites |
| Minimum stay and cancellation | Not published. Ask before you pay. | Filter for free cancellation |
| Need to buy a package? | No | No |
See the official hotel offer ↗ · We link to the official option and explain its terms, so you can compare before you book.
When to book
- NowBook a room with free cancellation near the start.
- Your cancellation dateKeep or cancel before it passes.
- Sun, 12 Sept 2027Race day.
Free guide
The Unofficial 2027 Great North Run Where to Stay Guide
Every area, the race morning plan and the booking dates in one place, updated every year.
Questions
Where should I stay for the Great North Run?
Runners: Newcastle city centre or Jesmond, 15 to 20 minutes on foot from the start, with a direct Metro back from South Shields. Supporters heading for the finish: the South Shields seafront, a walk from the meeting point. North Shields and Tynemouth also work, with a direct Metro to the start and the Shields Ferry back.
Is it better to stay in Newcastle or South Shields?
Newcastle makes race morning easy, because you walk to the start, but you face the Metro or shuttle bus queues after the finish. South Shields puts you by the finish and the meeting point, but you need the direct Metro to Newcastle early on race morning, when trains are extremely busy.
How do I get back from South Shields after the Great North Run?
South Shields Metro station is about 15 minutes on foot from the finish, with a train every 7.5 minutes after the race in 2026, but expect long queues. Other options are the Shields Ferry to North Shields (about 20 minutes on foot, extra crossings until 18:00), the R1 Express shuttle bus from Bents Park to Newcastle, or a meal in South Shields while the queues go down.
Can I watch the Great North Run from the Tyne Bridge?
Not in 2026: restoration works meant spectators were not allowed on the bridge. The restoration is due to finish in time for the bridge's 2028 centenary, so the same rule may apply in 2027. Check the 2027 spectator guide, and plan to watch in Gateshead around mile 2 instead.
Where is the meeting point at the Great North Run finish?
In the reunion area a short distance past the finish line on the South Shields seafront: wait under the large A to Z banner for the first letter of your runner's surname. Agree the letter in advance, because phone signal can drop with the crowds.
When is the Great North Run 2027 ballot?
The September ballot closed on 20 September 2026 and was drawn on 21 September. A second ballot follows in January 2027 (the date is not announced yet; the race website has a reminder sign-up), and charity places are also available.
Official race site ↗ · Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26