Source: City of Portsmouth
With up to 23,000 runners expected, the 10-mile route will wind through some of Portsmouth’s most iconic locations, starting at Clarence Esplanade and passing through Old Portsmouth and the Historic Dockyard before returning to Southsea via Canoe Lake.
Visitors driving to the event from outside the city are encouraged to use the PR4 Portsmouth Park and Ride service to Clarence Pier. This dedicated service for runners, spectators, and supporters provides frequent bus services throughout the weekend. Passengers can buy tickets through the First Bus or Ringo apps and day tickets can also be purchased from the bus driver. In addition to the special PR4 service, the PR1 route will be operating its regular weekend bus service on both days.
If you’re travelling around the city by bus, please plan your journey before you set off as some routes will be affected by the road closures. Check the First Bus or Stagecoach app or operators’ website for service updates. On Sunday 20 October First Bus are offering free travel home for runners who show their medal to the driver after the Great South Run*.
Passengers travelling with Hovertravel from the Isle of Wight can benefit from extra services on Sunday, running every 15 minutes between 8.15am and 9.15am, followed by an additional service at 9.45am.
To ensure the safety of participants and spectators, the council is working with organisers to close some roads to traffic around the race area. These include Clarence Esplanade, Pier Road and Avenue de Caen. During the closures, park and ride Saturday services will terminate at Pembroke Road, and the final stop on Sunday will be City Centre South.
Event parking on Southsea Common will be accessible before 9.30am and after 1pm, outside the time of the road closures.
Parking will also be reduced on some roads, and drivers who park near the area should check temporary signs to make sure they are not parking in prohibited areas where vehicles could be removed. Full details of all road closures and restrictions can be found in the Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) at http://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/tro.
Cllr Peter Candlish, Cabinet Member for Transport, said:
“The Great South Run is a fantastic event that brings a lot of activity to Portsmouth every year. We’re excited to welcome runners and spectators to our great waterfront city and encourage everyone to explore alternative travel options, such as using Portsmouth Park and Ride, travelling by bus, walking, cycling, or renting a bike or rental e-scooter whenever possible.”
Top travel tips for the weekend:
Visit GREAT SOUTH RUN, Portsmouth | First Bus for First Bus service updates.
- Try a Voi rental e-scooter or e-bike: Available for hire throughout the city – visit com for details.
- Hovertravel: Operating every 30 minutes between Ryde and Southsea with additional morning services on Sunday. Visit Hovertravel to find out more.
- Trains: Check with operators for updated timetables and plan ahead.
For more information about the Great South Run, including a map of the route, visit greatrun.org/events/great-south-run. For general information about visiting Portsmouth, head to visitportsmouth.co.uk. And for live traffic updates, follow @portsmouthroads on Twitter.
* Hoverbus and Park & Ride services PR1 and PR4 are excluded from this offer