This May sees the return of the much-loved race in the city, the Great Manchester Run, which will see thousands of runners take to the streets to run either a 10K, half marathon or mini marathon race. Whether you want to be prepared for race day or looking to show your support from the side lines, here’s our guide to everything you need to know about the Great Manchester Run 2025.
When will the Great Manchester Run take place?
The Great Manchester Run 2025 will take place on Sunday 18th May 2025, with the event site open from 7am and final wave beginning at 1:10pm.
What is the route for the Great Manchester Run?
Runners’ wave colour and start time are detailed on their run number. On the day, coloured signs will direct participants to the assembly area and start point for certain wave. Half Marathon and 10k Orange wave and 10k Purple wave runners access the assembly area via Princess Street. Half Marathon and 10k Green wave, 10k Red wave and Pink wave access the assembly area via Charlotte Street, and Half Marathon and 10k Fast paced runners (yellow/white striped numbers) should access via Dickinson Street.
The nearest Metrolink stop to the start line on Portland Street is St Peter’s Square and finish line on Deansgate is Deansgate-Castlefield. If travelling by train, Manchester Oxford Road train station is the closest to the start line on Portland Street and it is only a 10 minute walk. From Manchester Piccadilly you can walk or connect with Metrolink trams to take you to the start line.
There are also information points at Great Northern Square on Saturday 17th May, 10am-4pm, and outside the library at St Peter’s Square on Sunday 18th May, 7am-3.30pm. Plus, there is an event village at Great Northern Square to meet family and friends and take it all in.
Half Marathon route map
10K route map
What is the timetable for the Great Manchester Run?
Half Marathon
07:00 Event site opens
08:15 Orange Wave start
08:40 Green Wave start
10K
08:10 Elite Wheelchair start
11:30 Elite Women start
11:45 Elite Men start
11:45 Fast Paced & Orange Wave start
12:05 Green Wave start
12:50 Purple Wave start
13:10 Pink Wave start
Which Metrolink stops are near to the Great Manchester Run race route?
Here to cheer on a friend or family member? There are many Metrolink stops located close to spectating points along the race route. This means it’s quite easy to cheer them on from the start, halfway through and as they cross the finish line. Here’s a list of Metrolink stops which are close to the race route and how far along they are.
Half Marathon
- St Peter’s Square – for the start line
- Manchester Piccadilly – 2-mile marker
- Etihad Campus/Velopark – 4/5mile marker
- Old Trafford – 10-mile marker
- Trafford Wharf Road/ Wharfside/Imperial War Museum – 11-mile marker
- Cornbrook – 9/12.5-mile marker
- Deansgate Castlefield – for the finish line
10K
- St Peter’s Square – for the start line
- Cornbrook – 2km marker
- Old Trafford – 4km marker
- Wharfside/Imperial War Museum – 6/7km marker
- Cornbrook – 9km marker
- Deansgate Castlefield – for the finish line
Baggage drop for Great Manchester Run
Baggage buses will be at the following locations:
- Half Marathon – Deansgate – Open from 7am
- 10K – Hardman Street & Jackson’s Row – Open from 10am
Fill in your baggage label (tear off from run number) and secure to your bag. You’ll need your run number to gain access to the buses to drop-off and collect your bag.
Toilet locations on Great Manchester Run route
There will be toilets at the start on Princess Street and Charlotte Street and at the finish on Peter Street and Deansgate. There will also be toilets available at the following locations on the course:
Great Manchester Run Half Marathon
- Past Mile 3
- Between Mile 5 and 6
- Between Mile 9 and 10
- Near Mile 11
Great Manchester Run 10K
- Near 4km
- Between 6km and 7km
Water stations on Great Manchester Run route
Water stations will be located at key points on the route to help you stay hydrated. Look out for recycling points for water bottles along the course too.
Great Manchester Run Half Marathon
- Past Mile 3
- Between Mile 5 and 6
- Between Mile 9 and 10
- Near Mile 11
Great Manchester Run 10K
- Near 4km
- Between 6km and 7km
How to track your friends and family running the Great Manchester Run
If you have a friend, colleague or family member running the Great Manchester Run and you fancy tracking where they are so you can cheer them on, you can simply download the Great Run Event Day app here. All you need is a participant’s name or run number and you can track multiple runners at the same time.
Thanks to timing mats at split intervals, tracking is super-accurate, and you’ll have lots of other info at your fingertips – average pace, expected finish time – you can also donate to runners’ chosen charities.
Will there be any transport disruptions for the Great Manchester Run?
There will be a significant number of road closures and extensive bus diversions due to the race taking place. Anyone making a journey by road should check the route map and road closures before travel. Passengers travelling by bus should also check with their operator to see whether routes or times may be impacted.
Metrolink trams are the best way to get around the city on race day with many stops located close to spectating points along the race route.
Which roads will be closed for the Great Manchester Run?
Road closures from Saturday 17 May
- Liverpool Road: from Deansgate to Barton Street from 6am until Sun 18 9pm
- Tonman Street: from Deansgate to Barton Street from 6am until Sun 18 11pm.
Road closures on Sunday 18 May from 02:00
- Deansgate: From Whitworth Street West to Quay Street (one way traffic suspended)
Road closures on Sunday 18 May from 04:00
- Peter Street: From Mount Street to St Peters Square
- Portland Street: From Princess Street to Oxford Street
- Chepstow Street: From Oxford Street to Great Bridgewater Street
- Dickinson Street: From Portland Street to End (East of Portland Street)
- Parker Street: From Parker Street to Portland Street (no right turn)
- Oxford Street: From Whitworth Street to Portland Street (bus lane suspension)
- Deansgate: From Quay Street to John Dalton Street
- St John Street: From Deansgate to Byrom Street
- Jacksons Row: From Deansgate to Southmill Street
- Lloyd Street: From Deansgate to Southmill Street
- Peter Street: From Deansgate to Mount Street
- Quay Street: From Deansgate to Byrom Street
- Southmill Street: From Peter Street to Albert Square
- Bridge Street: Full length (bus lane suspension)
- Whitworth Street West: Full length (bus lane suspension)
Road closures on Sunday 18 May from 05:00
- Elevator Road: From Wharfside Way to Trafford Wharf Road
- Sir Alex Ferguson Way: From Wharfside Way to Trafford Wharf Road
- Waterside: From Alex Ferguson Way to Wharfside Way
- Trafford Wharf Road: Warren Bruce Road to Trafford Road
- Victoria Place: From Trafford Whard Road to Sir Alex Ferguson Way
- Warren Bruce Road: From Wharfside Way to Trafford Wharf Road
- A5801 Wharfside Way: From White City Circle Roundabout to Village Circle Roundabout
Road closures on Sunday 18 May from 06:00
- Mancunian Way (East): From Fairfield Street to Regent Road
- Mancunian Way (West): From Fairfield Street to Regent Road
- Pin Mill Brow: From Fairfield Street to Mancunian Way
Road closures on Sunday 18 May from 07:00
- Alan Turing Way: From Ashton New Road to Ashton Old Road
- Ashton Old Road: From Alan Turing Way to Pin Mill Brow
- Chorlton Road: From Jackson Crescent to Mancunian Way Roundabout
- Fairfield Street: From Ashton Old Road to Mancunian Way
- Manor Street: From Paddock Street to Mancunian Way
- Midland Street: From Hooper Street to Ashton Old Road (one way traffic suspended)
- City Road East: From Albion Street to Great Jackson Street
- Great Jackson Street: From City Road East to Chester Road
- River Street: From Medlock Street to Garwood Street
- Garwood Street: From Great Jackson Street to River Street
- Abingdon Street: From Portland Street to Silver Street
- Bloom Street: From Chorlton Street to Princess Street
- Chorlton Street: From Portland Street to Silver Street
- Cross Street: From Cross Street to John Dalton Street
- Great Bridgewater Street: From Oxford Street to Deansgate
- Major Street: From Sackville Street to Princess Street
- Minshull Street: From Portland Street to Aytoun Street
- Oxford Street: From Peter Street to Whitworth Street West
- Portland Street: From New York Street to Princess Street
- Princess Street: From Albert Square to to Portland Street
- Sackville Street: From Portland Street to Major Street
- Silver Street: From Minshull Street to Chorlton Street (one way traffic suspended)
- Hardman Street: From Byron Street to RBS Car Park Exit
- Atkinson Street: From Byrom Street to Deansgate
- Bootle Street: From Deansgate to Southmill Street
- Byrom Street: From Quay Street to Hardman Street
- Central Street: From Southmill Street to Lloyd Street
- Bridgewater Viaduct: From Chester Road to Whitworth Street West
- Chester Road: From Bridgewater Way to Bridgewater Viaduct
- Ellesmere Street: From Hulme Hall Road to Chester Road
- Hulme Hall Road: From Ellesmere Street to Chester Road
Road closures on Sunday 18 May from 07:30
- Albion Street: From Whitworth Street West to Medlock Street
- Medlock Street: From Albion Street to River Street
- Whitworth Street West: From Albion Street to Gloucester Street
Road closures on Sunday 18 May from 08:00
- Ashton New Road (West): From Ashton New Road/Darley Street to Alan Turing Way
- Alan Turing Way (North): From Alan Turing Way to Ashton New Road (no right turn west bound)
- Ashton New Road (East): From Ashton New Road to Alan Turing Way (no left turn south bound onto Alan Turing Way)
All of the freebies and discounts Great Manchester Run finishers can get
The Shack
Flash your medal to claim a free glass of Prosecco or beer, plus parties with medals get 20% off their food bill.
Salon Madre
Salon Madre is doing 2-4-1 margaritas all day Sunday 18th May for anyone with a race medal.
Dishoom
You can get a complimentary 330ml Kingfisher or Kingfisher Zero for anyone that comes in to dine at Dishoom and has finisher’s medal.
Blacklock
Show your medal or finisher T-shirt and Blacklock will reward you with a well-earned glass of fizz on the house.
Suki Suki
Electric Shuffle
Electric Shuffle is offering a free house wine, prosecco or pint for anyone coming in with their 2025 medal.
Maray
Free glass of fizz, pint. non-alcoholic beer or soft drink for anyone with a medal who is dining at Maray on Sunday 18th.
Refuge
Runners taking part can head to Refuge post-race to claim a well-earned pint of Manchester Union beer – but with only 100 available, it’s first come, first served.
Hello Oriental
The exceptional Hello Oriental will be giving away free and discounted soft serve ice creams, plus a free beer or soft drink with any meal to all finishers – just show your medal at the Circle Square restaurant – and yes, you can capitalise on both!
This might be a lot of information here but the most important thing is to enjoy the race! Good luck!
For more information head the Great Manchester Run website.
The Junior and Mini Great Manchester Run takes place on Saturday 17 May.