Great North Run 2025 Ferry travel information
Travel guide
With road closures as well as limited parking, public transport is the best way to get to or from the Great North Run for both runners and spectators.
There will be extra ferry trips throughout the day to help you get around as quickly and as easily as possible.
Advice for spectators
If you want to see friends or relatives take part in the run, we recommend that you just choose one place to see them – at the race start in Newcastle, or somewhere on the route, or at the race finish in South Shields. It is almost impossible to see a runner in more than one location, as public transport will be very busy, and because it takes time to reach the route.
If you’re heading to the race finish the Shields Ferry will operate extra crossings between North Shields and South Shields and will start at 8.45am.
Race finish – South Shields: Getting home from the race finish
The Shields Ferry will be very busy due to the number of people travelling, so please expect a significant wait on the way home.
The ferry will operate from 8.00am with extra crossings from 10.00am and will run until around 6.00pm. Bus services 19 and 317 operate directly from North Shields ferry landing (at the bus stop on Duke Street) – click this link for full service details – and they will operate their normal Sunday timetabled service.
Tickets
Great North Run Day Rover Tickets
Great North Run Rover Tickets can be used on:
- Metro
- Any bus service in Tyne and Wear, Durham and Northumberland
- The Shields Ferry
- Northern trains between Newcastle and Sunderland
| Buy in advance | Buy on the day | Great North Run Rover Day Ticket | Price | Buy from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | Wristband | £6.50 | Nexus Online Store until 5pm on Friday 29 August |
| Yes | Yes | Digital ***New for 2025*** |
£6.50 | The Go North East or Stagecoach app |
| Yes | Yes | Paper ticket | £6.50 | Metro station ticket machines |
| No | Yes | Paper ticket | £6.50 | Any bus driver in Tyne and Wear, County Durham or Northumberland |
And in addition, all operators will be accepting each other’s single, return and day tickets for journeys from South Shields, making it simpler for you to hop on the first bus, Metro (or Shields Ferry) that comes.
Buy tickets on the day (at the Shields Ferry):
PLEASE NOTE: payment for your ferry trip can only be made by debit or credit card – you can’t use cash to pay for a ferry trip.
However, if you pay with a Pop Pay As You Go (PAYG) card, you can save up to £1.30 a day! If you don’t have a PAYG card find out more about Pop PAYG by clicking this link.
If you haven’t already bought tickets in advance, the following tickets will be available to buy at North and South Shields ferry landings, before you board the ferry.
| Adult single | £2.60 |
| Adult day | £4.10 |
| Child single | £1.00 |
| Child day | £1.90 |
Children
Kids go free all day every day.
Up to three kids aged 11 and under can travel for free on Metro and the Shields Ferry, all day, every day when accompanied by a fare-paying adult. Find out more about take the kids for free here
Children who are not entitled to travel for free, but who have an Under 16 Pop card should buy a Child All-day Ticket (CAT) for £1.10. For other child tickets, see the ticket finder.
Keep up to date
For information about public transport throughout Tyne and Wear, see our Live travel news here
Staying for the weekend
There’s lots to see and do in Tyne and Wear if you’re staying for the weekend.
Get around using our great bus and Metro network and the Shields Ferry.
Find places to visit in North and South Tyneside, by clicking this link.
Find inspiration in our new Pop blog by clicking here or find more ideas by clicking here.
