The Big Half 2023: London road closures and map of the route for the half marathon

The Big Half is on this coming Sunday, with 15,000 people expected to take part. But what is the route, and what road closures will there be?
Ben Lynch LDRS
By Ben Lynch LDRS
Published 30th Aug 2023, 12:45 GMT
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Thousands of runners are set to take to the streets of east and south London this Sunday (September 3) as The Big Half returns for its sixth outing.

Organised by the team behind the London Marathon, up to 15,000 people are expected to take part in the 13.1 mile route through Tower Hamlets, Southwark, Lewisham and Greenwich.

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This year’s race will be the British Athletics trial run for the World Athletics Road Running Half Marathon Championships in October, with the top three finishers in the elite men and women’s races to win a place on the Great Britain team.

The Big Half 2023 is also set to be the final time Sir Mo Farah, the most decorated athlete in British track and field history, will run competitively in the capital.

As well as the half-marathon, The Big Relay, in which teams of four each run 5k of the 13.1 mile course, and The Big Mile, a free event in Greenwich, will also be held this Sunday.

Runners pass Tower Bridge as part of The Big Half. Credit: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images.Runners pass Tower Bridge as part of The Big Half. Credit: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images.
Runners pass Tower Bridge as part of The Big Half. Credit: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images.

What is the route of The Big Half?

Starting on the highway by Tower Bridge, runners will head along a route which sees them pass through iconic London locations including Canary Wharf, Wapping, Tower Bridge, Rotherhithe and Deptford.

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They will end the run in Greenwich, with the finishing point being the historic Cutty Sark on the Greenwich peninsula.

A map showing the route of The Big Half in London. Credit: London Marathon Events.A map showing the route of The Big Half in London. Credit: London Marathon Events.
A map showing the route of The Big Half in London. Credit: London Marathon Events.

What road closures will be in-place?

Some road closures will be necessary on Sunday which may affect journeys in the area.

Parking bays along the route will be suspended on the day, with vehicles already on the route to be relocated before 4am.

In Tower Hamlets, the following roads will be closed from 4am to 2pm:

  • Tower Bridge Approach
  • Tower Bridge
  • Tower Hill
  • East Smithfield
  • Limehouse Link Tunnel
  • Aspen Way
  • The Highway
  • Butcher Row
  • West India Dock Road
  • Trafalgar Way
  • Churchill Place
  • North Colonnade
  • Upper Bank Street
  • Bank Street
  • Heron Quays
  • South Colonnade
  • Canada Square
  • Cabot Square
  • West India Avenue
  • Westferry Circus
  • Westferry Road
  • Salter Street
  • Limehouse Causeway
  • Narrow Street
  • Garnet Street
  • Wapping High Street
  • Thomas More Street
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The following roads will be shut in Southwark from 6am to 3pm:

  • Tooley Street
  • Jamaica Road
  • Brunel Road
  • Salter Road
  • Redriff Road
  • Quebec Way
  • Canada Street
  • Surrey Quays Road
  • Lower Road

The following roads will be shut in Lewisham from 6am to 3pm:

  • Lower Road
  • Evelyn Street
  • Deptford Church Street

And the following roads will be shut in Greenwich from 6am to 4pm:

  • Creek Road
  • Greenwich Church Street
  • College Approach
  • King William Walk
  • Nelson Road
  • Greenwich South Street
  • Greenwich High Road
  • Romney Road
  • Trafalgar Road
  • Haddo Street
  • Roan Street (west side)

For more information on road closures, The Big Half website has further details here.

Related topics:LondonLondon MarathonMo Farah