Info for Local Residents and Businesses


The Bath Half is brilliantly supported every year by local residents and businesses. We are so grateful for this support. Details regarding road closures, parking suspensions and footpath closures can be all found here
white hills

View and download the 2024 residents leaflet here

For the safety of the large number of runners and spectators attending the event, road closures and parking suspensions will be introduced throughout the course route. And to ensure traffic flow around the closures parking suspensions and temporary traffic arrangements will also be introduced on designated access routes

Road closures will be introduced at 9.00 am on Sunday 17 March, and roads will re-open in a staggered sequence as runners clear each section of road (and contractors have removed equipment). Live traffic updates can be found on the event social media

Parking suspensions on the course route and access routes will apply at 6.00am (to allow time for council contractors to remove remaining vehicles before race start) and will be lifted as each section of road is re-opened

Extended road closures and parking suspensions will apply on venue streets in Royal Victoria Park

For further enquiries about race weekend arrangements please Contact Us

Changes for 2024

Arrangements for this year’s race are largely unchanged from last year

  • Start and finish on Royal Avenue (in front of the Royal Crescent)
  • Traditional anti-clockwise BATHALF course
  • Family Fun Day on Saturday 16 March
  • Extended parking restrictions on Claverton Down Road (by Rainbow Woods)

The timings of road closures and parking suspensions are unchanged

  • Course Route Road Closures and Parking Suspensions

    Details of the parking suspensions and road closures for the 2024 Bath Half are set out below – see Residents Leaflet.

    The road closures are authorised by Bath & North East Somerset Council, and apply to all vehicles (including blue badge drivers and cyclists), except blue light emergency services and authorised event contractors. To ensure the safety of competitors and staff, no exemptions can be permitted during the closure period. Closure points will be staffed by event volunteers and contractors, supported by Avon & Somerset Police. Breach of the authorised road closure is an offence and will be prosecuted

    Residents in ‘landlocked’ streets needing to use their cars are advised to park outside the restricted area and walk to their property – more below in the ‘parking suspension’ section

    Parking suspensions (or ‘No Loading’ restrictions) will apply to all vehicles, including disabled parking. Effected vehicles will be removed by Bath & North East Somerset Council’s contractor and released on payment of a £70 penalty charge notice and £105 towaway charge.  Phone 01225 448025 for vehicle collection

    The residents parking scheme will be relaxed to allow RPZ permit holders to park in other Zones on Sunday 17 March

  • Access Routes around the road closures

    Parking suspensions and temporary traffic arrangements will be introduced on designated access routes to allow local light vehicle traffic and diverted buses and emergency services around the course route closures

    Parking suspensions (‘No Loading’ restrictions) apply to all motorists including blue badge drivers

    As in previous years parking suspensions will be introduced on signposted sections in Oldfield Park (Oldfield Road, Junction Road, Upper & Lower Oldfield Park & Second Avenue), Lansdown Road, North Road & Cleveland Walk, Old Newbridge Hill, Widcombe Parade and Walcot Street

    This year we have been asked to introduce an additional parking suspension on Claverton Down Road (next to Rainbow Woods) to ease traffic flow on the diversion route to the south of the City

    Laura Place will again remain open throughout the event, allowing traffic through Henrietta Street, Argyle Street, Grove Street and St John’s Road

    The ‘bus gates’ on the High Street and Milsom Street will be suspended on Sunday to allow traffic to enter and leave the city centre

    Temporary traffic lights and a contra-flow will be set up outside the bus station to allow traffic into and out of Kingsmead from Dorchester Street

    The traffic flow on Widcombe Parade will be reversed to allow traffic to travel down Widcombe Hill and Prior Park Road and back up Wells Road

    Wells Road will be closed to northbound traffic (ie towards the city) at Oldfield Road

    During the course closures the only access point into and out of the city centre will be via the High Street ‘bus gate’ (through the Paragon or Walcot Street and Manvers Street).  Cleveland Bridge (and the Bathampton tollbridge) will be the only river crossing remaining open

  • Advance Warning and Diversion Routes

    Advance warning signs will be erected on all effected streets and parking bays for 4 weeks before the event. Leaflets will also be delivered to all residential and business properties along the course route and access routes (where parking restrictions apply)

    Diversion routes for local light vehicle traffic and local buses will be signposted around the course route closures :

    To the north of the city to and from Lansdown Road via Julian Road and Weston Road to the A431 Kelston Road – including access to Bath RUH hospital

    To the south of the city to and from Cleveland Bridge via Bathwick Street, Warminster Road, North Road, Claverton Down Road, Odd Down and Pennyquick to the Globe roundabout

    Into and out of the city centre from Walcot Street via the High Street ‘bus gate’ (or the Paragon via the Milsom Street ‘bus gate’) – including access to Bath Spa train station and Bath bus station

    Into and out of Kingsmead from Manvers Street and James Street West via a contra-flow and temporary traffic lights outside the bus station

    Widcombe through traffic. The traffic flow on Widcombe Parade will be reversed to allow traffic from Widecombe Hill and Prior Park Road to return up Wells Road. Wells Road will be closed to northbound traffic (towards the city) at Oldfield Road

  • Venue Streets

    Road closures and parking suspensions will be introduced in Royal Victoria Park for both Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 March, effecting Middle Common, Royal Avenue and Cow Lane

  • Footpath Closures

    As in previous years footpath closures will be implemented to avoid crowd congestion in streets adjacent to the start and the finish on Royal Avenue (in Royal Victoria Park), and at narrower sections of the course where runners spill onto the pavement adjacent to Halfpenny Bridge (Rossiter Road) and at New Bridge (Twerton Fork)

    The riverside path at North Quay will be closed as part of the course route, and the new Quays Bridge footbridge will also be closed

  • Scheduled Bus & Train Services

    There will be a number of changes and diversions to normal scheduled bus & train services on race day

    Bus Services

    A useful schedule and map for effected bus services will be available shortly on the Travel West website

    Please note the Newbridge Park & Ride service will not be operating on Sunday 17 March

    Train Services

    Great Western Railway will be running additional train services before and after the event

    See details of additional train services

    See GWR.com or national rail enquiries

    Access to Bath Spa and Bath bus station

    Bath Spa train station and Bath bus station will remain open throughout the event. Access by car will be by one of the signposted diversion routes (shown in purple on map on the Residents Leaflet) down Walcot Street, through the bus gate (which is suspended on race day) and Manvers Street. On foot from Widcombe you’ll need to use the underpass at the bottom of Wellsway, as Halfpenny footbridge (behind the train station) will be closed

    For further enquiries about race weekend arrangements please Contact Us

  • Emergency Services

    To access Bath RUH hospital use the signposted diversion route (shown in purple on map on the Residents Leaflet) using Julian Road and Weston Road

    The half marathon route will be closed to all vehicles, except for authorised event vehicles and contractors. All road junctions will be closed with barriers, cones and signs, and supervised by event marshals. This is to ensure the safety of runners on the highway

    Arrangements have been made for blue light emergency service vehicles to pass the road closures in the event of emergency

    The event medical team, including A&E doctors, paramedics, ambulances and first aiders will assist the ambulance service responding to local medical emergencies within the event footprint

Bath skyline