Big Weekend Travel advice - everything you need to know

With just over two weeks to go until BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend arrives in Sunderland, we've been looking at all the practical traffic and travel information you might need when making plans for the weekend. 

The flagship festival will see more than 100 leading artists performing at Herrington Country Park over the weekend of Friday 22 - Sunday 24 May.

Global headliners taking part, include Olivia Dean, Zara Larsson, Fatboy Slim, Fisher, MK, Sonny Fodera, CMAT, Dermot Kennedy, Ellie Goulding, Kehlani, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan.

Sunderland City Council is working alongside the North East Combined Authority to ensure this year's Big Weekend is one of the major events of the summer and a fantastic experience for everyone attending. Funding from the North East Mayor's Office will enable the Big Weekend and accompanying fringe activities to achieve maximum reach and exposure, while strengthening the North East's position as a world‑class major event host.

Peter McIntyre, Executive Director of Economy and Place at Sunderland City Council, said: "The Radio 1 Big Weekend is going to be an incredible showcase for Sunderland and the region, with some of the biggest names in music  performing across the three day festival, as well as some of our fantastic homegrown talent.

"We want everyone to have a brilliant time while they're here, so our advice is to plan your journey in advance and make sure to give yourself plenty of time to get there on the day.

"It's really important to pre-plan how you're going to get to the festival and back again at the end of the day and to book a place on one of the shuttle buses as soon as possible to secure a place.

"It's also worth people who aren't heading for the festival being aware that public transport and routes around Sunderland are likely to be especially busy that weekend."

So, whether you're off to the Big Weekend or planning to be out and about in Sunderland over the weekend, what do you need to know about transport, parking and road closures?

TRANSPORT, PARKING AND ROAD CLOSURES

Around 100,000 fans are set to flock to Herrington Country Park over the festival weekend and as with any big event, the advice is to plan your journey in advance and to give yourself plenty of time to get there.

Public transport and the North East road network are likely to be especially busy but key partners, including Sunderland City Council, transport operators and Nexus have well-rehearsed event travel and transport plans in place to help make journeys to and from the city and Herrington Country Park as stress-free as possible. Follow the Radio 1 Big Weekend app and social channels of the relevant operator for the latest travel updates over the festival weekend.

SHUTTLE BUSES

The easiest way to get to the event is by using one of the designated transport hubs at Sunderland's Park Lane Interchange, Heworth Metro Station in Gateshead and Durham Park and Ride - to access the regular shuttle services between the hubs and festival site. All shuttle buses must be pre-booked at: https://bigweekendtravel.com/ and the advice is to book as soon as possible to secure a place on a shuttle bus.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Tyne and Wear Metro

• Services are expected to be busier than usual across the weekend, particularly on Sunday when Sunderland AFC play Chelsea at the Stadium of Light. Plan ahead, allow extra time for your journey, and check live updates using the Pop App.
• Heworth and Park Lane are the recommended Metro stations for the Big Weekend. Both will have regular shuttles to the event site and back again when it finishes.
• If you're travelling from Newcastle, Gateshead, North Tyneside or South Tyneside, take the Metro to Heworth Interchange, where frequent services will be running. From there, dedicated shuttle buses will take you to Herrington Park. 
• If you're travelling from Sunderland or nearby, use Park Lane Interchange to connect with event shuttle buses.
• Queuing systems will be in place at Heworth and Park Lane interchanges after the event. Please follow staff guidance to help everyone board safely and keep services moving efficiently. 
• Shuttle bus tickets aren't valid on Metro services. You'll need a valid Metro ticket for your journey.
• You can purchase paper tickets on the day, however there will likely be queues to use ticket machines and you could miss the next Metro. Avoid this by buying your ticket in advance.
• Please also bear in mind that the Metro and local buses are alcohol free zones.

Last Metro trains from Park Lane after the event, leave at:

• To Fellgate 11.55pm
• To South Hylton 11:34pm 

Last Metro trains from Heworth leave at: 

• To South Shields 11.33pm 

Via Newcastle city centre:

• To Airport 11.23pm 
• To South Gosforth 12.18am 
• To Tynemouth 11.30pm
• To Benton 12.15am 

Please plan your journey carefully to avoid missing the last service and also your onward journey from your final Metro station to avoid delays. 

Regional Coaches

Regional coach returns are available from 23 locations across the North East combined authority area and Tees Valley Combined authority region. Pre-booking is essential: https://bigweekendtravel.com/

Local Buses

Local buses will likely be extremely busy on the event days and subject to delays/diversions due to road closures, especially on the Sunday due to SAFC playing at Stadium of Light. Please use the official shuttle buses to get to and from the event.

Car

• There is no parking at Herrington Country Park except for pre-booked accessible parking.
• Nor is there any parking in nearby residential streets surrounding the festival site.
• A Resident Protection Zone will allow access to residents only around the site, with a permit needed to gain access.
• All official event car parks will be within 45 mins walking distance or connected to a shuttle hub.
• Motorbikes can use the official event car parks.
• To book event parking and for other useful travel information, visit https://bigweekendtravel.com/

Accessible Parking

• Anyone needing accessible facilities at Radio 1 Big Weekend, including accessible parking, should complete an accessibility requirements form: https://www.bbc.com/backstage/bigweekend/tickets/#accessibility. 
• If you have booked accessible parking, you will receive email confirmation with your parking pass in the week before to print at home and bring with you. If this isn't possible, please be ready to present it on your phone.
• The accessible car park is approximately 200m away from the main entrance, across a grass route.
• The exact location of the accessible car park and arrival information will be included in the accessibility guide sent to all accessibility customers closer to the event.
• NB Blue badges will not be valid on the day of the event as event specific parking passes will be issued to all pre-approved applicants in advance. This is to allow the required number of parking spaces to be allocated.
• For any other accessibility queries and applications please contact: [email protected]

By Train (National Rail)

• People travelling via rail on the East Coast Mail Line are being warned to expect disruption to rail services over the bank holiday weekend due to engineering work on the East Coast Mainline between York and Northallerton from 23-25 May. These include a rail replacement service operating between York and Darlington on some services and no Grand Central trains stopping at Sunderland. For details: Rail Engineering works: Northallerton 23 May | National Rail 

• The closest National Rail station is Sunderland Central, a short walk from the Park Lane shuttle services. Other stations available are Heworth, Newcastle and Durham.
• National Rail to Sunderland Central or Heworth takes you to within walking distance of shuttle services to the event site.
• If you're arriving at Durham Railway Station, please make your way to Belmont Park and Ride Belmont Park and Ride (PR1) - Durham County Council for the shuttle service.
• If you're travelling to Newcastle Station, use the Metro to Heworth to access a shuttle to the event site.
• We strongly recommend booking in advance.
• Before travelling, please check for any rail disruptions or timetable changes and make sure you fully understand your route, including any required connections, replacement bus services and last operating departures.

Meet and Greet/Pick Up and Drop Off

• If you plan to use the Pick up and Drop Off facility, you must pre-register for a designated time slot in advance. This helps manage traffic flow and ensures the system operates as efficiently as possible.
• Pick up and drop off for friends and family will operate inside Herrington Country Park only.
• This option is usually very popular, so anticipate long waiting times.
• This option requires pre-booking. All permits will be checked to gain access and a one-way system will be in place.
• We would strongly recommend using the alternative transport hubs and shuttle service option.
• To find out more and book a Pick Up & Drop Off Permit: https://bigweekendtravel.com/

Accessible Pick Up & Drop Off

• If you have confirmed you will be dropped off at the event in your accessibility application, you will be sent a drop off pass the week before to print at home and bring with you.  If this is not possible, please have it ready on your phone.
• If you're getting dropped off or picked up at the event, exact details of the drop off point will be included in the accessibility guide sent to all accessibility customers closer to the event.
• For any other accessibility queries and applications please contact: [email protected]

Taxi

• Pick up and drop off by app-based taxi services or Hackney Carriages won't be available from Herrington Country Park so please don't attempt to be collected from or dropped off there.
• Instead, use the transport hubs at Heworth and Park Lane Metro Stations and Durham Belmont Park and ride, and shuttle service to the park.

By Bike

• Bike parking will be available on site for cyclists planning to cycle directly to the venue. 
• Bicycles can't be taken on the shuttle services,  so please find secure cycle storage before leaving your bike.

Designated Walking Routes

• A map with designated Big Weekend walking routes to Herrington Country Park is below.
• Pedestrians should not attempt to cross the A19 via the A183 roundabout due to event road closures.
• Alternative routes are in place in the interest of public safety.
• However, we strongly encourage ticket holders to book and use the dedicated shuttle bus service where possible to help manage travel safely and efficiently.

Big Weekend designated walking route map

Road closures

• Temporary road closures will be in place around the event site from 8.00am on Friday 22 May until 1.00am each day during the event weekend. All roads will be fully reopened by 1.00am on Monday 25 May.
• The A183 (Chester Road) will be closed to all traffic from the A19 junction to the roundabout with Chislehurst Road, other than local buses which will continue to operate along that stretch until 9 pm. Bus stops between the two roundabouts will however be suspended from 10am on Friday 22 May until Monday morning on 25 May, meaning that passengers won't be able to get on or off the bus along that stretch of road. Plans are currently being finalised for local buses after 9pm. 
• The northbound slip road at the A19/A183 junction and Foxcover Road will also be closed to all traffic except emergency service vehicles. Signed diversions will be in place to help manage traffic.
• A clearway (no stopping or parking) will also be in operation along the full length of the A183 and B1286 to help keep traffic moving safely.
• For safety reasons, some restrictions, including all lay-by closures on the A19 (both northbound and southbound) between the A690 and A1231, will remain in place for the duration of the event.

Travel advice for non-festival goers

Sunderland will be particularly busy over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend, with the Radio 1 Big Weekend at Herrington Country Park from Friday 22 to Sunday 24 May, the One Big Summer wraparound event in Keel Square in the city centre and the SAFC v Chelsea match on Sunday 24 May.   

• Public transport and the North East road network are likely to be especially busy due to the increased number of visitors travelling into and around Sunderland.
• People are being advised to allow more time for their journeys.
• Key partners, including Sunderland City Council, transport operators and Nexus have well-rehearsed event travel and transport plans in place help make journeys as stress free as possible. This includes a traffic management system to avoid over-congestion on public transport and on the roads.  Follow the Radio 1 Big Weekend app and the relevant operator's social channels for the latest travel updates over the festival weekend.
• Some temporary road closures will be in place around the Herrington Country Park area, with diversions to help manage traffic.

Travel advice for fans travelling to the SAFC v Chelsea match on Sunday 24 May

• Supporters attending Sunday's match against Chelsea FC are advised that the city will be particularly busy, due to BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend taking place across the weekend. Increased numbers of visitors will be travelling into and around Sunderland, which may impact traffic and public transport.
• Some temporary road closures will be in place around Herrington Country Park, with diversions to help manage traffic. Fans are asked to plan their journey in advance and allow extra time to get to the Stadium of Light, arriving early where possible to avoid delays.

Tickets for the Friday and limited VIP tickets for the Saturday remain available via Ticketmaster, the only official ticketing agent. For more information visit: https://www.bbc.co.uk/backstage/bigweekend  

Festival‑goers are also advised to download the Radio 1 Big Weekend app, which includes set times, maps, live updates and everything needed to make the most of the weekend. The app can be downloaded at: Event App