The streets of Reading will be filled with thousands of runners taking part in the Green Park Reading Half Marathon on Sunday, 22 March 2026.
As ever, organisers are expecting a mix of seasoned athletes, fitness enthusiasts and first-time runners to take part in the event and navigate the 13.1-mile route through the heart of the town and along many local roads.
To ensure participants’ safety, rolling road closures will be implemented throughout the day, and residents are advised to plan their journeys in advance.
Temporary diversions will be in place across the town, with roads being reopened as soon as it is safe to do so. While most town centre car parks will remain open as normal, The Oracle Riverside will not open until 12.40pm.
Additionally, Smallmead Recycling Centre and access to the Link Retail Park are expected to open at approximately 2.30pm.
Main arterial routes such as Woodcote Road, Henley Road and the IDR will remain open to help traffic flow, though visitors using the M4 are encouraged to use junctions 10 and 12 until 2pm to avoid delays.
Which roads will be closed for the Reading Half 2026 and when?
The Green Park Reading Half Marathon is taking place on Sunday, 22 March 2026.
While the event is a major race for participants, the associated road closures affect the town from early morning. Roads along the route can be closed at any point between 6am and 4pm.
- A33 (southbound): 9.45am to 11.30am (Bennet Road gyratory)
- Bennet Road: 9.50am to 3pm (entire length)
- Basingstoke Road: 9.50am to 11.25am (Imperial Way to Callington Road)
- Island Road: 9.30am to 2.35pm (entire length) Hartland Road: 9.30am to 11.40am (entire length)
- Whitley Wood Road: 9.30am to noon (Hartland Road to Shinfield Road)
- Shinfield Road: 9.30am to 12.30pm (Whitley Wood Road to Christchurch Road)
- Pepper Lane: 9.30am to 12.30pm (entire length)
- Christchurch Road: 9.30am to 12.30pm (entire length)
- Kendrick Road: 8am to 1pm (entire length)
- London Road: 9.45am to 12.40pm (Sidmouth Street to Crown Street)
- London Street: 9am to 12.40pm (entire length)
- Mill Lane: 7am to 12.40pm (entire length)
- Duke Street: 9.30am to 12.40pm (entire length)
- Thorn Lane: 9.30am to 12.40pm (entire length)
- Yield Hall Place: 9.30am to 12.40pm (entire length)
- Minster Street: 9.30am to 12.40pm (entire length)
- Gun Street: 9.30am to 12.40pm (entire length)
- King Street: 9.30am to 12.40pm (entire length)
- King’s Road: 9.30am to 12.40pm (Abbey Street to King Street)
- Abbey Square/Street: 9.30am to 12.45pm (entire length)
- Abbots Walk: 9.30am to 12.45pm (entire length)
- The Forbury: 9.30am to 12.45pm (entire length)
- Butter Market/Market Place: 9.30am to 12.45pm (entire length)
- Valpy Street: 9.30am to 12.45pm (entire length)
- Blagrave Street: 9.30am to 12.45pm (Valpy Street to Friar Street)
- Friar Street: 9am to 12.50pm (Blagrave Street to West Street) Station Road: 9.30am to 12.50pm (entire length)
- West Street: 9am to 12.50pm (entire length)
- Oxford Road: 9.30am to 1.05pm (West Street to Bedford Road)
- Russell Street: 9.30am to 1pm (entire length)
- Tilehurst Road: 9.30am to 1.15pm (Russell Street to Liebenrood Road)
- Liebenrood Road: 9.30am to 2pm (entire length)
- Bath Road: 9am to 1.50pm (Circuit Lane to Coley Avenue)
- Castle Hill: 9am to 1.50pm (entire length)
- Coley Avenue: 9am to 1.50pm (Bath Road to Berkeley Avenue)
- Berkeley Avenue: 9.30am to 1.55pm (Elgar Road to Shaw Road)
- Rose Kiln Lane (northbound): 9.30am to 1.55pm (Berkeley Avenue to A33)
- A33 (northbound): 9am to 3pm (Bennet Road to IDR)
- Lindisfarne Way: 9.45am to 11.30am (westbound)
- Longwater Avenue/Brook Drive: 6am to 3pm (entire length)
- Northern Way/Hoops Way/Shooters Way: 6am to 4pm (entire length)
For those wishing to take part or find specific spectator information, details and registration can be found on the official event website at www.readinghalfmarathon.com.
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