BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend is here with huge names to take to the stage this evening.
The festival, expecting about 100,000 fans, is set to take over Herrington Country Park from May 22 to 24, with global headliners including Zara Larsson, Fatboy Slim, and Ellie Goulding.
We've put together all of the practical traffic and travel information you might need when making plans for the weekend.
Shuttle Buses
Designated shuttle bus services are the recommended way to get to the festival, and will operate from Sunderland’s Park Lane Interchange, Heworth Metro Station in Gateshead, and Durham Park and Ride.
Shuttle bus tickets need to be pre-booked online.
Public Transport
The Tyne and Wear Metro is expected to be busier than usual, especially on Sunday when Sunderland AFC play Chelsea, so travellers are advised to plan ahead, allow extra time, and check live updates via the Pop App.
Regional coach returns are available from 23 locations across the North East and Tees Valley, while local buses are expected to be extremely busy and subject to delays and diversions due to road closures.
By Car
Parking at Herrington Country Park is only for those who have pre-booked accessible parking - nearby residential streets will not be available for parking, where a Resident Protection Zone will be in effect, allowing access only to residents with a permit.
All official event car parks will be within a 45-minute walk or connected to a shuttle hub.
Motorbikes can use the official event car parks.
National Rail
Rail travellers on the East Coast Main Line should anticipate disruptions over the bank holiday weekend due to engineering work between York and Northallerton from May 23 to 25.
This includes a rail replacement service between York and Darlington on some services and no Grand Central trains stopping at Sunderland.
The closest National Rail station to the festival is Sunderland Central, a short walk from the Park Lane shuttle services.
Other stations include Heworth, Newcastle, and Durham.
Meet and Greet/Pick Up and Drop Off
Those planning to use the pick up and drop off facility must pre-register for a designated time slot.
Pick up and drop off for friends and family will operate inside Herrington Country Park only.
Taxis
Pick up and drop off by app-based taxi services or Hackney Carriages won't be available at Herrington Country Park.
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.
Road Closures
Temporary road closures will be in place around the event site from 8am on Friday, May 22 until 1am each day during the event weekend.
The A183 (Chester Road) will be closed to all traffic from the A19 junction to the roundabout with Chislehurst Road, with local buses continuing to operate along that stretch until 9pm.
Bus stops between the two roundabouts will be suspended from 10am on Friday, May 22 until Monday morning on May 25.
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.
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 event's duration.
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, May 22 to Sunday, May 24, the One Big Summer wraparound event in Keel Square in the city centre, and the SAFC v Chelsea match on Sunday, May 24.
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 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 to 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.
Read more:
- Two legendary headliners added to Sunderland’s One Big Summer
- What to expect as Sunderland Food and Drink Festival returns in June
- BBC presenter says Great North Run helped change her life in new book
Fans travelling to the SAFC v Chelsea match on Sunday, May 24, are advised 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.
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.
