Liverpool’s Half-Marathon is set to take a new route this year.
Organisers BTR Liverpool announced that March’s sold-out annual event will now begin at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium rather than at its original location point.
Approved building works on Canada Boulevard which are expected to start in February has led to an alternative route which will allow for bigger runner numbers.
The finish line will remain at Pier Head Liverpool, set against the iconic backdrop of the Three Graces and under the gaze of the world-famous Liver Birds.
The early miles of the route have also been revised to take in more of the city centre and landmarks, including Liverpool Town Hall.
The route now also features the striking Chinese Arch on Nelson Street, home to Europe’s oldest Chinese community and the largest Chinese Arch outside of mainland China.
Runners will also pass Liverpool Cathedral – the largest Anglican cathedral in Britain, and the fifth largest in the world.
The course has also been changed heading towards the latter part of the race. Runners will no longer head through Otterspool Park and onto The Promenade.
Instead, they will make their way back from Sefton Park and Princes Park along Princes Road and Upper Parliament Street, before taking in Queens Wharf and Halftide Wharf, before joining the usual route at King’s Dock for the home straight along the waterfront to the grandstand finish line at Pier Head Liverpool.
First staged in 1994, it is one of the longest established premier road races in the region, and is a real highlight in the North West running calendar.
The event also attracts runners from across the country, as well as international runners who combine the race with an opportunity to experience Liverpool.
BTR’s race director Alan Rothwell said: “The BTR Liverpool Half Marathon is about to race to another level altogether by becoming the biggest ever since it was first staged in 1994.
“We were thrilled when the event sold out last year at 12,000 entries. And this time round we’ve reached that number again but in record time.
“Now we can announce exciting changes to the course – which means we can also make an extra 3,000 places available.
“Runners will notice the changes from the get-go. They’ll cross the new start line at Everton Football Club’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium at a new time. The revised course will then take them past more iconic city centre landmarks as they embark on their 10 mile or half marathon races.
“Being able to increase the overall event capacity to 15,000 is just incredible. This is all part of Run For All’s vision of taking BTR Liverpool events further forward and future-proof. It’s a very exciting time for our runners.
“A big thank you especially to the Merseyside running community, who really throw their support behind this event and have made it a ‘must do’ in the race calendar. Watch this space, there are plenty of inspiring things to come from BTR Liverpool and Run For All.”
The BTR Liverpool Half Marathon 2025 was the biggest ever. It sold out two months before race day at 12,000 places – a massive jump from 9,000 entries in 2024.
Full details about BTR Liverpool events visit www.btrliverpool.com