We want your visit to the Triathlon to be as memorable as possible. Make sure you’re prepared for your London 2012 experience by reading the information below – and don’t forget to plan your travel in advance.
If you have a ticket for the Triathlon, go to the visitor information pages for Hyde Park
When is it?
The women’s Triathlon starts at 9am on Saturday 4 August and the men’s at 11.30am on Tuesday 7 August. Find out more about the Triathlon
Where is it?
The start, finish and transitions of both the men and women’s events take place in the ticketed area of Hyde Park.
The athletes take to the water first, where they complete one 1,500m lap of the famous Serpentine lake. Next is a 40km cycle course around a 6.137km loop, which takes the athletes around the lake, up towards Hyde Park Corner, along Constitution Hill, round the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace and back to the transition area in the park. They complete this loop seven times, finally transitioning for the run, which is again a 10km run around four laps of a 2.5km loop course, around the Serpentine.
Tickets are not required for 90 per cent of the course, but it is expected to be extremely busy.
Top tips
If you’re thinking of going to watch the Triathlon, it’s important you plan your day in advance. Here are our tips on how to enjoy a memorable day:
- Plan your day in advance – read the information on these pages and sign up to our dedicated e-newsletter
- Stay local – if you’re lucky enough to live close to the route, please walk or cycle to your nearest viewing point, as many roads will be closed.
- Get there early to secure a good spot – London will be much busier than usual and viewing capacity will be limited, so think about a couple of places where you might want to watch, arrive early and be prepared to wait. Download a route map to start planning now
- Don’t drive – there will be extensive road closures along the route, and there is no parking available anywhere near the venue. For details of road closures in London, visit the Get Ahead of the Games website
- Check online before you set off – journey times and routes may change during the Games, so check the most up-to-date travel information before you leave home
- Be prepared to wait – with increased numbers of spectators in and around London at Games time, there will be longer queues for everything from the Tube to the toilets.
- Come prepared for all types of weather – this is an outdoor event so check the weather forecast the night before the race.
Estimated race times
Athletes are expected to be in the water for about 20 minutes. They will be on their bikes for about 1 hour, completing seven laps in total. They will then run for about 30 minutes, completing four laps of the lake.
Road closures
London will be much busier than normal during the Games, with some temporary changes to roads and public transport required to help keep London moving. On Triathlon day, there will be road closures around the route.
For details of road closures, visit the Get Ahead of the Games website
If you plan to attend the Triathlon, you should think carefully about where you want to watch as some locations will be very busy. Large crowds are expected to attend and space will be limited. Arrive early, be prepared to wait and make sure you know how to get there. It is a good idea to have a plan B in case your preferred viewing area doesn’t work out.
Get information and advice on planning your travel to the Triathlon
Download a map of the Triathlon route
Download the official London 2012 Join In app – a mobile guide to help you plan, enjoy and share your Games experience.
Sign up for more information
Sign up now to receive dedicated emails on the Triathlon and be first in line to get event updates, travel advice and other tips to help make the most of your day.
In June we will be launching an interactive map which will provide further details on when to expect riders, spectator facilities such as cycle parking, and other information.
You can also download the official London 2012 Join In app – a mobile guide to help you plan, enjoy and share your Games experience
