What time do roads reopen in Durham? Timings of Durham Miners’ Gala and parking

Durham Miners’ Gala has returned in person for the first time since 2019.
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Durham Miners’ Gala was back in all its pomp and glory.

Commonly refered to as ‘The Big Meeting’, is has not taken pace in person since 2019.

Previous editions had been cancelled due to to the coronavirus pandemic in2020 and 2021.

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It was estimated that 200,000 people would be attending the Big Meeting.

There will be the usual march through the city and the streets are expected to be packed.

Here is all you need to know about the Big Meeting.

When is Durham Miners’ Gala

The Big Meeting will take place on Saturday (9 July) in 2022.

It is always held on the second Saturday of July.

Durham Miners’ Gala has been taking place since 1871 - but was unable to celebrate its 150 anniversary in person last year due to the pandemic.

The Durham Miners Gala.The Durham Miners Gala.
The Durham Miners Gala.

What time does the march start?

The march will start at 8.30am on 9 July.

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The main assembly point is the city centre Market Place and bands and banners will start to march from there at 8.30am.

Is Mick Lynch a speaker?

The Secretary-General of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers will be a speaker at the Big Meeting today.

How long does the march last and what is the route?

The march will last for a number of hours.

The main assembly point is the city centre Market Place and the procession will head to the Racecourse.

The focal point of the Gala is the County Hotel at Old Elvet and it is here where the two legs of the procession converge.

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It will see union leaders, invited guests and local dignitaries greet the march from the hotel balcony and the bands pause to play their “party piece”.

After this the bands will continue marching the short distance to the Racecourse where there is a platform for the speakers.

At 1pm, the platform party arrives and the Chairman opens the meeting.

After the speeches, four or five selected bands and banners march to the Cathedral for the Miners’ Service.

Full list of road closures for the Durham Miners’ Gala

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There will be a number of road closures in place for the Big Meeting this year on Saturday 9 July.

From 5am to 8pm the following roads will be shut:

  • South Bailey
  • North Bailey
  • Bow Lane
  • Palace Green
  • Owengate
  • Saddler Street
  • Market Place
  • Silver Street
  • Framwellgate Bridge
  • Pelaw Leazes Lane
  • North Road (between its junctions with Framwellgate Bridge and Milburngate)
  • New Elvet Bridge
  • New Elvet
  • Dun Cow Lane
  • Court lane
  • Elvet Crescent
  • Old Elvet
  • Prison green (Old Elvet South)
  • Territorial Lane
  • Elvet Waterside
  • Elvet Bridge

From 6am to 8pm the following roads will be closed:

  • Whinney Hill
  • Green Lane
  • Church Street
  • Hallgarth Street

From 6am to 10am and 3pm to 8pm

  • Framwellgate waterside from its junction with Sidegate to its junction with Millburngate

From 5am to 2pm

  • Claypath (between its junction with Prince Bishops car Park Roundabout and the junction
  • with Providence Row)
  • One-way eastbound slip road from A690 to Claypath
  • Crossgate (from junction with North Road/Framwellgate Bridge to the junction with South
  • Street

From 2pm to 8pm

  • Claypath (between its junction with Prince Bishops car Park Roundabout and the junction with the one-way eastbound slip road) in a north westerly direction and then north easterly direction only.
  • A 50-metre length of Claypath, northern side, between the zebra crossing zig zags and the car park mini roundabout

What happens at the Racecourse?

The Durham Miners’ Gala says on its website: “On the Racecourse, the banners are strapped to the surrounding fences creating a colourful tapestry of working class history.

“On the riverside, there are rides for the children and stalls selling everything from books to fast food.

“In the marquees, there are many exhibitions and a place where tea and sandwiches can be bought run by the Durham Labour Party. And, on a field overlooking the racecourse, there is a fun fair with some scary rides for the more adventurous.

Can you park in Durham?

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On the Durham Miners’ Gala website it says: “The centre of Durham is closed to traffic from 7.00 am but access is possible, for those who arrive early, to the multi-storey car park close to the Market Square.

“There are three large park-and-ride car parks. You can also park at Houghall campus.”

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