Arundel Lido Triathlon
Arundel, United Kingdom · May · Other (independent)
Course: 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 37 km (23.0 mi) bike, 9 km (5.6 mi) run. Listed as Standard: 0.5 mi / 23 mi / 5.6 mi; shorter than a true Olympic. Racecheck lists a 35 km (21.7 mi) bike.
Why people love it
- Heated open-air lido swim with a castle backdrop
- Transition beside the finish; compact and easy to spectate
- Free T-shirt and unlimited race photos
- The sprint is a gentle first triathlon with a 400 m (0.25 mi) pool swim
Watch out for
- The standard is short: 800 m (0.5 mi) swim, 37 km (23 mi) bike, 9 km (5.6 mi) run
- The bike climbs about 4 km (2.5 mi) on London Road; hilly for the distance
- The run has a steep hill; the standard turns at a trig point
- Swim wave gaps and registration queues were criticised in 2017 and 2026
- A 2026 reviewer reports no chip timing
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 30% of the overall score.
Toughness: Very tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved4.0
Racecheck shows 4.3 from 16 ratings and 9 written reviews. Athletes love the setting. Modest sample, so held just under Blenheim (4.2). · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.8
Marshals are friendly, but registration was slow in 2017, swim waves had gaps, and a 2026 athlete reports no chip timing. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.3
The standard has two hilly bike laps and a steep run climb. Better for those with some experience. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage2.5
Two laps of a long climb and a steep run turn make for slow times. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalRarelyn/a
Heated open-air pool, so no wetsuit rule applies. · High confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable4.3
Heated pool, though the lido is open air. Temperature is not published. · Medium confidence
- Calm waterRoughn/a
Pool swim, so not applicable. · High confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.7
800 m (0.5 mi) pool swim; one 2018 reviewer found it longer than advertised. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.7
Open-air lido beside the River Arun. Some reviewers find the lanes narrow and the walls slippery. · Medium confidence
- Swim supportAbundant4.6
Pool swim with only a few swimmers per lane. Slippery walls and an awkward deep-end exit are the downsides. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.5
Main roads including a short A27 dual carriageway section. No surface complaints. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed2.6
Open main roads, including a short stretch of the A27 dual carriageway. · Medium confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful4.2
Reviewers enjoy the rolling roads and good descents. · Medium confidence
- WindSome wind3.2
No wind issues reported. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage2.7
The 37 km (23 mi) bike has two laps of a long climb, though the 2016 winner averaged nearly 40 km (24.9 mi)/h (25 mph). · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessHilly2.0
Two laps of a long climb on a 37 km (23 mi) bike. Gain is not published. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts3.0
Single loop for the sprint and two laps for the standard, with a dual carriageway section. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.3
Compact site with some support near the lido. Few reports of crowds on the course. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.6
No aid complaints. Athletes mention friendly volunteers. · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.0
Country lane run to town, finishing near the castle. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsModerate2.6
Hilly, mixed surface over 9 km (5.6 mi). · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessHilly2.0
Steep climb to a trig point turn on the 9 km (5.6 mi) run. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant3.7
Mid-May highs around 15 to 18 °C (59 to 64 °F). · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.2
Spring in southern England is changeable. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyStunning4.5
Castle backdrop and an open-air lido by the River Arun. Reviewers rate the setting highly. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.2
Transition beside the finish in a compact site. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Close to sea level. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early3.4
Small town; book early for race weekend. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.2
No price data. Tourist town pricing is likely. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.3
Transition, finish and lido are close together. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeEasy3.5
Arundel has a train station; most athletes drive. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple4.0
Compact site with transition beside the finish, though registration queues were slow in 2017. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood4.0
Arundel has cafes, pubs and the castle. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Arundel, West Sussex, United Kingdom
- Typical month
- May
- Latest or next date
- 16 May 2027
- Organiser
- Other (independent)
- First held
- 2005
- Distances (non-standard)
- 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 37 km (23.0 mi) bike, 9 km (5.6 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Arundel Lido, a heated open-air 25 m (82 ft) pool with five lanes, beside the River Arun (pool)
- Wetsuit
- N/a
- Swim start
- individual deep-end starts, limited swimmers per lane
- Bike laps
- 2
- Air temperature
- 8–17 °C (46–63 °F)
- Humidity
- moderate
- Altitude
- 20 m (66 ft)
- Nearest airport
- London Gatwick, 55 km (34 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Arundel
- Booking
- Day-trip race; Arundel and Littlehampton have accommodation.
What racers and reviewers say
- RacecheckRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Racecheck shows 16 ratings at 4.3 out of 5, with 9 distinct written reviews (one repeated on the page). Athletes love the castle setting, friendly marshals and the compact site, and say the bike and run are harder than the pool swim suggests. Complaints: slow registration (2017), swim wave gaps, no chip timing in 2026.
- Petersfield PostRaced 2016 · article · Positive
Club results report on the 2016 standard-distance race (800 m (2,620 ft) / 0.5 mi swim, 37 km (23 mi) / 23 mi bike, 9 km (5.6 mi) / 5.6 mi run). Conditions were good and the winner took 1:48:08 with an average bike speed just under 40 km (24.9 mi)/h (25 mph), suggesting a fast bike for strong riders despite the hill.
Raced Arundel Lido Triathlon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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