Arundel Lido Triathlon
Arundel, United Kingdom · May · Other (independent)
Course: 0.4 km (0.2 mi) swim, 19 km (11.8 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run. 0.25 mi / 11.8 mi / 3.1 mi; Racecheck lists a run of 5.4 km (3.4 mi) in older years
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: 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 friendlyFriendly4.2
A 400 m (0.25 mi) pool swim and a downhill finish. One club member calls it a better first race than a hillier local event. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage2.9
A pool swim helps, but the bike has a long climb and the run has a steep hill. · 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 easeEasy4.0
400 m (0.25 mi) in a 25 m (82 ft) pool. Lane starts, but narrow lanes. · Medium 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 speedAverage2.9
A 19 km (11.8 mi) sprint bike with a long climb and a fast descent. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessHilly2.4
Long climb of about 4 km (2.5 mi) on a 19 km (11.8 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 conditionsModerate3.0
A 2026 reviewer says the sprint run is under 5 km (3.1 mi) and easier than before. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessRolling2.6
Hill near 1 km (0.6 mi) of the 5 km (3.1 mi) run, downhill finish. · 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)
- 0.4 km (0.2 mi) swim, 19 km (11.8 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 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
- 1
- Run laps
- 1
- 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.
- Brighton Phoenix Tri ClubRaced 2017 · blog · Positive
A club member rates the pool-swim sprint her most enjoyable race of the season thanks to the setting. She describes an undulating bike with good descents and an undulating run with a sharp hill, finishing downhill. She thinks it is a better first triathlon than the hillier Falmer race and advises picking a swim slot with similar swimmers.
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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