The Race for Life logo.
Group of women covered in mud at the bottom of the final muddy obstacle all laughing.

Bristol Pretty Muddy 5k

Saturday 20 Jun 2026

Adults

£22.49

Children

£12.00

Minimum fundraising target

£50.00

Date

Saturday 20 Jun 2026

Time

From: 11:00

Venue

The Downs

Spring Sale ends Sunday!

Use code SPRING26 to get 50% off entry on 2026 events

Offer ends 19 April 2026. T&Cs apply*

Choose your start time

Life is worth Racing for. Enter Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life and raise money for life-saving cancer research.

About Pretty Muddy

Get ready for an unforgettable day out as you climb, crawl and slide your way around the Pretty Muddy® 5k obstacle course! Sign up as a group with friends and family, or go solo and join hundreds of people on the day. There's no pressure to finish in a certain time, so take it your own pace, get muddy and enjoy the atmosphere. However you take part, you're helping to beat cancer.

Location

Venue

The Downs, Stoke Road, Bristol, BS9 1FG

View map

Course information

The start and finish are on grass. The course is a primarily flat course mainly on grass on the outer perimeter of Durdham Downs and Clifton Downs, with a mixed terrain.

The 5k Course has an overall ascent of 28m throughout the full 5k course. 

Click here to see the Course Map. Please note, this is subject to change.

Three people wearing Race for Life t-shirts walk in front of a muddy obstacle course.

Event details

Once you sign up for your Pretty Muddy® event, you'll receive an email with all the need-to-know details to help you feel fully prepared for the day.

Meeting point

The start and finish is on the grass area adjacent to Ladies Mile & Stoke Road, in sight of The Water Tower.

If using what3words, enter ///tell.spoon.bonus in the free app, to find the exact starting point.

Please listen out for your start time to gather in front of the stage for a gentle warm-up and course instructions.

Travel information

By car:
General Event Parking:
Parking on The Downs is not permitted. If you arrive early, you may find spaces on the surrounding roads but be aware that road closures are in place on Stoke Road, & Ladies Mile. Stewards will be there on the day to direct you. Due to the city centre location of the event, we are unable to provide onsite parking so advise using one of the many City Centre car parks. The closest car park to the event site is Clifton Down Shopping Centre which provides a partially covered car park accessed from Alma Road. Parking is spread over seven levels with 360 spaces, including disabled and mother/child bays. The car park offers safe and secure parking from 7.00am to 10:30pm and was granted the Park Mark Safer Parking Award. The sat nav postcode for the car park is BS8 2NN.
                                                                       
Please check whether your vehicle will be charged in Bristol’s Clean Air Zone and pay the charge here. All you need is your vehicle registration number. 

Please note the following road closures will be in effect for the event (timings will be updated nearer the event): Stoke Road, Ladies Mile and a Particial one way section on Circular Road.

Drop Offs: Participants can be dropped off via Stoke Road and then exit via Roman Road.

Blue Badge Parking: Please note there is limited disabled parking on Stoke Road, displaying a Blue Badge & Clock would be necessary.

Volunteer Parking: Due to the city centre location of the event, we are unable to provide onsite parking so advise using one of the many City Centre car parks. The closest car park to the event site is Clifton Down Shopping Centre which provides a partially covered car park accessed from Alma Road. Parking is spread over seven levels with 360 spaces, including disabled and mother/child bays.

Electric Charging points: The nearest public electric car charging points to the event site are via Charge Your Car Charging Station Redland Hill, Redland, Bristol BS6 6XL.

Public transport and pedestrians:
Pedestrians:
The Downs can be found at the top of Whiteladies Road and is a large green open space, with plenty of access points.

Bus: These Bus lines stop near The Downs:1, 2, 3, 4, Y6 the closest bus stop is Black Boy Hill, Redland is 279 meters away, 4 min walk.

Train: Clifton train station, BS8 2NN is a 16-minute walk from the venue which links to the main train station Bristol Temple Meads.

Cycling & Bike Racks: Bristol City Council have installed more cycle parking across the city. You can find cycle parking available at The Downs Café by using what3words ///glad.rich.sting

Dott e-scooters and e-bikes: are now available across Bristol.

 

Facilities

Available

Refreshments

Toilets

Not available or suitable

Dogs not allowed

Bag drop

Showers

Not suitable for pushchairs

Not wheelchair accessible

Parking

Accessibility

Due to the nature of the event it is not suitable for wheelchair users.

We aim for maximum accessibility at our events. Our contact centre and on-site team are ready to assist with any needs or questions you may have.

Sunflower wristbands are available at the enquiries marquee, and our Event Managers are trained Dementia Friends.

A QR code will be available on the main event site to access British Sign Language stage content for those who use BSL.

 

How Pretty Muddy® works

Pretty Muddy® events start times are staggered in 'waves', each wave starts every 15 minutes to ensure you're safe on the course. If you're signed up as a group, please make sure you sign up for the same wave time.

Climb, crawl and slide your way around the course at your own pace. We want you to tackle every obstacle the best you can, but if you need to skip to the next one our marshals will be on hand to assist. Find out more about Pretty Muddy® obstacles.

To be part of the action, you must be 13 years of age or older at the time of your event. We've got something special for our young participants too - check out our Pretty Muddy® Kids events for kids aged 12 and under!

If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, please seek your doctor's advice before registering.

What you'll receive

When you sign up to Race for Life, we'll support you every step of the way. You'll receive:

  • A fundraising pack with tips to help you reach your target

  • A customisable back sign

  • Training plans and support to help you prepare

  • Access to our Facebook community to help you get motivated

  • A Race for Life medal when you cross the finish line!

A lady writing the name of her loved one on her Race for Life back sign.

Prepare for your event

Get fundraising and training support, tips and resources to help you hit your target and prepare for your event.

How your support saves lives

Over the past 50 years, our work has helped double cancer survival in the UK.

Thanks to support from people like you, we've funded pioneering research to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer. But our work isn't done yet. We want to bring about a world where everybody lives longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.

The money you raise goes towards our research into more than 200 types of cancer. With you at the start line, just imagine how far we can go.

Learn where your money goes

Natasha

Natasha having fun in a Pretty Muddy race. She is laughing in a pool of muddy water at the bottom of a pink slide.

I raised £450, really enjoyed the experience.

- Natasha, Pretty Muddy® Reading

Choose your start time

Your entry fee covers the cost of your event, but your fundraising helps us save and improve lives. Join the celebration, join the family, and join the thousands helping to raise the money we need to power Cancer Research UK’s biggest discoveries.

More ways to get involved

Two women, a man and a young girl in Race for Life branded t-shirts are laughing and running in a park.

Visit the Race for Life shop

Get set for your Race for Life event with t-shirts, hats and accessories for everyone.

A Race For Life volunteer wearing a hi vis jacket and helping someone at the event.

Volunteer with us

Join the incredible team of volunteers who make our Race for Life events possible.

Four adults going down a Pretty Muddy slide, smiling and laughing.

Find another Race for Life event

Explore our other Race for Life events taking place across the country. Choose from a 3k, 5k, 10k, Pretty Muddy® 5k or Pretty Muddy® Kids.

50% off entry

*Enter the code SPRING26 on the registration page to get 50% off your entry fee. Visit our Sales and Discount page for full terms and conditions that apply.