A Stage One finish in Carlisle and a Stage Two start in Keswick have been both confirmed for the 2027 Tour De France.
The full UK route was revealed on Thursday 15 January 2026 as host towns and cities were illuminated simultaneously in a nationwide “Tour de Skies” moment, marking the next major milestone on the road to the 2027 Grand Départs - set to be the largest free sporting spectacle in British history.
The men’s Tour de France will begin in Edinburgh on Friday 2 July 2027, with the opening stage finishing in Carlisle the same day, before stage two travels from Keswick on Saturday 3 July 2027 - through the Lake District and Lancashire to finish on The Strand in Liverpool the same day, under the watchful gaze of the city’s iconic waterfront.
To celebrate the moment, start and finish venues were lit up simultaneously, with a yellow beam illuminating the sky, with prominent locations providing a stunning backdrop. This included the Old Town Hall in Carlisle and the Moot Hall in Keswick.
Leader of Cumberland Council, Cllr Mark Fryer, said:
“We are delighted to welcome the Tour de France to not only one venue but two in Cumberland. We will be hosting a start and a finish event, over two stages and two days. An ideal opportunity to make a visit and enjoy a long weekend of sporting excellence. We look forward to welcoming thousands of visitors from around the world in summer 2027.”
Councillor Anne Quilter, Cumberland Council’s Executive Member for Vibrant and Healthy Places, added:
“Our spectacular landscape provides an ideal stage for events of all types, and we look forward to welcoming the globally renowned Tour De France to Cumberland. It will provide a big boost to the local economy and will showcase Cumberland to an international audience. Events of this type attract visitors and inspire communities to get involved and promote the health and wellbeing of sport.”
Cumbria Combined Authority is also supporting the event. John Barradell, from the authority, said:
“Events of this scale and magnitude are a fantastic chance to not only showcase Cumbria on a global stage, but also to encourage economic growth and investment within the county on a scale rarely seen.
“Whether you are a keen cyclist, a Sunday peddler or an armchair fanatic, we guarantee this will be a spectacle that everyone can enjoy.
“The Tour de France is exactly the type of exciting event that the new authority is looking to support and help encourage into our county. We are now gearing up to work with many more organisers wanting to ride in the slipstream of the Tour.”
The route of the event will also journey through the Westmorland and Furness area as part of the stage two route, Councillor Helen Chaffey, Westmorland and Furness Council’s Cabinet member for Communities, Customer Services, Culture and Communications, added:
“We are delighted to welcome the men’s Tour de France to Westmorland and Furness next summer.
“After leaving Keswick at the start of the second stage, the riders will pass through some of Westmorland and Furness’ most spectacular scenery, heading south passing lakes including Thirlmere, Grasmere, Rydal Water and Windermere before turning on to the A5074 just beyond Bowness and heading through the Lyth Valley on to the A590 and A6, passing through Milnthorpe and Beetham into Lancashire and on to the stage finish in Liverpool.
“This is an iconic event contested by elite athletes. It’s an exciting opportunity to showcase our wonderful area to the millions of fans around world that will be watching on TV, as well as the huge numbers of visitors we are expecting to attend in person, supporting the local economy and highlighting the benefits of an active lifestyle.’’
Steve Ratcliffe, Assistant Chief Executive for Lake District National Park Authority, said:
“The transit of Tour De France through the Lake District National Park and World Heritage Site is truly exciting news. It promises a boost for local businesses as well as providing visitors with a great spectacle whilst allowing them to enjoy and deepen their understanding of this truly special place.
“Undoubtedly, it will encourage more people to enjoy the great cycling opportunities available here in the National Park. We look forward to cheering on participants as they make their way through the Lake District’s dramatic landscape and encourage those visiting the area to travel sustainably where possible.”
Managing Director of Cumbria Tourism, Gill Haigh, said:
“This is an historic moment for both the race and the region. It provides a unique opportunity to showcase Cumbria’s rich cultural heritage, scenic beauty and vibrant communities to a global audience, uniting our city, towns and villages across the county in a shared celebration of sport, wellbeing and community spirit.
“And as well as the immediate impact of the event itself, we see this as a catalyst for strengthening Cumbria’s long term identify as a world class cycling destination, with unsurpassed leisure cycling opportunities against a stunning landscape backdrop. We will be working closely with organisers and businesses to bring maximum long-term benefits to Cumbria.”
The newly revealed Tour De France routes take the peloton through some of the most spectacular and culturally significant landscapes in England, Scotland and Wales, including the National Parks of the Lake District, Peak District, and Bannau Brycheiniog, showcasing the very best of Britain to millions of fans watching at the roadside and around the world.
The announcement marks the biggest milestone since confirmation last March that both races - the men’s Tour De France and the women’s Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift will begin in the UK - the first time they have ever started in the same country, outside France.
Men’s Tour de France route:
- Friday 2 July | stage one: Edinburgh to Carlisle
- Saturday 3 July | stage two: Keswick to Liverpool
Sunday 4 July | stage three: Welshpool to Cardiff
From Edinburgh the opening stage will head through Midlothian and the Scottish Borders, tackling the day’s sole king of the mountains climb on the Côte de Melrose amidst the Eildon Hills. Tracing the Scottish / English border along Liddesdale, the route briefly dips into Dumfries & Galloway before crossing into Cumberland, where the opening stage finish awaits in Carlisle, outside the city’s medieval castle.
The second stage will begin in Keswick in the heart of the Lake District National Park, heading south alongside Thirlmere, Grasmere, Rydal Water and Windermere and skirting the Morecambe Bay coastline, before heading to the Lancashire fells via Lancaster and the Côte de Jubilee Tower. The undulating route includes a further four categorised climbs on the edge of Pennines before entering the Liverpool City Region, for the stage finish on The Strand in Liverpool, under the watchful gaze of the Three Graces.
The third and final day of the Tour de France 2027 Grand Départ will take place in Wales, for a challenging leg south from Welshpool in Powys to the finish in Cardiff. Eight categorised climbs line the route, with six in the final 80 kilometres of racing as the race wends its way through and over the south Wales valleys. These include the Côte de Rhigos and the popular Côte de Caerffili in the closing kilometres, that will likely be decisive in the deciding the stage victor in Cardiff and the destination of the final yellow jersey to be presented on British shores in the men’s race.
To find out more information and keep up-to-date with the 2027 Grand Départs, please visit letourgb.com