The Tour de France returns to Great Britain in 2027 with stages from Edinburgh to Carlisle, Keswick to Liverpool and Welshpool to Cardiff. The three days take the race through Scotland, England and Wales before it returns to France.
British fans can watch from the roadside for free, and the TV picture is already taking shape: TNT Sports has comprehensive live coverage, while 5 will carry the British Grand Départ live and provide daily free-to-air highlights.
The three confirmed British stages
Stage 1: Edinburgh to Carlisle, 184 km
The race opens on Friday, 2 July in Edinburgh and heads south into England. The organizer describes an undulating route that reaches roughly 400 metres in altitude but contains only one categorized climb. Much of the climbing comes on long false flats. The final part is flatter, and the finishing straight in Carlisle is short. On paper, that gives fast finishers a realistic chance to fight for the first yellow jersey, although an opening stage always carries extra nervousness because every team begins on the same overall time.
Stage 2: Keswick to Liverpool, 223 km
Saturday’s second stage starts in Keswick with the Lake District as the early backdrop. The character changes after Lancaster. Five categorized climbs make this a more demanding day than Stage 1 and give breakaway riders a genuine tactical opportunity. The run toward Liverpool becomes flatter, which means resilient sprinters may still have a route back into contention. Positioning will matter late because the organizer specifically flags a descent before the final kilometre.
Stage 3: Welshpool to Cardiff, 223 km
The Welsh stage is the hardest of the confirmed opening trio. After a relatively straightforward first 80 kilometres, the route becomes progressively tougher. There are eight categorized climbs in the stage, six of them in the final 80 kilometres. Epynt is listed at 3.7 km and 7.9%, while the Côte de Caerffili is 2 km at 8.1% and tops out only 12 km from the finish. That late climb gives punchy riders and general-classification contenders a reason to race rather than wait for France.
How the UK can watch
TNT Sports is the main live rights holder for the Tour in the UK. The agreement with 5 adds free-to-air daily highlights and, importantly for 2027, live coverage of the British Grand Départ stages. Exact program times will be announced closer to the race.
Watching in person
The Tour is a moving road event, so spectators should choose a location with transport and safe access in mind rather than simply driving to the finish. Host-city road closures can begin hours before racing. The Edinburgh start and Cardiff finish are likely to have especially complex crowd-management plans.
Use official host and transport guidance during race week. Never stand in the road, obstruct riders or ignore marshal instructions for a photograph.
A genuinely national British Grand Départ
The men's opening is designed as a north-to-south journey through all three nations of Great Britain. Stage 1 starts in Scotland and finishes in England; Stage 2 is entirely English; Stage 3 is entirely Welsh. Organizers call it the first Tour Grand Départ to involve three nations.
Britain will also host the first three stages of the Tour de France Femmes later in the summer. It is the first time both Tours have started in the same country outside France.
Watch it free at the roadside
The official British host committee says the races are free to attend. Millions of spectators are expected, and the 2014 Yorkshire Grand Départ is cited by organizers as having generated an estimated £131 million in economic benefit. That history is one reason host communities are planning substantial road management and spectator infrastructure.
UK television
TNT Sports provides comprehensive live Tour coverage. 5 is the English-language free-to-air highlights partner through 2028 and will show the British Grand Départ live in 2027. Detailed program times will be announced later.
Road closures and getting to a stage
Full road closures are necessary along the route, with additional controls around starts and finishes. Organizers say the measures include diversions, parking restrictions and removal of parked vehicles where required to secure the course. Pedestrian and cycle access may remain possible for part of the closure period, but access can tighten shortly before the caravan and race arrive.
For visitors, public transport, walking and cycling should be treated as first-choice options where host guidance recommends them. This page should link to each local authority's final plan when published.
Why Stage 3 may be the British sporting highlight
The Welsh finale contains eight categorized climbs, six in the last 80 km. The late Caerffili ascent is steep and close to Cardiff. That gives British spectators a realistic chance to see the GC favorites race hard before the Tour leaves the UK.