Tour de France coming to Cumbria

The Tour de France will be in Cumbria in 2027.

It has been revealed that Stage One of the event will finish in Carlisle and Stage Two will begin in Keswick.

The full UK route has been revealed 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 July 2 2027, with the opening stage finishing in Carlisle the same day.

Stage two travels from Keswick on Saturday July 3 2027 through the Lake District and Lancashire to finish on The Strand in Liverpool the same day.

To celebrate the moment, start and finish venues were lit up simultaneously, with a yellow beam illuminating the sky, including the Old Town Hall in Carlisle and the Moot Hall in Keswick.

Leader of Cumberland Council 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.

It is 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.”

From Edinburgh on July 2 2027, 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 amid the Eildon Hills.

Tracing the Scottish/English border along Liddesdale, the route briefly dips into Dumfries & Galloway before crossing into Cumbria, where the opening stage finish outside Carlisle Castle.

The second stage will begin in Keswick on July 3 2027, 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.

Cumbria Combined Authority is also supporting the event. John Barradell, of 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.

“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 of Lake District National Park Authority, said: “It 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.”

Gill Haigh, managing director of Cumbria Tourism, 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.”

Carlisle MP Julie Minns said: “‘The announcement that Carlisle will host the finish of Stage One of the 2027 Tour de France is brilliant.

“Our Great Border City will have the eyes and wheels of the world on it, and I cannot wait to welcome all the cyclists, their teams, and the many thousands of spectators, commentators and sponsors to our hotels and restaurants, pubs and shops.

“When the Tour was last in the UK, it delivered a boost of over £100 million to Yorkshire and I am confident our local economy is set for a similar boost.”

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.