The Tour de France is coming to the UK in 2027 because organisers want to grow the race’s international appeal, tap into huge British fan interest, and secure financial and political backing from the UK to host the Grand Départ. It will still be the Tour de France , but like in 2007 and 2014, a few opening stages are being held on British roads before the race returns to France.

Quick Scoop

  • The 2027 men’s Tour will start in Edinburgh and spend three days in the UK before heading to France.
  • The women’s Tour de France Femmes will also start in Britain, with its Grand Départ in Leeds and a finale in London.
  • This is designed to boost tourism, TV audiences and local economies, and to keep the Tour relevant as a global sporting spectacle.

Why the Tour leaves France

The Tour has a long history of starting outside France to act as a travelling showcase and money-maker. Reasons include:

  • Global audience growth : Starting in places like the UK, Spain, Denmark or the Netherlands helps the race reach new fans and broadcasters, which is key for sponsors and long‑term revenues.
  • Political and financial support : Host governments and cities bid for the Grand Départ, investing public money in return for tourism, media exposure and a short-term economic boost.
  • Cycling hotbed : Britain has become a powerhouse in cycling with multiple Tour winners and big fan bases, so organisers know stages there will draw huge roadside crowds and strong viewing figures.

Why specifically the UK in 2027?

Several forces came together to bring the race back to the UK for 2027.

  • Government ambition : The UK government and UK Sport openly targeted hosting a Grand Départ again and put funding behind the bid, pitching it as one of the most accessible major sporting events ever held in the country.
  • Proven success : Previous UK starts in London 2007 and Yorkshire 2014 drew enormous, enthusiastic crowds and are still remembered as some of the best atmospheres the Tour has seen.
  • Route logic : A Scottish start in Edinburgh, then stages through northern England and Wales, gives organisers spectacular scenery, varied terrain and major city backdrops before the race crosses to France.

What’s actually happening in the UK?

The UK is hosting the Grand Départ and a short run of stages, not the whole race.

  • Men’s race :
    • Stage 1: Edinburgh to Carlisle.
* Stage 2: Keswick to Liverpool.

* Stage 3: Welshpool to Cardiff, finishing the UK leg before the race continues in France.
  • Women’s race (Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift) :
    • Starts in Leeds, crosses the Pennines to Manchester, then heads to Sheffield and finishes with a showpiece stage in London.

Organisers emphasise that the UK offers huge crowds and dramatic landscapes , from Edinburgh’s castle skyline to the Lake District and the Liverpool waterfront, which look great on global TV.

Forum-style angle & “trending topic” vibes

On forums and social media, discussion tends to split into a few camps:

  • Fans who love it:
    • See the UK stages as a rare chance to experience the Tour without travelling to France.
    • Think international starts keep the race fresh, modern and globally relevant.
  • Traditionalists who are wary:
    • Feel the Tour should stay mostly in France and worry it drifts away from its roots when too many foreign stages are added.
    • Question whether the money spent by host governments is worth it compared with local services.
  • Realists in the middle:
    • Accept that big sport is now tightly bound to tourism, soft power and broadcast deals.
    • View UK stages as a trade‑off: a bit less “pure” tradition, in exchange for bigger crowds, more investment and a stronger cycling culture at home.

In simple terms, the Tour de France is in the UK because the race has become a global roadshow and the UK is currently one of the most attractive stages for that show.

Meta description:
Wondering why the Tour de France is in the UK? Learn how global expansion, UK government backing, massive crowds and TV appeal all helped bring the 2027 Grand Départ to British roads.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.