Tour de France 2027: A Journey Through Britain, France and Europe Begins
4th April 2026
With routes and dates now confirmed, excitement is already building for the Tour de France 2027, which will begin in Britain before continuing into France and across Europe. For travellers, this is a rare opportunity to experience the opening stages of one of the world’s greatest sporting events right here in the UK—before following its journey across Europe.
These locations will be extremely popular, and with peak summer demand, accommodation and tours are expected to book up early. If you are considering visiting Britain or Europe in summer 2027, now is the time to start planning. If you are considering visiting Britain or Europe in summer 2027, now is the time to start planning.
This guide introduces what to expect, how to make the most of the event, and how to begin thinking about your journey. It also marks the start of a wider series, where we will explore the Tour in depth—from the British stages and the women’s race to the route across France, the regions it visits, and related experiences such as cultural journeys and wine-tasting tours across France’s most famous regions.
The official announcement confirmed that the 2027 Grand Départ will take place in Edinburgh, including a ceremonial team presentation at Edinburgh Castle featuring riders, dignitaries and the iconic yellow jersey.
🚴 A Brief History of the Tour de France
First held in 1903, the Tour de France has grown into the most famous cycling race in the world. What began as a promotional event for a newspaper has become a three-week global spectacle, combining elite sport with a constantly changing route that highlights the geography, culture and heritage of France.
The race is structured in stages, including flat routes, rolling countryside, high mountain climbs and time trials, with the overall leader wearing the iconic yellow jersey. Alongside the competition, the Tour is equally known for the places it visits—historic towns, dramatic landscapes and world-famous regions.
🇬🇧 The Tour de France in Britain: Past Visits
Although closely associated with France, the Tour has visited Britain several times, each time attracting huge crowds and creating a strong sense of occasion.
- 1974 – First British stage as part of an international route
- 1994 – Stages in southern England, including Dover and Brighton
- 2007 – London hosted the Grand Départ, with a route passing major landmarks
- 2014 – Yorkshire hosted a hugely successful start, followed by a stage finishing in London
The 2014 event in particular demonstrated how popular the race is with UK audiences, with millions of spectators lining the roads.
The 2027 edition builds on that success and takes it further—bringing the race across three nations for the first time.
🗺️ The 2027 Grand Départ: Britain on the World Stage
The 2027 race will begin in Edinburgh, Scotland before travelling through:
- Carlisle
- Keswick
- Liverpool
- Welshpool
- Cardiff
This creates a natural travel route across Britain, linking major cities, scenic regions and distinct cultural areas.
For visitors, the key point is this: these places will be busy. The Tour de France attracts large crowds, and the combination of summer travel season plus a major international event means demand will be high.
Planning ahead—particularly for accommodation and transport—will make a significant difference to your experience.
In upcoming blogs, we will look in detail at:
- The men’s race stages in Britain
- Where to watch and how to access key locations
- Travel routes that allow you to follow the race
- The regions and destinations along the way
🚴♀️ The Women’s Race: Expanding the Experience
The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift will also begin in Britain in 2027, starting in Leeds and continuing through Manchester, Sheffield and London.
This adds another layer to the travel opportunity. Visitors will be able to experience two major events in one summer, across multiple regions of the UK.
Future articles will explore:
- The women’s race route in Britain
- Key host cities and what to see in each
- Travel ideas built around these stages
🇫🇷 Following the Tour into France
After the British opening stages, the Tour returns to France, where the race moves through some of the country’s most famous regions.
This is where the experience becomes a broader European journey, taking in:
- Rural landscapes and historic towns
- Mountain regions such as the Alps and Pyrenees
- Cultural destinations and regional highlights
- Areas known for food, history and wine
The Tour’s route often passes through or near some of France’s most celebrated wine regions, making it an ideal foundation for combining the event with wine-focused travel experiences.
In this series, we will explore how to:
- Follow the Tour through France
- Visit key regions along the route
- Combine race viewing with wine tasting and cultural tours
- Build a wider itinerary across multiple regions
🇫🇷 From London to Paris: The Natural Next Step
For many visitors, the Tour’s British start naturally leads into a wider European trip.
One of the easiest and most popular extensions is a visit to Paris, which can be reached quickly from London by train. Paris is closely associated with the Tour and remains one of Europe’s most iconic destinations.
In our next blog, we will explore:
👉 Visiting Paris from London
👉 Day trips versus longer stays
👉 What kind of trip works best for different travellers
This creates a clear and natural journey:
Britain → Tour experience → Paris → wider Europe
💶 Seeing More of Europe for Less
Once you are in Europe, there is an opportunity to extend your trip further.
Many travellers are surprised by how efficient and cost-effective multi-country travel can be, especially when transport and logistics are planned in advance.
In an upcoming feature, we will look at:
- Low cost tours of Europe
- Multi-country itineraries
- How to maximise time and value
- Practical ways to see more destinations in one trip
This is where the inspiration of the Tour can turn into a full European travel experience.
🌸 Easter Travel: A Time to Start Planning
With Easter weekend here, many travellers are already looking ahead to spring and summer travel.
Easter is often the moment when plans begin to take shape:
- Short breaks in London and across Britain
- First visits to European cities
- Early bookings for summer travel
- 2026 oxford v Cambridge Boat Race
- Easter at Stonehenge
If you are travelling this Easter, it is an ideal time to start thinking ahead. Events like the Tour de France are best enjoyed with early planning, particularly when they coincide with peak travel season.
🌱 Sustainability and the Tour de France
The Tour de France has increasingly focused on sustainability, reflecting wider changes in travel and tourism.
Key areas include:
- Promoting cycling as an environmentally friendly mode of transport
- Reducing waste and improving event management practices
- Encouraging responsible travel behaviour among spectators
- Highlighting regional landscapes and heritage
While there is still more to be done, the Tour aligns with a growing interest in more sustainable and experience-based travel.
We will explore this topic in more detail in a dedicated future article.
🔗 A Series to Follow
This article is the starting point of a much larger series.
Over the coming blogs, we will explore:
- The Tour de France 2027 stages in Britain
- The women’s race in Britain
- The route across France and key regions
- Travel ideas linked to wine regions and cultural experiences
- Practical ways to follow the Tour across countries
- How to build a wider Britain and Europe itinerary
✨ Final Thoughts
The Tour de France 2027 offers something genuinely unique: the chance to begin a European journey in Britain, follow it across landscapes and cities, and continue into France and beyond. With demand expected to be high, planning ahead will be key.
This is not just an event to watch—it is a journey to experience. And this is just the beginning.
🏁 London This Weekend: Boat Race & Easter Atmosphere
If you’re already in London this weekend, there’s a fantastic atmosphere across the city. Today marks the famous The Boat Race, where Oxford and Cambridge compete along the River Thames—one of Britain’s most iconic sporting traditions.
Combined with the Easter weekend, London is particularly lively right now, with visitors enjoying riverside views, historic landmarks and seasonal events across the capital.
If you’re planning your trip—or already here—you can explore more in our latest guides:
👉 The Boat Race 2026: How to Watch + Easter Weekend in London
👉 Easter in London 2026: Best Things to Do, Events & Family Activities
These events highlight exactly what makes visiting Britain so special: a mix of history, tradition, atmosphere and world-class experiences—all of which connect naturally with major occasions like the Tour de France.
🚀 Plan Your Scotland Trip with Best Value Tours
With the 2027 Tour beginning in Edinburgh, Scotland becomes an ideal starting point for your journey. Scotland offers one of the richest travel experiences in Britain—from dramatic landscapes and historic cities to legends, islands, and cultural heritage.
At Best Value Tours, we offer a wide range of Scotland tours designed to suit every type of traveller.
👉 Explore:
Start planning your Scotland journey today and discover one of the most unforgettable destinations in the UK.
⭐ Popular Scotland Tours from Edinburgh
Whether you’re looking for a one-day experience or a longer journey through the Highlands and islands, here are some of our most popular Scotland tours:
🏞️ Highlands, Loch Ness & Glencoe – Day Tour
This unforgettable day tour from Edinburgh offers a perfect introduction to the dramatic landscapes of the Scottish Highlands. Travel through spectacular scenery including Rannoch Moor and the hauntingly beautiful valley of Glencoe before reaching the legendary waters of Loch Ness. Along the way your expert guide shares stories of Scotland’s history, legends and Highland culture, with time to explore the charming village of Fort Augustus and the famous Caledonian Canal….
🌄 2 Day Inverness, Highlands & Loch Ness Tour
This two-day journey from Edinburgh explores the heart of the Scottish Highlands and the mysteries of Loch Ness at a relaxed pace. Travelling through the Cairngorms National Park and historic Highland landscapes, the tour includes an overnight stay in Inverness, the capital of the Highlands. Highlights include ancient sites such as Clava Cairns, the dramatic ruins of Urquhart Castle overlooking Loch Ness, and the breathtaking scenery of Glencoe on the return journey.
🏝️ 3 Day Highlands, Loch Ness & Isle of Skye Tour
This three-day adventure from Edinburgh combines the legendary landscapes of the Highlands with the rugged beauty of the Isle of Skye. Travelling through the Great Glen to Loch Ness, the journey continues to the magical island of Skye where dramatic mountains, coastal cliffs and ancient castles create some of Scotland’s most iconic scenery. Highlights include Eilean Donan Castle, the spectacular Trotternish Ridge and the colourful harbour town of Portree.
🚆 3 Day London to Edinburgh & Highlands Tour
This unique tour combines rail travel and guided sightseeing to offer a memorable journey from London to Scotland. After travelling by train to Edinburgh, a guided coach tour explores the historic capital before continuing north into the spectacular landscapes of the Scottish Highlands. Highlights include Urquhart Castle on the shores of Loch Ness, fascinating Scottish history and free time to discover the atmosphere and attractions of Edinburgh.
🗺️ 7 Day – Best of Scotland Tour
This comprehensive seven-day tour showcases the very best of Scotland’s cities, Highlands and legendary landscapes. Beginning in Glasgow and ending in Edinburgh, the journey explores Loch Lomond, Glencoe, the Isle of Skye and the dramatic scenery of the Highlands. Along the way you will visit historic castles, the battlefield of Culloden and the mysterious waters of Loch Ness while discovering the rich culture, history and traditions that make Scotland such a remarkable destination.
Need Help Planning Your Trip?
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This is just the beginning — we’ll continue to explore how travel can become more sustainable, one destination at a time.
Explore more with Best Value Tours; from Stonehenge and the South West to journeys across the UK, Ireland, and beyond, we offer a wide range of tours designed to help you experience Britain in depth. Stonehenge, UK/Ireland, Festivals and Events, European, Worldwide and much more – Call, WhatsApp or Email Contact Us.
The colourful waterfront of Portree Harbour on the Isle of Skye, one of Scotland’s most scenic coastal destinations