Liverpool announced as a host for the 2027 Tour de France

Liverpool will welcome the finish of stage two of the men’s Tour de France event on Saturday, 3 July 2027.

Competitors will race from the Cumbrian town of Keswick through Lancashire, eventually speeding through the boroughs of Knowsley and St Helens before finishing the stage in a super sprint along Liverpool’s iconic waterfront.

The full routes for both the men’s and women’s races were revealed as ten 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, with the opening stage finishing in Carlisle, before stage two travels from Keswick to finish on The Strand in Liverpool city centre.

To celebrate the announcement, all start and finish venues were lit up simultaneously, with a yellow beam illuminating the sky from the city’s Three Graces, St George’s Dock building and the Mersey Tunnels.
The event will present a huge multi-million pound boost to the Liverpool City Region tourism economy and will put a timely spotlight on the region’s active travel programme, which is delivering more than 600km of new cycling and walking routes.

Alongside the route announcement, organisers also revealed Joy, the social impact programme at the heart of the 2027 Grand Départ, that aims to tackle inactivity and improve mental wellbeing, support communities to thrive, and to make Britain more productive and prosperous.

Six core programmes will be rolled out across the home nations, with organisers working collaboratively with governments, local councils, core delivery partners and community representatives to create opportunities for young people to develop their skills, break down barriers for girls in sport, and to showcase community culture through the voices of Britain.

Additionally, British Cycling will look to recruit more than 7,000 volunteers for the Grand Départ, inviting people across the UK to play a hands-on role in delivering the world’s biggest free-to-watch sporting event. Thousands of opportunities will be available across route operations, spectator support and community engagement, offering people of all ages the chance to be part of Tour history, with more details to be announced when the programme is launched in the spring.

The arrival of the Tour De France completes an impressive hat-trick of global sporting events coming to the Liverpool city region over the next few years, with The Open to be staged at Royal Birkdale this July and the UEFA EURO 2028 Championships to be hosted at Everton FC’s stadium in 2028.

Cllr Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council, said: “We are honoured that our city has been chosen to play such an important part in this iconic sporting occasion and proud to be the biggest city in England involved in the men’s race.

“Hosting the largest free-to-watch sporting event in British history will create an incredible buzz around Liverpool, providing the opportunity for our residents and visitors to experience something truly special. The ‘super sprint’ along the Strand to mark the end of stage two – uniquely set in the shadow of our world-famous Three Graces – promises to be a real iconic moment in Tour history.

“But the benefits to our residents and communities will last long beyond the race – it will further boost our visitor economy, provide unique experiences to residents of all ages through volunteering opportunities, and long-term community initiatives will be rolled out as part of a new social impact programme.”

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “I’m absolutely delighted that we’ve been able to work with our local authorities to attract this major event to our region. The Tour de France is one of the world’s most iconic sporting spectacles, so it’s only right that it comes to the UK’s most decorated sporting region.

“Whether you’re into the Premier League or Rugby League, the drama of the Grand National or the prestige of England’s golf coast, we are the home of truly sensational sporting moments.

“Welcoming the finish of stage two with the backdrop of our iconic waterfront will be an unforgettable occasion – not just for cycling fans, but for everyone who lives here or comes to visit. It’s a huge opportunity to support our thriving £6.25 billion visitor economy, showcase our region to a global audience, and play a part in sporting history.”

Chris Boardman, multiple Yellow Jersey holder on the tour and now National Commissioner at Active Travel England, said: “I never thought I’d see the world’s biggest race finishing just eight miles from my home, on roads I know so well. It will be an incredible spectacle.

“The route to Liverpool’s iconic waterfront – starting in the Lake District and rolling through Lancashire – promises tough, hilly and spectacular racing. The beauty of cycling is that it’s free to watch and open to everyone.

“Few sports let you get this close to the stars or offer such versatility – from getting to work or school to bringing the whole country together. That’s why I love cycling, and why I’m thrilled to see the Tour coming to my back yard.”