In short
Base yourself in Carlisle for two nights, Thursday 1 and Friday 2 July 2027. Stage 1 from Edinburgh finishes beside Carlisle Castle on Friday, and Stage 2 starts in Keswick, about 50 km away, on Saturday morning.
| Base | Carlisle |
|---|---|
| Dates | Thu 1 Jul → Sat 3 Jul |
| Nights | 2 nights |
| Stages | Stage 1, Stage 2 |
Your base
Carlisle has more rooms than the Lake District villages and the Scottish Borders towns, and it sits between the two stages. Book early: it is the Stage 1 finish town. Penrith, closer to Keswick, is a good second choice.
On the map: Stage 1 finish, 0.6 km away
Open the live map for Carlisle ↗Day by day
Thu 1 July 2027
Arrive in Carlisle. If you want the team presentation in Edinburgh on Wednesday evening, stay a night there first: it is about two hours away by car or train.
Fri 2 July 2027 · Tour de France, Stage 1: Edinburgh → Carlisle
Stage 1 runs from Edinburgh through the Borders to a sprint finish beside Carlisle Castle. Watch the finish in town, or drive north early to the Côte de Melrose or Hawick and follow the finish on a screen.
Sat 3 July 2027 · Tour de France, Stage 2: Keswick → Liverpool
Drive about 50 km to Keswick for the start of Stage 2, then watch the race pass Grasmere or Windermere on its way south to Liverpool. Head home from there, or on toward Wales for Stage 3.
Getting around
Carlisle is on the West Coast Main Line, with direct trains from London, Glasgow and Edinburgh. A car makes the Keswick start much easier: Keswick has no railway station.
Host councils publish road closure times and park and ride plans in the months before the race. We add them here as they come out.
Plan more of your trip
Questions about this trip
Why stay in Carlisle for the Grand Départ?
Stage 1 finishes there, and Stage 2 starts in Keswick, about 50 km away. One base covers both days, with more rooms than the Lake District villages.
Can I see the Stage 1 start in Edinburgh from Carlisle?
Only with a very early start: Edinburgh is about two hours away. If the start matters most, stay Thursday night in Edinburgh instead.
How far is Keswick from Carlisle?
About 50 km, or under an hour by car on a normal day. Leave early on race morning: parking in Keswick will be scarce.
· Sources: letour.fr, Hedgehog Cycling, 2027 route notes