Tour de France 2027 UK: ETA Guide for Fans

The Tour de France 2027 UK Grand Depart begins in Edinburgh on Friday 2 July 2027, the first time the race has started in Scotland. If you are flying in to watch, most visa-free fans now need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) that costs £20 and is usually approved within three working days. This guide covers who needs one, when to apply, and how to reach the start line.

TL;DR: The 2027 Tour de France opens with a 184‑km Stage 1 from Edinburgh to Carlisle on 2 July 2027, followed by stages through England and Wales. Nationals of visa-free countries — including the EU, US, Canada and Australia — need a £20 UK ETA valid for two years. Apply on gov.uk well before booking.

Key facts for fans

• Grand Depart date: Friday 2 July 2027, Stage 1 Edinburgh to Carlisle (184 km), per City of Edinburgh Council.
• UK ETA fee: £20 since 8 April 2026, valid two years, multiple entries (gov.uk).
• Obligatorio desde: 25 February 2026 for all visa-free travellers, including EU citizens (Ministerio del Interior).
• Team presentation: Edinburgh Castle, Wednesday 30 June 2027 (VisitScotland).
• Tiempo de tramitación: most decisions in minutes to hours, allow up to three working days (gov.uk).

Datos rápidos	Detalle
Evento	Tour de France 2027 Grand Depart, Great Britain
Start date	Friday 2 July 2027, Edinburgh
Tasa ETA del Reino Unido	£20 (valid 2 years, multiple entries)
Who needs an ETA	Visa-free visitors: EU, US, Canada, Australia, Gulf states and more
Tratamiento	Usually under three working days
Solicitar en	gov.uk/eta

Scotland has waited a long time for this. The 2027 race marks the first Scottish Grand Depart and part of a rare dual British start, so demand for flights, trains and hotels around 2 July will be fierce. Sort your UK ETA before you book anything else — an unexpected refusal is easier to handle three weeks out than three days out.

When and where the Tour de France 2027 Grand Depart takes place

The Grand Depart runs on Friday 2 July 2027. Stage 1 covers 184 km from Edinburgh to Carlisle, taking riders through Midlothian, the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway before crossing into England. The single categorised climb, the Cote de Melrose beneath the Eildon Hills, will decide the first King of the Mountains jersey. Two days earlier, on 30 June, teams are presented at Edinburgh Castle.

The opening three stages are already confirmed and cross three nations — Scotland, England and Wales — before the race transfers to France. That means fans can build a multi-city trip: watch the start in Edinburgh, then follow the route south. Organisers published the first routes through letourgb.comy VisitScotland is the official tourism source for Scottish stage details.

Stage	Fecha	Nation	Notas
Team presentation	Wed 30 Jun 2027	Escocia	Castillo de Edimburgo
Stage 1: Edinburgh to Carlisle	Fri 2 Jul 2027	Scotland / England	184 km, Cote de Melrose climb
Stages 2–3	3–4 Jul 2027	England / Wales	Routes confirmed, details via letourgb.com

A quick real-world example: a fan flying from Amsterdam who wants to see both the castle presentation and the Stage 1 start should land in Edinburgh by 29 June, because central hotels around Princes Street book out first for marquee weekends. Compare that timing with a fan chasing Stage 3 in Wales, who could fly into Bristol or Cardiff instead and skip Scotland entirely.

Do you need a UK ETA for the Tour de France 2027?

Most international spectators do. Since 25 February 2026, every visa-free visitor to the UK — including EU, US, Canadian and Australian passport holders — must hold an approved ETA before boarding. The airline checks it at the gate under the “no permission, no travel” rule. The authorisation costs £20, allows multiple entries and stays valid for two years or until your passport expires.

Whether you need an ETA, a visa or nothing depends on your nationality. British and Irish citizens need neither. If you already hold a UK visa or residence permit, you do not apply for an ETA on top of it. Fans from most Commonwealth and European countries fall squarely into the ETA group.

Fan’s nationality	What you need for the 2027 race
EU / EEA, Switzerland	UK ETA (£20) — mandatory since Feb 2026
United States, Canada	UK ETA (£20)
Australia, New Zealand	UK ETA (£20)
Gulf states (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar)	UK ETA (£20)
Irlanda	Nothing — Common Travel Area
Holders of a valid UK visa	Travel on the visa, no separate ETA

If you are an EU fan and unsure how the rules changed, our guide to the UK ETA para ciudadanos de la UE walks through it, and there is a dedicated page on the UK ETA requirements for French travellers — handy given how many French fans follow this race. For a broader look at match-day entry rules, see our overview of the ETA en el Reino Unido para acontecimientos deportivos y aficionados.

Planning to bring older relatives to their first Grand Depart? You do not have to wrestle with the form alone. You can apply directly on gov.uk for £20, or use our checking service if you would rather have a second pair of eyes on the details before you submit.

How to apply for your UK ETA before the Tour de France

The application is short and done through the official UK ETA app or the gov.uk apply page. Have your passport, a card and a phone camera ready. Most fans finish in about ten minutes.

Consejo profesional: Apply the moment your flights are booked, not the week before you fly. Decisions usually land within minutes, but the Home Office asks you to allow up to three working days — and race-week volumes across Britain will be heavy.

1. Descargar la aplicación UK ETA or open the gov.uk apply page, and scan the biometric page of your passport.
2. Take a photo of yourself when prompted and answer the short suitability questions honestly.
3. Pagar la tasa de 20 libras by card and submit. Keep the confirmation email — the ETA links electronically to your passport.
4. Wait for the decision and only book non-refundable travel once it arrives, usually within minutes to three working days.

Each traveller needs their own ETA, including children and babies. A family of four fans from Munich would submit four separate £20 applications, one per passport. For a full walkthrough, our UK ETA application questions and answers y el ETA app download and status guide cover the screens step by step. Curious how quick approval really is? Read how long a UK ETA takes.

Getting to the Grand Depart: airports, trains and logistics

Edinburgh Airport (EDI) sits about eight miles west of the city and connects to most European hubs plus long-haul routes via London. From the terminal, the tram and Airlink 100 bus reach the centre in roughly 30 minutes. Rail fans arriving from London can take the East Coast line to Edinburgh Waverley in about four and a half hours, then walk to the Old Town.

Because Stage 1 finishes in Carlisle, some spectators base themselves in northern England and travel up for the start. Carlisle is a stop on the West Coast Main Line, roughly 1 hour 20 minutes from Edinburgh by train. Once your UK ETA covers any layover and you have cleared the border, moving between Scotland, England and Wales needs no further permits. Our llegar al control fronterizo del Reino Unido guide explains the e-gates. For city planning, the Guía de viaje de Edimburgo para titulares de una ETA lists viewpoints and neighbourhoods.

Practical tips for fans travelling to the 2027 Grand Depart

• Book accommodation early: central Edinburgh sells out first for the Grand Depart weekend; look at Leith, Haymarket or even Glasgow with a short train hop.
• Match your passport: the ETA links to the exact passport you applied with — renew a nearly expired one before applying, not after.
• Bring layers: Scottish July weather swings from sun to rain in an afternoon; roadside spots on the Cote de Melrose are exposed.
• Plan the return: if you are following the race into France after the UK stages, check EU entry rules separately.
• Combine cities: pair the start with time in other host regions — our Guía de las mejores ciudades del Reino Unido helps.

One more real example: an Australian couple travelling for both this race and other summer sport can reuse the same ETA. It stays valid for two years, so a fan who visits for the 2027 Grand Depart can return for another trip without paying again — the same logic our UK ETA for Australian citizens page explains.

We are an independent travel-assistance service, not a government body. You can apply yourself on gov.uk for £20, or let us check and submit the application with you — useful if you are travelling as a group or helping less confident relatives. If you would rather not fill in the form alone, we will review and handle it for you.

Preguntas más frecuentes

Do I need a UK ETA for the Tour de France 2027?

Yes, if you are a visa-free visitor such as an EU, US, Canadian or Australian national. The ETA has been mandatory since 25 February 2026 and costs £20. British and Irish citizens do not need one.

How much does the UK ETA cost in 2027?

The fee is £20 per person, set on 8 April 2026. It covers multiple entries and stays valid for two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.

When should I apply before the Grand Depart?

Apply as soon as your flights are booked. Most decisions arrive within minutes, but gov.uk advises allowing up to three working days, and race-week demand across Britain will be high.

Which cities host the 2027 UK stages?

Stage 1 runs from Edinburgh to Carlisle on 2 July 2027. The opening three stages then pass through England and Wales before the race moves to France.

Can I use one ETA for Scotland, England and Wales?

Yes. A single UK ETA covers the whole United Kingdom, so you can follow the race across all three home nations on one authorisation.

Do children need their own ETA for the race?

Yes. Every traveller needs an individual ETA, including infants. Each application costs £20 and links to that person’s passport.

Is the ETA the same as a visa?

No. The ETA is a lighter pre-travel authorisation for short visits, not a visa. If you hold a valid UK visa or residence permit, you travel on that and do not apply for an ETA.

What if my ETA is refused before the trip?

A small number of applicants are asked to apply for a visa instead. That is why you should apply early — you then have time to submit a visa application before the Grand Depart.

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About the author: Eleanor Winslade, Senior Travel Documentation Editor. Eleanor has covered UK entry requirements since 2017 and specialises in plain-English, step-by-step guidance checked against the latest official GOV.UK guidance.
Updated: 2026-09-16