
The Tour de France 2027 UK Grand Depart begins in Edinburgh on Friday 2 July 2027, the first time the race has ever started in Scotland. If you plan to fly in and watch, most visa-free spectators now need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) that costs £20 and usually clears within 72 hours. Below you will find who needs one, when to apply, and how to reach the start line.
TL;DR: Cycling’s showpiece opens with a 184‑km leg out of Edinburgh on 2 July, then rolls south through England into Wales. Nationals of visa-free countries — the EU, US, Canada and Australia among them — must hold a £20 ETA that lasts two years. Sort yours on gov.uk before you book flights.
Key facts for fans
- Start date: Friday 2 July 2027, opening leg Edinburgh to Carlisle (184 km), per City of Edinburgh Council.
- Authorisation fee: £20 since 8 April 2026, good for two years, multiple entries (gov.uk).
- Wajib sejak: 25 February 2026 for all visa-free visitors, EU citizens included (Kantor Pusat).
- Team presentation: Edinburgh Castle, Wednesday 30 June 2027 (VisitScotland).
- Decision speed: often minutes, sometimes a couple of days (gov.uk).
| Fakta cepat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Acara | 2027 Grand Depart, Great Britain |
| Opening day | Friday 2 July 2027, Edinburgh |
| Authorisation fee | £20 (lasts 2 years, multiple entries) |
| Siapa yang membutuhkannya | Visa-free visitors: EU, US, Canada, Australia, Gulf states and more |
| Pengolahan | Usually inside three working days |
| Daftar di | gov.uk/eta |
Scotland has waited decades for this moment. Because the 2027 edition marks the country’s first Grand Depart and one half of a rare dual British start, flights, trains and hotels around that opening weekend will vanish fast. Lock in your travel authorisation before anything else — a surprise refusal is far easier to fix three weeks out than three days out.
When and where the 2027 Grand Depart takes place

Racing gets under way that Friday. The opening leg covers 184 km from Edinburgh to Carlisle, sweeping through Midlothian, the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway before it crosses into England. Its only categorised climb, the Cote de Melrose below the Eildon Hills, should settle the first King of the Mountains jersey. Two days beforehand, on 30 June, the teams line up for presentation at Edinburgh Castle.
Three opening stages are already locked in, and together they touch all three mainland nations — Scotland, then England, then Wales — before the caravan transfers across the Channel. So fans can build a rolling trip: soak up the Edinburgh start, then chase the route south. Organisers list the confirmed British legs on letourgb.com, while VisitScotland is the official source for the Scottish stage.
| Stage | Tanggal | Nation | Catatan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team presentation | Wed 30 Jun 2027 | Skotlandia | Kastil Edinburgh |
| 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 via letourgb.com |
Here is a concrete example. A supporter flying from Amsterdam who wants both the castle presentation and the opening start should land by 29 June, since central hotels near Princes Street sell out first for marquee weekends. A fan chasing the Welsh leg instead could fly into Bristol or Cardiff and skip Scotland altogether — same race, very different itinerary.
Do you need a UK ETA to watch the race?

Most overseas spectators do. Since 25 February 2026, every visa-free visitor — EU, US, Canadian and Australian passport holders included — must carry an approved authorisation before boarding. Airlines verify it at the gate under the “no permission, no travel” rule. It costs £20, allows multiple entries, and remains valid for two years or until the passport expires.
What you need turns on your nationality. British and Irish citizens need nothing. Already hold a UK visa or residence permit? Then you travel on that and skip the ETA entirely. Supporters from most Commonwealth and European countries sit firmly in the authorisation group.
| Fan’s nationality | What you need for the race |
|---|---|
| EU / EEA, Switzerland | UK ETA (£20) — required since Feb 2026 |
| United States, Canada | Travel authorisation, £20 |
| Australia, New Zealand | Travel authorisation, £20 |
| Gulf states (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar) | Travel authorisation, £20 |
| Irlandia | Nothing — Common Travel Area |
| Holders of a valid UK visa | Travel on the visa, no separate permit |
EU fans unsure how the rules shifted can read our guide to the ETA for EU citizens, and there is a dedicated page on the requirements for French travellers — useful, given how many French supporters follow this race. For the wider match-day picture, see our overview of the rules for sports events and fans.
Bringing older relatives to their first Grand Depart? You do not have to wrestle with the form alone. Apply directly on gov.uk for £20, or use our checking service if you would rather a second pair of eyes reviewed the details before you submit.
Cara mengajukan permohonan ETA Anda sebelum balapan

Prosesnya singkat dan berjalan melalui aplikasi resmi atau gov.uk apply page. Simpan paspor, kartu, dan kamera ponsel Anda. Sebagian besar orang selesai dalam sepuluh menit.
Tips pro: Ajukan permohonan pada hari penerbangan Anda dikonfirmasi, bukan seminggu sebelum Anda terbang. Persetujuan biasanya tiba dalam hitungan menit, namun Home Office meminta Anda untuk mengizinkan hingga tiga hari kerja — dan permintaan di seluruh Inggris akan melonjak selama minggu balapan.
- Buka aplikasi ETA Inggris atau halaman aplikasi gov.uk, kemudian pindai halaman biometrik paspor Anda.
- Take the selfie ketika diminta dan jawab pertanyaan kesesuaian singkat dengan jujur.
- Membayar biaya £20 dengan kartu dan kirim. Simpan email konfirmasi; izin terhubung secara elektronik ke paspor Anda.
- Tunggu hasilnya dan hanya pesan perjalanan non-refundable setelah persetujuan tiba, biasanya dalam hitungan menit atau beberapa hari.
Semua orang bepergian dengan otorisasi mereka sendiri, bayi dan anak-anak termasuk. Keluarga empat orang dari Munich akan mengajukan empat aplikasi terpisah £20, satu per paspor. Untuk panduan langkah demi langkah di layar, kami application questions and answers dan app download and status guide cakupnya. Bertanya-tanya seberapa cepat persetujuan datang? Lihat berapa lama proses berlangsung.
Cara sampai ke start: bandara, kereta dan logistik

Edinburgh Airport (EDI) terletak kira-kira delapan mil barat pusat kota dan terhubung ke sebagian besar hub Eropa plus rute long-haul melalui London. Tram dan bus Airlink 100 mencapai kota dalam sekitar 30 menit. Penggemar kereta dari London naik jalur East Coast ke Edinburgh Waverley dalam sekitar empat setengah jam, kemudian berjalan langsung ke Old Town.
Karena etape pembukaan berakhir di Carlisle, beberapa penonton menempatkan diri mereka di Inggris utara dan muncul untuk keberangkatan. Carlisle terletak di West Coast Main Line, sekitar 1 jam 20 menit dari Edinburgh dengan kereta api. Setelah otorisasi kami mencakup layover apapun dan Anda telah melewati imigrasi, melompat antara Skotlandia, Inggris dan Wales tidak memerlukan izin tambahan. Kami border control walkthrough menjelaskan e-gates, dan Panduan perjalanan Edinburgh peta titik pandang dan lingkungan.
Tips praktis untuk penggemar yang bepergian di Juli 2027
- Pesan tempat tidur lebih awal: Edinburgh pusat mendapat giliran pertama untuk akhir pekan pembukaan; coba Leith, Haymarket, atau bahkan Glasgow dengan lompatan kereta cepat.
- Cocokkan paspor Anda: izin terikat pada dokumen persis yang Anda ajukan, jadi perbarui paspor yang hampir kadaluarsa sebelum Anda mengajukan, bukan sesudahnya.
- Kemasan lapis: Cuaca Juli Skotlandia berubah dari cerah menjadi hujan dalam satu sore, dan lokasi tepi jalan di Cote de Melrose terbuka.
- Rencanakan perjalanan pulang: mengejar rute ke Prancis setelah tahap Inggris? Periksa aturan masuk UE secara terpisah.
- Pasangkan kota: menggabungkan keberangkatan dengan waktu di wilayah tuan rumah lainnya — kami panduan kota terbaik di Inggris membantu.
Kasus dunia nyata terakhir: pasangan Australia yang bepergian untuk acara ini dan olahraga musim panas lainnya dapat menggunakan kembali satu izin. Izin tetap berlaku dalam jendela dua tahun, jadi pendukung yang datang pada 2027 dapat kembali untuk perjalanan yang lebih baru tanpa biaya tambahan — persis logika yang kami halaman untuk warga negara Australia menetapkan.
Kami adalah layanan bantuan perjalanan independen, bukan badan pemerintah. Anda dapat mengajukan sendiri di gov.uk seharga £20, atau biarkan kami memeriksa dan mengirimkan bersama Anda — praktis untuk grup atau membantu kerabat yang kurang percaya diri. Lebih suka tidak menangani formulir sendiri? Kami akan meninjau dan menanganinya untuk Anda.
Pertanyaan yang sering diajukan
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 requirement has applied since 25 February 2026 and the fee is £20. British and Irish citizens are exempt.
How much does the authorisation cost in 2027?
It is £20 per person, a rate set on 8 April 2026. That single payment covers multiple entries and stays valid for two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
When should I apply before the depart?
Apply as soon as your flights are booked. Most outcomes arrive within minutes, but gov.uk suggests allowing up to three working days, and demand across Britain will run high that week.
Which cities host the 2027 British stages?
The opening leg starts in Edinburgh and ends in Carlisle, run on 2 July. The first three stages then cross England and Wales before the race heads to France.
Can one permit cover the whole UK route?
Yes. A single authorisation covers the whole United Kingdom, so you can follow the peloton across all three home nations on one approval.
Do children need their own permit for the race?
Ya. Setiap traveller membutuhkan izin individual, termasuk bayi. Setiap aplikasi £20 dan terhubung ke paspor orang tersebut.
Is this the same as a visa?
No. It is a lighter pre-travel clearance for short visits, not a visa. If you hold a valid UK visa or residence permit, you travel on that and do not apply separately.
What if my application is refused before the trip?
A small number of people are asked to apply for a visa instead. That is exactly why you should apply early — you then keep enough time to lodge a visa application before the depart.
About the author: Eleanor Winslade, Senior Travel Documentation Editor. Eleanor telah meliput persyaratan masuk Inggris sejak 2017 dan mengkhususkan diri dalam panduan bahasa Inggris yang jelas, langkah demi langkah yang diperiksa terhadap panduan GOV.UK resmi terbaru.
Diperbarui: 2026-09-16

