Edinburgh to host Tour de France Men's Grand Depart in 2027

Edinburgh could be at the heart of three major sporting events in July 2027. There may not be a better time to visit.

The Men's Tour de France Grand Depart will be staged in iconic Edinburgh in 2027

As an Edinburgh resident, I have long talked about how Scotland's capital city is a wonderful destination for sport, steeped in sporting history, culture and passion. It may well be a destination for the masses due its connections to Harry Potter, its rather impressive volcanic rock-topping Castle, and Arthur’s Seat, another of the city’s famous volcanic rocks. But when it comes to sport, there aren’t many cities that can deliver quite an eruption. Scotland beating England at Murrayfield is as good as any sporting moment you'll experience atmosphere-wise.

Edinburgh has a rich culture of sport that the Tour de France will only enhance

Fans of Hibernian Football Club celebrating at their stadium, Easter Road in Leith, Edinburgh

Murrayfield is Scotland's biggest stadium and hosts Scotland Rugby matches.

Hibernian FC play at Easter Road in the Leith area of Edinburgh in the shadows of Arthur's Seat.

From a rugby point of view, the city staged the first ever international match between Scotland and England back in 1871. From a golfing perspective, it’s the city where golf as we know it today began with the first rules being put together on Leith Links. Nowadays you’d be hard pressed to ever arrive at Edinburgh’s airport and not see someone picking up their golf clubs from baggage reclaim.

On top of these two global sports having Edinburgh to thank for their earliest memories, it’s a city that has two very passionate football teams, is the location of Europe’s second largest dry ski slope and is now home to Europe’s largest surf park, Lost Shore.

Forget Harry & Arthur; Edinburgh is a sports travel fan's dream destination. Although granted, Harry, Arthur and the Castle all add to the experience of visiting the city.

You can actually add Arthur’s Seat into the sports category as it is a great city-hiking experience.

Edinburgh’s sporting highlights though are about to take another step forwards - or should I say, peddle forward?

What to expect when Edinburgh hosts the Tour de France Grand Depart?

News that Scotland’s capital will host the men's 2027 Tour de France Grand Depart is huge for the city. Together with the Tour de France Femmes also beginning in the UK in Yorkshire later in the same summer it’ll be the largest free sporting event the UK has ever seen for fans to attend. For residents and visitors to Edinburgh the iconic sight of the Tour de France setting off through the city's very own iconic sights is a mouth-watering prospect.

The Scottish capital knows how to handle masses of people. Every summer its Fringe Festival triples the city's population and events such as Queen Elizabeth II's death saw thousands line the streets to pay their respects.

Full details have yet to emerge for the Tour's Grand Depart in Edinburgh, such as dates and routes through the city but historically the world's most famous cycling race tends to start around the beginning of July.

2025’s edition will begin in Lille, France on July 5th. At a guess, I would say Saturday July 3rd would be the big day in Edinburgh.

As for routes, where do we start? That’s exactly the question that will be on the minds of organisers given the number of iconic locations in Edinburgh.

Do you go for ultra-iconic and begin at Edinburgh Castle? The car park right outside the Castle’s main entrance and at the top of the Royal Mile, which hosts concerts and the Royal Tattoo is a big enough space to hold such an event. The cyclists will be happy, their epic 3-week journey at least starts with a downhill stretch. Mind you the cobbled surface of the Royal Mile may cause the riders mild irritation at the beginning of their 3,500 kilometre journey.

If cycling down the Royal Mile gets the go-ahead, it would be great to see the Tour head past Holyrood Palace before circling Arthur’s Seat along Queen’s Drive? Then sweep around and down Leith Walk before heading eastbound along the stunning East Lothian Coast, or 'Scotland's Golf Coast' as it is known thanks to its countless golf courses lining the shore.

I would go as far to say the route along Scotland's Golf Coast is vital to showcase just how beautiful the coastline is. It's also a hugely popular cycling route. I cycle it occasionally, from Edinburgh to North Berwick and I've often thought if the route was packed with fans I might pick up the pace a little.

Scotland's Golf Coast in East Lothian would be a brilliant route for the Tour de France as it leaves Edinburgh

Wow. Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, Holyrood Palace, Queen's Drive, Leith Walk and onto the East Lothian Coast. What a send off that would be to the world's best cyclists. Having said that, Leith Walk might be an issue. Edinburgh Trams’ recent expansion along the road means there will be rails to avoid. One thing I know for sure is bikes and tram lines do not mix well.

But then again, these are the best men's cyclists in the world. Let's give them a little challenge as they depart. Cobbled streets and tram lines should be nothing they can't handle.

A second option. Start at another iconic Edinburgh location, Murrayfield Stadium. I once cycled from Glasgow to Edinburgh for a charity bike ride and the route finished inside Scotland’s biggest stadium.

Whilst the crowds when I crossed the finish line amounted to around 10 (most had gone home by the time I arrived), imagine a capacity full Murrayfield for the Tour’s Grand Depart? The Lone Piper on the roof as is tradition before a rugby game to see the Tour off? I have goosebumps.

There is word that Glasgow will also feature on the race, with two other stages happening across England and Wales, so perhaps the race will head west from Edinburgh for the Grand Depart. That would make sense if Stage Two was to be in the Lake District, as rumoured.

Given the TV exposure, Edinburgh will want to push to show off its best assets. If it does, the route should also cycle past Teuchters Landing, by far the best pub in Edinburgh situated on The Shore in Leith.

Three iconic sporting events in Scotland in the same month

St Andrews will host The Open Championship in July 2027

Whatever the route, it will be a momentous few weeks of sport for Edinburgh and Scotland. If the Tour de France Grand Depart is scheduled for the first week of July in 2027, it will most likely be followed by the Scottish Open, which has a contract to be played at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick until 2026.

If the tournament extends its stay at Renaissance, which has been hugely successful, Edinburgh will once again benefit with the golf course only a few train stops from the city.

Then the Open Championship, once again being held at St Andrews, is taking place between July 15th and 18th. St Andrews is just 45 minutes northeast of Edinburgh and whenever it hosts The Open, it's a huge boost to the Scottish capital with many staying in the city and getting shuttle busses to and from the ‘home of golf’.

What a few of weeks of sports led tourism that will be for Scotland’s capital city.

Given all of that, if I was you, I would book a hotel in Edinburgh’s city centre as soon as bookings become available for the summer of 2027. It could quite possibly be the busiest fortnight Edinburgh has ever seen, and the biggest two weeks of sport the country has ever seen too.

If I could also just make one request to the Tour de France organisers, I’d like to include my street on the Grand Depart route in the city. That could possibly mean the potholes that have seen me go through three tyres in two years finally get fixed.