Where to Watch Stage 2 of the Tour de France 2027
On the second day of the Grand Départ in the UK, Stage 2 of the Tour de France 2027 takes the riders from Keswick to Liverpool.
Where are the best places to watch Stage 2? Here are some ideas.
The Lake District
Keswick is probably the best place in the Lake District to watch the race.
The stage starts by the Moot Hall in Market Square, and this should be an opportunity to get a good look at the peloton as the riders assemble and wait to pedal off.
Once the racing starts on the A591 south of Keswick at Bracken Rigg, the speed will be high and the riders will flash past spectators.
Stage 1 isn’t tackling any climbs in the Lake District. That’s a bit disappointing, but it’s because this is just the start of a long stage in which the Tour de France is rushing south to a sprint finish in Liverpool.
Nevertheless, I expect a lot of people will watch the race in Ambleside, Windermere and Bowness-on-Windermere.
Carnforth and Morecambe
It could be a Brief Encounter with the Tour de France in Carnforth as the race whizzes past, but then you could visit the museum dedicated to the movie of that name, which was filmed at Carnforth Station.
Morecambe is the location of the day’s intermediate sprint.
One likely scenario is a lead group rolling over the sprint line in Morecambe, uninterested in the points, then a battle among the green jersey contenders in the bunch to mop up the remaining points.
Lancaster
It might be possible to get a good photo as the peloton crosses Skerton Bridge in Lancaster, or as it passes Lancaster Town Hall.
However, I would be tempted to favour Wyresdale Road as it climbs towards the entrance to Williamson Park. The gradient will slow the riders down a bit.
The Forest of Bowland
After Lancaster, Stage 2 heads into the Forest of Bowland (which is not really a forest, but rolling hills).
This would be my pick of the places to watch because you can combine a bike ride with stopping and watching the race. (Check what time the roads close to cyclist and pedestrian movements, and make sure you’re at your viewing point by then).
The climbs on this section of the route are the Côte de Jubilee Tower, the Côte de Trough of Bowland, and the Côte de Waddington Fell.
The climbs are usually the best places to see the riders.
Blackburn
If you live in Blackburn, why not stroll out of your front door and watch the race come past?
The riders will be through and gone pretty quickly, but the publicity caravan that precedes them will add some extra entertainment.
Côte de Belmont
The next categorised climb is the Côte de Belmont, and it provides another opportunity to watch the riders go uphill, and somewhat more slowly than elsewhere.
Chorley
This may be the only time the Tour de France passes through Chorley – unless race director Christian Prudhomme acquires a taste for Chorley Cakes and decides to come back.
Assuming it’s a one-off, no Chorley resident should miss it.
Perhaps one-time inhabitant of nearby Eccleston Bradley Wiggins will be in the crowd too.
Côte de Parbold
The Côte de Parbold is the last categorised climb today.
I didn’t find it a fearsome mountain, but then again I did drive up it. Still, it would be a place to go if you live nearby.
Liverpool
The stage finishes in Liverpool, and you might want to stand within sight of the finish line. I guess you would need to bag a spot early or be very tall.
There could be a Fan Zone in the city, enabling spectators to watch the race before it arrives here.
A little away from the finish by the Royal Liver Building, there are plenty of other opportunities to watch the Tour de France in Liverpool. This is my video of the last 5km of the stage.
Where do you plan to watch Stage 2 of the Tour de France 2027?