The Tour of Britain: A Student's Guide to the UK's Biggest Bike Race

If you’ve ever enjoyed the thrill and speed of the Tour de France, you may have wondered if the UK has anything that can rival the world’s biggest bike race. Thankfully, the Tour of Britain has assumed the place as the nations premier festival of all things cycling.

The race is far more than just watching bikes go through your city, it’s an unparalleled festival of speed, colour, and passion that sweeps through cities and countryside alongside the ‘travelling circus’ of media and fans.

What is the Tour of Britain?

The Tour of Britain is the UK’s leading road cycling event, attracting professional cyclists from around the world to our shores. The unpredictability of our nation’s weather and occasionally testing road surfaces make for a real battle every September.

Spanning multiple stages over the course of a week, the race snakes its way through various regions, offering spectators a chance to catch the action from urban high streets to rural climbs.

Why Should Students Care?

The race is attracts buzzing crowds where it goes, and plenty of street food vendors, local music, and freebies galore! You’ll mix with locals and fellow students out on the road as you await the riders arrival.

You can also get deep into the tactics that make road racing so special. Research the team leaders and how they’ll make the race exciting, as well as the type of course they’re taking on each day.

As a free event, you can stand almost anywhere along the route of every stage. This can mean a long wait to hold your place at the finish, but it’s well worth it when the sprinters or breakaway specialists roll into view.

When and Where to Watch

The route of the Tour of Britain changes each year to keep things fresh and reach as many fans as possible. Key cities such as Nottingham, Manchester, and Cardiff have all hosted stage finishes in the past.

In 2025 Cardiff will host the grand finale, and send off it’s local legend Geraint Thomas as he retires.

📅 When? Annually in September

📍 Where? Multiple UK regions, check the Tour of Britain website or social media pages for updates.

Who’s Racing?

As with the route, the lineup of racers changes every season. The race isn’t one of the biggest on the cycling calendar, and often coincides with La Vuelta (The Tour of Spain). This means that some of the biggest up and coming riders will often race in Britain. This being said, previous winners of the race include Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert, and Julian Alaphlippe.

Another great draw for the fans is that you can get up close and personal to the pro’s. The paddock area is open before and after the stage for the riders to warm up, and for fans to grab a photo or autograph from their heroes. There truly is no sporting event quite like it.

What to Bring

If you’re planning on catching the action up close, it’s a great idea to plan ahead:

• Wear comfy shoes as you might be stood around for a while.
• Bring layers and waterproofs to stand outside.
• Have plenty of snacks and water to hand.
• Have a little knowledge of the stage profile and who’s racing.

Make it a Day Trip

Planning on turning the tour into a full-on experience? Here’s how:

• Bring some friends and head to your nearest stage. A short train ride can take you to a summit finish, or city centre sprint.
• Combine the stage with a local attraction such as a museum, beach, or castle.
• Book your accommodation in advance, as fans and event the teams themselves can book up hotels near to the stage finish.

If you’re in Cardiff for the final stage, there’s plenty more to discover as a student. 

Get Out On the Road

Ready to be part of something epic? Whether you’re chasing the thrill of a crowd, or just want a different kind of day out, the Tour of Britain delivers.

It’s one of those unique events that provides the fans with a front row view of the action for absolutely nothing! You don’t need to be a cyclist to love it either, just turn up and enjoy the ride.

We’ll you see on the roadside.