Places to stay along the route
Stage 2 lands on a Saturday, so the smart move is a full Lancashire weekend. Below are the best areas to base yourself for the race, matched to what each part of the route is like. Book early: a stage of the Tour de France draws crowds from across the country.
Booking tip. Accommodation nearest the climbs and the market towns will go first. If the immediate route is full, look one town back: Lancashire's road and rail links mean you can stay a little further out and still reach a good viewing spot on the morning of the race. Always check race-day road closures before you set off.
Where to base yourself
Six stretches of the Lancashire route, each with a different character. Pick the one that matches your day.
Lancaster & Morecambe
The northern gateway to the Lancashire stage. Morecambe offers Art Deco seafront stays with bay views; Lancaster adds a historic city with hotels, guest houses and easy access to the day's first climb.
- Best for: the coast, the Ashton Memorial and the Jubilee Tower climb
- Mix of seafront hotels, city guest houses and self-catering
- Good rail links along the West Coast Main Line
Clitheroe & the Ribble Valley
Arguably the prettiest base of all. Clitheroe, Whalley and the Ribble Valley villages are known for country inns, boutique stays and some of the best food and drink in the North West.
- Best for: castle-town charm, Pendle Hill and river valley scenery
- Country inns, boutique hotels and village B&Bs
- Strong food-and-drink scene for the evening
Forest of Bowland
A designated National Landscape of open fell, quiet lanes and dark skies. Accommodation is smaller-scale (farm stays, inns and cottages), so this area books up fastest of all.
- Best for: the wildest riding and the quietest nights
- Farmhouse stays, remote inns and self-catering cottages
- Book well ahead; limited availability
Blackburn & East Lancashire
A larger-town base with more rooms, more choice on price and good transport into the Ribble Valley section of the route.
- Best for: value, availability and reaching several viewing points
- Town-centre hotels and budget chains
- Handy for the Whalley, Langho and Blackburn stretch
Chorley & Central
Well placed for the second half of the stage and for anyone travelling up the M6 or M61. A practical base with easy motorway and rail access.
- Best for: the run-in towards West Lancashire and Merseyside
- Hotels and inns with parking
- Fast links to both the route and Liverpool
West Lancashire
The final Lancashire stretch before Merseyside, and a sensible base if you also want to see the Liverpool finish. Market-town and rural stays across the plain.
- Best for: pairing the Lancashire route with the Liverpool finish
- Country and market-town accommodation
- Quick access to the finish line on The Strand
Find and book
For live accommodation listings across the county, use Lancashire's official visitor service. We keep this guide independent and don't sell rooms: these are the people who do it properly.
Visit Lancashire: where to stay →