Staying Near Blackpool for The Open? Add Southport to the Itinerary

If you're staying near Blackpool for The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in July — and some people are, because Southport accommodation is genuinely scarce and Blackpool is about 45 minutes by car — then you should know what's available to do outside the golf.

I live three miles from Royal Birkdale. I know this patch well. Here's what's worth adding to the itinerary.

Getting from Blackpool to Royal Birkdale

Drive time from central Blackpool to Royal Birkdale is around 40–50 minutes depending on traffic. During Open week, the A565 into Southport will be busy in the mornings. If you're driving to the course, use the official park-and-ride — do not try to park on residential streets near the club. They will fine you and local patience during Open week is not infinite.

If you'd rather not drive at all, the train from Blackpool North to Southport via Preston takes around an hour. From Southport station, shuttle buses run to the course on championship days. This is genuinely the easier option if you're not arriving early.

Where to Eat in Southport Around the Golf

Lord Street has the best concentration of restaurants in Southport. For Open week, book ahead — I'm not being cautious, I'm telling you that every table in town will be occupied by the Wednesday of championship week.

• →The Bold Hotel, Lord Street — upmarket, popular with Open visitors. Book well ahead.
• →Southport Market, Market Street — street food, no reservation needed, good for lunch on the go.
• →Birkdale village — about 10 minutes from the course, handful of independent restaurants. Worth knowing if you want somewhere quieter than Lord Street.
• →Gemini Lounge, Lord Street — cocktail bar and restaurant in the old NatWest building. Impressive interior.

Non-Golf Days

If you're in the area for a week and not at the course every day, Southport town centre is worth a proper look. Walk Lord Street end to end — it's half a mile of glass canopies, Victorian architecture, and independent shops. Go through Wayfarers Arcade even if you're not buying anything. Have a coffee at The Atkinson.

Formby is 20 minutes south of Southport and worth half a day — National Trust pinewoods, red squirrels, proper beach. The car park is at L37 1YH. Go in the morning before it fills up.

Southport beach itself is enormous at low tide. The Marine Lake next to the seafront is calm water — the kids can mess about there without tide worries. The whole seafront is easier to manage with family than Blackpool's promenade — less chaotic, more space.

Worth Knowing

• →Southport is in Merseyside. Not Lancashire. You'll see this disputed online. It's Merseyside.
• →Open week adds roughly 200,000 additional visitors to the area over seven days. Plan accordingly.
• →Marine Drive car park fills before 10am on summer Saturdays at the best of times. During Open week, earlier.
• →Churchtown village (north Southport) is worth an evening — The Hesketh Arms is a proper pub, Meols Cop Road has some good independent restaurants.