The single most common mistake Open visitors make is trying to drive to Royal Birkdale. Don't. The roads around the club are closed on championship days, residential streets within half a mile are enforcement-controlled, and even if you find somewhere legal to park, you'll be a long walk from the entrance. The R&A is very clear about this: use the official transport options.
⛳The Open Championship 2026: 12–19 July at Royal Birkdale, Southport (PR8 2LX). Practice rounds Mon 13 – Wed 15 Jul. Championship rounds Thu 16 – Sun 19 Jul.
Park and Ride
The R&A operates official park and ride services for The Open. Sites are confirmed closer to the event — typically in large car parks around Southport (previous years have used sites at Southport FC's Haig Avenue and the Waterfront Leisure Centre car park). Buses run to the course entrance throughout the day.
Book park and ride in advance through theopen.com when it goes live. Spaces sell out. The price includes return transport. It's genuinely the most stress-free option if you're coming by car.
Train: The Easiest Option
Birkdale station is on the Merseyrail Northern line. The walk from Birkdale station to the Royal Birkdale entrance is 10–15 minutes on flat ground. This is the option I'd use.
- →From Southport station: 5 minutes by train to Birkdale. Trains run every 15–30 minutes.
- →From Liverpool Central: approximately 45 minutes to Birkdale, changing at various points. Direct to Southport then one stop back to Birkdale is sometimes easier.
- →From Wigan Wallgate: change at various points. Check Merseyrail for the best route on the day.
- →Frequency on championship days: Merseyrail increases services during Open week. Check real-time at merseyrail.org.
Taxi and Rideshare
From Southport town centre to the Royal Birkdale entrance is roughly £8–12 by taxi. During championship days, demand is high — book ahead or expect to wait. Uber operates in Southport. If you're staying in Birkdale village, you can walk to the course (15–20 minutes depending on where you're staying).
If You're Driving Anyway
The A565 is the main road into Southport from the south. During Open week, expect congestion from around 7am on championship days. The M58 and A59 are the main routes from the east. If you must drive, use the official park and ride — do not attempt to find on-street parking near the course. You will be fined and you'll waste a significant part of your day.
Getting to Southport from Further Away
| From | Best Route | Approx Time |
|---|---|---|
| Liverpool | Train to Birkdale (Northern line) | 45–55 min |
| Manchester | Train to Southport via Wigan or Manchester Piccadilly | 1 hr 15 min |
| Preston | Train to Southport via Wigan | 50–60 min |
| Blackpool | Train to Southport via Preston, or drive + park & ride | 1 hr (train) |
| Leeds/Bradford | Train to Manchester, then to Southport | 2 hrs+ |
Full transport details including confirmed park and ride sites will be published by The R&A at theopen.com. Check that as the event approaches.
Full Open 2026 visitor guide:
The Open 2026 Visitor Guide →Terry
Chief Editor, SouthportGuide.co.uk. Lives in Churchtown with his wife,
four kids, and Frank the bulldog.
