The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale is three weeks away. It starts on 12 July and runs through to 19 July. If you are coming and have not finished planning, now is when to do it. Some things are still available. Some are gone. Here is an honest account of where things stand.
Accommodation: What Is Still Available
Hotels in Southport and Birkdale are effectively full for Open week. If you have not booked a hotel, accept that and move on. What is still available: self-catering cottages and holiday lets in Southport, Birkdale, Formby, and the wider area. These tend to have more availability because they require minimum stays and more planning effort.
If you are flexible on location, staying 20 to 30 minutes from Birkdale and driving or training in is entirely viable. Ormskirk, Wigan, and Crosby all have accommodation options at normal prices. Formby is on the train line south of Birkdale and worth considering as a base.
Self-catering options near Southport for Open week:
Open 2026 Accommodation Options →Tickets: What Is Left
Practice round tickets for 12 to 14 July remain available via theopen.com. Championship round tickets for Thursday through Sunday are sold out through official channels. The secondary market has availability at significant premiums. If you are going to buy secondhand tickets, use a reputable resale platform and check the face value before paying.
Practice rounds are genuinely good value. You walk the course, watch the players, and the atmosphere on the Tuesday and Wednesday is nothing like a quiet practice session. Birkdale on a busy practice day is electric.
Getting There Without a Car
The official shuttle runs from Southport town centre to Royal Birkdale. Trains from Liverpool run to Birkdale station, which is a short walk from the course entrance. Do not drive in and expect to park within a mile of the gates. You will not.
If you are staying in Southport town centre, the shuttle is the right option. If you are in Birkdale village, you can walk to the course in 15 minutes.
Eating: Book Now
Restaurants in Southport and Birkdale are taking Open week bookings. The good ones are filling up. Book your evening meals now rather than leaving it to a night-before search. The Bold in Birkdale, Bistrot Verite on Lord Street, and the restaurants in Birkdale village are all worth securing before the week arrives.
Lunch is more forgiving because the crowds are at the course during the day. You will find tables at lunchtime in town. Evening is the pressure point.
If You Are Just Watching From Town
You do not need a ticket to experience Open week in Southport. Lord Street, the pubs, the seafront, and the general energy of the town are all free. Pubs will have the golf on. The town will be busier than at any other point in the year. If you live here, the honest advice is: lean into it. It is a genuinely brilliant week.
Everything about The Open 2026 in Southport:
The Full Open 2026 Guide →Terry
Chief Editor, SouthportGuide.co.uk. Lives in Churchtown with his wife,
four kids, and Frank the bulldog.
