Getting to Royal Birkdale
Transport and parking for The Open Championship, July 12–19 2026
Do not drive to the course
Parking at or near Royal Birkdale is restricted to officials, accredited media, and hospitality partners only. Road closures around Waterloo Road and surrounding streets are in effect on all championship days. Anyone who attempts to park locally will find it impossible and will miss significant play as a result.
By Train — The Recommended Option
Merseyrail operates frequent services on the Southport line from Liverpool Central, with a stop at Birkdale station. The station is approximately a 10–15 minute walk from the Royal Birkdale course entrance on Waterloo Road — a pleasant walk through Birkdale village.
| From | To | Journey time | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liverpool Central | Birkdale | ~40 min | Every 15 min |
| Southport (town) | Birkdale | ~5 min | Every 15 min |
| Formby | Birkdale | ~15 min | Every 15 min |
Trains will be busier than normal during Open week. Allow extra time in the morning, particularly before the first tee times. Return journeys after play can have queues — consider staying in Birkdale village for dinner before catching the train back.
Park & Ride
The R&A operates a network of park and ride sites across Southport and the surrounding area during Open week. Shuttle buses run direct to the course entrance from early morning until after the last group finishes each day. Passes for park and ride are purchased in advance through theopen.com.
- →Victoria Park, Southport — Central site, well served, popular — book early
- →Woodvale Airfield (Formby Road) — Good if approaching from the south on the A565
- →Meols Cop Road area — Eastern approach, less traffic than coastal route
Note: Full park and ride details — including confirmed site locations, prices, and booking links — are published by The R&A at theopen.com as the championship approaches. Check there for the definitive information.
Driving to Southport
Southport is well connected by road. If you're driving to the area — to reach your accommodation, park and ride site, or Southport town centre — the main routes are straightforward.
From Manchester
M61, M58, A570
~1hr 15min
From Liverpool
A565 coast road
~45 min
From Preston / M6
A59 into Southport
~40 min
From Leeds / M62
M58, A570
~1hr 45min
Taxis & Local Transport
Taxis from Southport town centre to Royal Birkdale take approximately 10 minutes and cost around £8–12 each way. During championship days, expect queues for taxis after play. Pre-booking a return is strongly recommended if you plan to use taxis both ways.
- →Book return taxis in advance — demand massively outstrips supply on championship days
- →Ride-hailing apps (Uber, etc.) operate in Southport and can be more reliable for returns
- →Some local taxi firms offer pre-booked Open week packages — worth checking with your accommodation
- →Walking from Southport town centre to Birkdale is feasible (around 30–40 minutes along the seafront)