GETTING THERE

Travelling to The 154th Open

The 154th Open will be played at Royal Birkdale from Sunday 12 to Sunday 19 July 2026.

Tens of thousands of spectators will attend throughout the week. To minimise road traffic congestion and reduce the Championship’s carbon footprint, The R&A is recommending that spectators consider the use of public transport, which will be significantly enhanced for travel convenience, or car share with others in their group. Those staying in the local area should consider active travel (walking, wheeling or cycling).

Public Transport & Active Travel

A wide range of bus, coach and train services will be available for fans to reach The Open.

Spectators are encouraged to plan in advance, leave extra time for journeys and use public transport where possible.

Public transport offers spectators convenient journey options, reducing traffic congestion in the area.

Further information on specific bus and rail services in operation during, and in the lead up to, The 154th Open will be available in due course.

Bicycle parking will be available near the public entrance for those wishing to cycle to the venue. For more information on the cycle network around Birkdale visit the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust.

By Road

There will be no public car parking at Royal Birkdale or in the immediate surrounding area. All public parking will be located at The Open Park & Ride facilities, where dedicated buses will be available to transport spectators to the course.

Spectators choosing to travel to the event by car or motorcycle will be directed to The Open Park & Ride sites by Variable Messaging Signs (VMS) and specific black and yellow event signs provided by The AA.

Park & Ride facilities will cater for spectators travelling by road and allow for them to be dropped off and picked up at locations close to the entrance points at the venue. While they are designed to minimise congestion in busy areas by reducing the number of vehicles accessing Birkdale and the surrounding area, traffic volumes will still be higher than normal during the week of The Open. Please note overnight parking is not permitted at The Open Park & Ride facilities.

Charges for use of the Park & Ride will apply. Passes will be available in due course on The Open website.

Car and Motorbike Parking

All public parking will be located at The Open Park & Ride facilities, where dedicated buses will be available to transport spectators arriving by car or motorcycle to the course.

Parking tickets will be available to purchase on the day for £20 per vehicle from Sunday 12 to Monday 13 July, and £25 from Tuesday 14 to Sunday 19 July. If purchased in advance a discount will be applied, with costs per vehicle £13 on 12 and 13 July, and £18 from 14 to 19 July. Motorcycle parking is available at a cost of £5 per vehicle per day.

A pre-booked accessible car park is available for Accessible Parking, with the location to be confirmed shortly. A dedicated accessible shuttle will be provided to transport fans to the course. The shuttle drop off and pick-up point is immediately outside the entrance to The 154th Open.

In order to be eligible for free parking at the event, an Accessible Parking Permit such as a Blue Badge or equivalent must be provided in advance as evidence. To apply for accessible parking at The Open, please e-mail accessibility@randa.org.

For further information please visit The Open Help Centre or send an e-mail to accessibility@randa.org. Fans who use British Sign Language (BSL), can contact The Open Customer Service team by using SignVideo BSL Interpreter service. Our opening hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Minibus Parking

Minibus parking is available at a cost of £50 per day for vehicles measuring between 5 metres and 7.99 metres in length and/or with a seat capacity between 10 and 22 seats. There will be a £10 discount for any bookings made before the end of June 2026.

Coach Parking

Coach parking is available at a cost of £80 per day for vehicles measuring 8 metres or more in length and/or a seat capacity greater than 22 seats. Drivers should follow signs to the Coach Park. There will also be a £10 discount for any bookings made before the end of June 2026.

All minibus and coach parking is located within 800m of the main public entrance to The 154^th Open.

Accessible Coach & Minibus Parking

If you are travelling to Birkdale by Coach or Minibus and a member of your coach or minibus party holds an Accessible Parking Permit, such as a Blue Badge or equivalent, please ensure this is displayed to the traffic marshals in the Coach Park to enable them to direct you to an appropriate place to park close to the accessible shuttle stop.

By Taxi

There will be a designated taxi rank and private hire drop off/pick-up area in operation for The 154^th Open from 12-19 July. This will be located close to the main public entrance to the course. On approach to The Open, ask the driver to follow signs for taxis and private hire vehicles to avoid the road access restrictions. Demand for taxi and private hire vehicles is expected to be high, so it is strongly recommended to book in advance.

By Air

The below listed airports all operate scheduled flights as well as the arrival and departure of private jets:

• Liverpool John Lennon Airport (28 miles / 45km away)

• Blackpool Airport (38 miles / 61km away)

• Manchester Airport (43 miles / 69km away)

These airports also accept charter flights. Please contact the airport directly through their websites to book.

Helipad will be operating the official heliport for The 154^th Open, with dedicated transport available to and from the course throughout the Championship.

Please contact Helipad for further details on booking flights and landings.

• Tel: +44 (0) 1202 835 385

• Email: info@helipad.co.uk

By Sea

Ferry services will be operating across the Irish Sea, arriving in Liverpool.

Royal Birkdale is approximately 21 miles (33 km) from the port, with bus and taxi services operating to the city where onward rail connections can be found.