The Open Championship rotates among nine courses on a nine-year cycle, which means your accommodation strategy changes completely depending on where golf's oldest major lands that summer. Booking a hotel in the wrong town is the most expensive mistake you can make. This guide covers the four regions you're most likely to visit, shows you how far in advance to move, and names the anchor towns and neighbourhoods that fill fastest.
Where to stay
Every Open venue sits within a specific region, each with its own accommodation ecosystem. St Andrews in Fife is compact, walkable, and dominated by university-town guesthouses. Hoylake on the Wirral is a seaside suburb of Liverpool with budget hotels and B&Bs clustered near the seafront. Troon in Ayrshire is a working port town with scattered chains and family-run hotels. Portrush in County Antrim is a holiday resort with seasonal lets and caravan parks, busier on weekends. In every case, book your base town first — commuting 45 minutes from a cheaper outlier rarely saves money once you factor in transport and exhaustion.
1. St Andrews, Fife
St Andrews is a university town of 16,000 with medieval streets, a castle, and a golf obsession older than the nation itself. The town is walkable end-to-end, and most accommodation sits within 15 minutes of the Old Course. Hotels fill by summer of the previous year; guesthouses and Airbnbs go by spring. Expect £80–£150 per night for a mid-range hotel double. Transport is not a problem — you can walk to the course from anywhere in town. St Andrews Hotel is a reliable three-star anchor, though booking it 18 months out is essential. Families should consider self-catering cottages in the conservation area; solo golfers can use university halls, which often rent rooms during summer holidays.
2. Hoylake, Wirral
Hoylake is a Victorian seaside town eight miles west of Liverpool city centre, reachable by train or car in 20 minutes from the city. The course sits on the edge of town; most hotels cluster along the seafront promenade, a 10–15 minute walk away. Expect £70–£130 per night. The Wirral has a strong B&B network, and many operate on a three-night minimum during Open week. If central Liverpool hotels are cheaper, factor in the 45-minute Merseyrail commute — you'll lose sleep and money. Thornton Hall Hotel, a country-house three-star on the outskirts, books quickly but offers better value than seafront chains. Transport is good: Merseyrail runs direct from Liverpool airport and city centre.
3. Troon, Ayrshire
Troon is a working harbour town on the Firth of Clyde, 30 miles south of Glasgow and 12 miles south of Prestwick Airport. It is smaller and quieter than St Andrews or Hoylake, but accommodation is more scattered — fewer boutique options, more Holiday Inns and family-run three-stars. The course sits north of town; most hotels are a 10–20 minute walk or short taxi ride away. Expect £75–£140 per night. Troon is well served by train: direct services from Glasgow (45 minutes) and Edinburgh (90 minutes). Book accommodation 15 months ahead; Troon rarely sells out as early as St Andrews, but prices double between 12 and six months before the event. Lochgreen House Hotel is a Scottish country-house option on the outskirts.
4. Portrush, County Antrim
Portrush is a seaside resort on the Causeway Coast, 30 miles east of Belfast and five miles from the Giant's Causeway. The town empties after Easter and fills again for Open week; expect higher weekend rates and seasonal closures in winter. The course, Royal Portrush, sits east of the town centre, a 20-minute walk or taxi ride away. Accommodation includes mid-range hotels, holiday parks, and caravan sites at £70–£150 per night. Transport requires planning: Belfast International Airport is an hour away, and the town is not served by rail (bus from Belfast or hire car). Book 16 months in advance — Portrush accommodation is smaller in volume and relies heavily on seasonal lets. Causeway Coast Holiday Park offers good value for families with caravans or lodges.
The Open rotation: 2026–2030
2026: Royal Liverpool, Hoylake, Wirral. 2027: St Andrews, Fife. 2028: Royal Troon, Ayrshire. 2029: Royal Portrush, County Antrim. 2030: St Andrews, Fife (again). The nine-year cycle runs: Royal Portrush, Carnoustie, St Andrews, Royal St George's, Hoylake, Turnberry, Royal Birkdale, Royal Lytham, Royal Troon. Booking windows open roughly 18 months before each championship. Easter is the key calendar marker for pricing; post-Easter, prices tighten fast.
Getting there and getting back
St Andrews and Troon are best reached by train: direct services run from Edinburgh and Glasgow, avoiding car-park chaos and fuel. Hoylake has Merseyrail direct from Liverpool airport. Portrush requires a car or bus from Belfast. For all venues, book your return on Sunday evening or Monday morning (the championship ends Saturday); last-train slots fill weeks ahead. Driving means parking fees of £20–£40 daily, or hotel parking at £10–£15. If you hire a car, collect it after you've checked in and drop it Monday morning. Never drive to a major championship if you're drinking at the hotel bar.
When to book
Open ballot entry opens roughly 18 months before the championship (January for an August event). Once ballots are drawn, hotel availability tightens within weeks. Book within four weeks of ballot results — this is the critical window. Prices spike sharply at the 12-month mark and again at six months. Cancellation policies vary: book direct with hotels rather than OTAs to negotiate free cancellation up to 14 days before. If you don't secure a hotel by six months out, pivot to self-catering or caravan parks, which often have later inventory.
FAQs
How far in advance should I book accommodation for The Open?
Aim for 16–18 months before the championship, immediately after ballot results are announced. Hotels in the host town book out by the 12-month mark; prices then double. If you're booking within six months, switch to self-catering or caravan parks, which hold later stock. Never wait until two months before. Q: Is it cheaper to stay outside the host town and commute? A: Rarely. A cheaper hotel 30 minutes away costs you fuel, time, and a taxi back after drinking. St Andrews and Hoylake are walkable from most accommodation. Troon and Portrush are smaller, so nearby towns are often further and less convenient. Book in the host town proper. Q: What's the cheapest way to stay near The Open venue? A: Self-catering cottages and caravan parks undercut hotels by 20–30 per cent and book later (often within six months). Airbnb and Booking.com list private rentals missed by traditional OTAs. University halls (in St Andrews) rent rooms at £50–£70 per night. Book direct where possible to avoid commission markups. Q: Can I get to The Open without driving? A: Yes — St Andrews, Troon, and Hoylake all have train access. Portrush requires a bus or hire car from Belfast. Train is cheaper and less stressful than driving; book return tickets within four weeks of the championship date, as weekend services fill fast.
📍 Explore St Andrews
Use the map to scope out neighbourhoods, transport links and walking distance to the highlights.
Open St Andrews in Google Maps →
🏨 Where to stay nearby
🥂 Premium stays 5-star
Rusacks St Andrews★★★★☆ 4.5 776 reviewsOld Course Hotel★★★★★ 4.7 1,311 reviewsFairmont St Andrews - Scotland★★★★☆ 4.5 2,044 reviews
💷 Budget-friendly under £120/nt
Premier Inn St Andrews hotel★★★★☆ 4.2 617 reviewsThe Albany Hotel★★★★☆ 4.3 202 reviewsHazelbank Hotel★★★★☆ 4.4 22 reviews
🎟️ Top things to do in St Andrews
Skip the queues with pre-booked tickets. Compare prices across GetYourGuide and Tiqets — both offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
From£16St Andrews Castle★★★★☆4.5 · 4,344 reviews🌍 GYG🎫 Tiqets
From£22St Andrews Aquarium★★★★☆4.3 · 1,843 reviews🌍 GYG🎫 Tiqets
From£10Craigtoun Country Park★★★★★4.7 · 2,199 reviews🌍 GYG🎫 Tiqets
From£10St Andrews Botanic Garden★★★★☆4.4 · 1,022 reviews🌍 GYG🎫 Tiqets
From£20East Sands Beach★★★★★4.7 · 483 reviews🌍 GYG🎫 Tiqets
From£12St Andrews Cathedral★★★★★4.6 · 3,405 reviews🌍 GYG🎫 Tiqets
