Published 10 June 2026

The first Open Championship I ever went to, I was a boy at Royal Birkdale watching Padraig Harrington hold off Greg Norman to lift the Claret Jug in 2008, and that week is a large part of why I went on to found Halcyon Golf Travel. I have been coming back to this stretch of the Lancashire and Merseyside coast ever since, and of all the golf trips to England I help plan, I am convinced this is the most rewarding one you can take.

I am Jack Sallis, founder of Halcyon Golf Travel. I represented England as a junior, play off +4, and I've been planning golf trips to the North West of England for over a decade. I've spent a good portion of my life playing the links courses in this guide and courses like them all over the UK. This July I will be back at Birkdale again for the 2026 Open, this time as a spectator, and it has me thinking about just how much this corner of England has to offer the travelling golfer once the grandstands come down.

When golf's oldest major returns to Royal Birkdale, the eyes of the sporting world fix on England's North West once again. Few regions anywhere combine such deep golf pedigree with this kind of cultural energy. Between Liverpool and Southport you have a coastline that has shaped the history of the Open for more than a century, and you can play it whether or not a Championship is in town.

Royal Birkdale, host of the 2026 Open Championship, where my love of links golf began.

The Golf: Championship Pedigree on Every Fairway

England's Golf Coast is the stretch of coastline in North West England between Liverpool and Southport, spanning Merseyside and Lancashire. It is home to three Open Championship venues, Royal Birkdale, Royal Liverpool (Hoylake) and Royal Lytham & St Annes, along with a cluster of classic links including Hillside, Formby, Wallasey and Southport & Ainsdale, almost all within about an hour of one another. Both Liverpool John Lennon and Manchester airports serve the area, so it is easy to reach from the US and Europe.

The stretch of coastline between Liverpool and Southport is known as England's Golf Coast, and for good reason. Each course tells a story, with roots not just in the game's history but in the very fabric of championship golf.

North West England is called England's Golf Coast because no other region in the world has this many Open Championship venues so close together. Royal Birkdale, Royal Liverpool (Hoylake) and Royal Lytham & St Annes have between them staged more than 30 Opens, and they sit within an hour of one another along the same run of dune-land. Add classic clubs like Hillside, Formby, Wallasey and Southport & Ainsdale, and you can play a different championship-calibre links every day from a single base.

There is no other stretch of coast on earth where you can play this many Open venues within an hour of your hotel.

The best golf courses in North West England, all on England's Golf Coast, are:

• Royal Birkdale - host of the 2026 Open and the region's headline links
• Royal Liverpool (Hoylake) - a 13-time Open venue across the Wirral
• Royal Lytham & St Annes - an 11-time Open host with more than 200 bunkers
• Hillside - widely rated the finest non-Open course in England
• Formby - a rare blend of seaside links and pine forest
• Southport & Ainsdale - a two-time Ryder Cup venue
• Wallasey - the birthplace of Stableford scoring

Here is how I would think about each of them.

Royal Birkdale, Host of the Open

Royal Birkdale is the jewel of the region. Having hosted the Open on ten previous occasions, it has staged some of the championship's most iconic moments: Arnold Palmer's famous escape from a bush in 1961, Tom Watson's duel with Seve Ballesteros in 1976, and Jordan Spieth's remarkable recovery on the 13th in 2017.

Ahead of the 2026 championship, Tom Mackenzie of Mackenzie & Ebert has carried out the most significant changes the course has seen in years. The headline is a brand-new par 3, playing as the new 15th back towards the beautiful art-deco clubhouse, introduced to add variety to a set of short holes that had grown a little similar in length and direction. The short par-4 5th has been completely rebuilt into a more tempting and volatile driving hole, with new fairway bunkering and a speed slot that rewards anyone brave enough to take on the right line, while the par-3 7th now plays to a raised green with fewer bunkers and more runoff around it. To make room for the new hole, the old par-5 15th becomes the 14th, and the former 14th green, where Spieth launched his famous closing charge in 2017, has been turned into a short-game area. It has all been done with real respect for the original Hawtree design, but the course will look subtly and unmistakably different when the world's best arrive.

For me it will always be the course where it all started. Standing on those fairways as an adult, having watched Harrington there as a kid, never quite loses its magic.

Royal Liverpool (Hoylake)

A short journey across the Wirral sits Royal Liverpool, another cornerstone of the Open rota. Founded in 1869, Hoylake has hosted 13 Opens, most recently in 2023 when Brian Harman claimed the Claret Jug. It also staged the first ever Amateur Championship in 1885, underlining its central place in the game's evolution. Tiger Woods' strategic brilliance in 2006, when he hit driver just once all week, remains one of the finest examples of links course management in modern golf.

Royal Liverpool at Hoylake, a 13-time Open host across the Wirral.

Royal Lytham & St Annes

Just north of Birkdale lies Royal Lytham & St Annes, one of the most distinctive courses on the rota. Since hosting its first Open in 1926, memorably won by Bobby Jones, it has staged the championship 11 times. Unlike most links, Lytham begins with a par 3, a rare and testing start, and it is famous for its bunkers, more than 170 of them, demanding precision from tee to green. Perhaps its most iconic moment came in 1979, when a 22-year-old Seve Ballesteros claimed his first Claret Jug and announced himself to the world.

I have a personal connection to Lytham. I played it in the Lytham Trophy alongside Frank Kennedy, who went on to win that year, and I will say plainly that it is the hardest course I have ever played. Those bunkers are merciless and the wind never seems to let up. That said, the recent redesign work has, to my mind, made it far more enjoyable without softening the challenge, and I would now happily send any low handicapper there expecting a proper examination of their game.

The work that has won me over is the ongoing renovation by Mackenzie & Ebert. Their rationalisation of the bunkering has seen close to 40 traps removed, most of them greenside, with the subtle swales and hollows that replace them doing the defending instead, so a clever short game is rewarded rather than simply punished. More recently, ahead of the 2025 AIG Women's Open, the 10th and 11th were reworked: the 11th gained mounding and two new bunkers down the right to bring shape and interest back to a hole players used to bail out from towards the railway, while the 10th lost a large mound on the left in favour of a sandy waste area and a tighter, more demanding fairway. The two holes long considered the course's weakest now stand comfortably alongside the rest.

Lytham is the hardest course I have ever played, and since the redesign it is also one of the most enjoyable.

Royal Lytham & St Annes, the toughest test I have faced, now better than ever after its redesign.

Formby

Though not on the Open rota, Formby Golf Club deserves a place in any itinerary. Its unusual mix of true links and pine-forest setting makes it unlike anything else in the region, and the way the holes move from open dune-land into the trees gives it the feel of an English heathland and a seaside links in one round. Formby has hosted countless Amateur Championships and is home to one of the strongest histories of women's golf in England. Its exclusivity and natural beauty make it a superb complement to the more familiar championship venues.

Formby's 8th, where links and pine forest meet.

Wallasey Golf Club

Overlooking Liverpool Bay, Wallasey Golf Club is best known as the birthplace of the Stableford scoring system, created here by Dr Frank Stableford in 1932 to make the game more enjoyable for the everyday golfer. The course itself is a classic links with dramatic dunes and sweeping sea views, often overlooked because of its more famous neighbours but cherished by those in the know. Wallasey has hosted numerous Open qualifying events, its championship pedigree underscored by a layout that rewards bold driving and imaginative shot-making.

Wallasey, the birthplace of Stableford scoring and a links worth the detour.

Southport & Ainsdale

A two-time host of the Ryder Cup, in 1933 and 1937, Southport & Ainsdale is steeped in golfing history. Few clubs in England can claim to have hosted the great match between Great Britain & Ireland and the United States, and S&A remains rightly proud of its Ryder Cup heritage. The course, with its James Braid pedigree, winds through rugged dunes and offers a stern but enjoyable test. Its history makes it a must-play for anyone wanting to connect with the game's most prestigious team competition.

Southport & Ainsdale, a two-time Ryder Cup venue.

Hillside Golf Club

Sharing its boundary with Royal Birkdale, Hillside Golf Club is regarded as one of the finest non-Open venues in the country. The front nine flows through pine-lined fairways, while the back nine explodes into dramatic linksland, reshaped in the 1960s under Fred Hawtree. The course has hosted countless professional and amateur tournaments, including Open qualifying, and has drawn praise from Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman alike. Play the back nine and you understand why so many of us rate it shoulder to shoulder with its more famous neighbour next door.

Hillside's back nine, as dramatic a stretch of links as any in England.

Can You Play These Courses on a Golf Trip?

Yes. Royal Birkdale, Royal Liverpool, Royal Lytham & St Annes and the surrounding clubs all welcome visiting golfers and societies on selected days through the week, outside of members' times and competition diaries. Tee times at the famous names are limited and book up well in advance, particularly in the months around an Open, so the key is to plan early and secure them as a package. The one exception is Championship week itself, when the host course is closed to play and given over to the world's best professionals. We arrange access, caddies and the running order for you so that you simply turn up and play.

If you love the idea of ticking off the great Open venues, our Play Every Open Course itinerary is built around exactly that, and the North West sits right at its heart. Because tee times here are among the hardest to lock down, it is worth reading my notes on the toughest tee times to book before you start planning dates.

Where to Stay: Liverpool or Southport

Your accommodation shapes how you experience the North West England golf coast. Whether you choose the energy of Liverpool or the quieter charm of Southport, the region offers standout hotels with real character.

For a golf-first trip, Southport wins on convenience: Royal Birkdale, Hillside and Southport & Ainsdale are all within about ten minutes of the town. For nightlife, dining, music and culture between rounds, Liverpool is the better base, with the courses a 35 to 50 minute drive away. My usual advice is to split the trip, basing yourself in Southport for the heaviest golf days and finishing in Liverpool for a couple of nights of the city at its best.

The Municipal, Liverpool

The Municipal is Liverpool's newest luxury hotel and a real arrival for the city. Set within a grand 19th-century building that once housed the city's municipal offices, it has been restored with meticulous care, fusing historic architecture with modern elegance: soaring ceilings, marble staircases and contemporary art. The rooms are spacious, with sumptuous bedding, walk-in rain showers and the latest tech, and the on-site brasserie and bar draw guests and locals alike. Its central location makes it ideal for exploring Liverpool's shopping districts, galleries and waterfront.

The Municipal, Liverpool's grandest new address.

Innside by Melia, Liverpool

For travellers who prefer a sleek, modern feel at a more accessible price point, Innside Liverpool is an outstanding option. Set in a striking glass-fronted tower, it offers panoramic views across the city and the River Mersey, best enjoyed from the 17th-floor Sky Bar. Rooms are minimalist but comfortable, with floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the space with light. It is popular with weekend travellers thanks to its lively bar scene, contemporary design and prime location on Old Hall Street, a short walk from the docks and business district.

Innside by Melia, with Mersey views from the Sky Bar.

Titanic Hotel, Liverpool

Housed in a vast converted warehouse at Stanley Dock, the Titanic Hotel is one of Liverpool's most characterful stays. Its scale alone impresses, with enormous rooms, exposed brick, lofty ceilings and industrial-chic furnishings that celebrate the city's maritime heritage. The subterranean Maya Blue Wellness Spa is a highlight, with a hydrotherapy pool and thermal suite perfect for unwinding after a day on the links. Stanley's Bar and Grill serves modern British classics, while the Rum Bar nods to Liverpool's trading past.

The Titanic Hotel at Stanley Dock, full of maritime character.

The Vincent, Southport

If proximity to the courses is the priority, The Vincent Hotel in Southport is the standout choice. This boutique property sits on Lord Street, the town's elegant Victorian boulevard lined with shops and cafes. Its interiors are chic and contemporary, with plush bedding, smart tech and spacious bathrooms, and the Vincent Cafe & Restaurant is a destination in its own right. Southport may not have Liverpool's buzz, but staying here cuts travel time to Royal Birkdale, Hillside and S&A to a matter of minutes, which makes it ideal for golf-centric itineraries.

The Vincent in Southport, minutes from Birkdale and Hillside.

Two More I Rate

For something different, Knowsley Hall offers a genuinely special stay: a magnificent stately home set in 2,500 acres of parkland, the ancestral seat of the Earls of Derby, perfect for a group taking over a private house for a few nights. Back in the city, Hope Street Hotel is a chic, independent boutique in Liverpool's Georgian Quarter, nestled between the two cathedrals, blending original period features with a pared-back, design-led aesthetic. Both make excellent alternatives depending on the mood of your trip.

Drive Times: Hotels to Courses and Airports

To help you plan logistics, here are approximate drive times to each course from both Liverpool city-centre hotels and Southport's Vincent Hotel:

And the key airport connections:

Liverpool: Culture, Music and Nightlife

Liverpool is one of the UK's most vibrant cities, its energy fuelled by a unique blend of musical heritage, cultural pride and modern creativity. For me, the evenings here are half the reason to base a trip around the city.

The Music Legacy

The city's identity is inseparable from The Beatles. No visit is complete without a trip to the Cavern Club, where the band played nearly 300 times in the early 1960s. Beyond The Beatles, Liverpool has a thriving live scene: the Philharmonic Hall hosts world-class classical performances, while smaller venues like Jacaranda and The Zanzibar showcase up-and-coming acts and keep the city's musical pulse alive.

The Cavern Club, where The Beatles played nearly 300 times.

Bars and Nightlife

Liverpool's nightlife is legendary. For sophisticated cocktails, Berry & Rye is a hidden speakeasy with a Prohibition-era feel, while Ex-Directory hides behind a secret phone-booth entrance. Rooftop bars like Goodness Gracious and Liberte offer stylish settings with panoramic skyline views. For whisky lovers, Whisky Business boasts one of the UK's most eclectic selections, and Seel Street is the place for a lively late night out.

Ex-Directory, hidden behind a secret phone-booth entrance.

Dining at the Top End

Liverpool's fine-dining scene has flourished in recent years. The Art School Restaurant, led by chef Paul Askew, is widely considered the city's culinary flagship, with a focus on seasonal British produce elevated to Michelin-standard precision. Panoramic 34, on the 34th floor of the West Tower, pairs haute cuisine with breathtaking views of the Mersey and beyond. For something more contemporary, Lunya brings Catalan flavours to the city, while Maray serves inventive small plates that locals adore.

Panoramic 34, haute cuisine 34 floors above the Mersey.

Football Meets Golf

No trip to Liverpool is complete without acknowledging the region's other great passion: football. The Premier League season runs from August through May, overlapping with prime golf-travel months.

• Liverpool FC (Anfield): one of the most famous clubs in the world. Matchdays at Anfield are legendary, with the singing of You'll Never Walk Alone providing one of sport's great atmospheres. Stadium tours run year-round.
• Everton FC: one of England's oldest clubs, now settling into its spectacular new stadium on the Bramley-Moore Dock, the latest landmark on the city's waterfront.
• The Merseyside Derby: matches between Liverpool and Everton are among the most passionate fixtures in English football.

Manchester's Football Giants

Less than an hour from Liverpool, Manchester adds even more for sports fans, with two global powerhouses:

• Manchester United (Old Trafford): the Theatre of Dreams has hosted some of the greatest players in football history, and a stadium tour is essential for any fan.
• Manchester City (Etihad Stadium): in recent years City have become one of the world's dominant teams, with state-of-the-art tours and matchday hospitality.

Together, Liverpool and Manchester let golf travellers combine links golf with Premier League football at four world-class clubs, a chance to experience two of England's greatest sporting passions in one trip.

Anfield on a matchday, one of sport's great atmospheres.

Getting Here: Airports and Connections

Access to England's Golf Coast is straightforward, with Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Manchester Airport both within easy reach.

• Liverpool Airport is compact and efficient, with excellent connections to European cities including Dublin, Belfast, Amsterdam and Barcelona.
• Manchester Airport is one of the UK's busiest international gateways and the best option for direct flights from the USA, with non-stop services from New York (JFK and Newark), Atlanta, Orlando, Boston and Houston, among others. For US visitors, that means you can step off a transatlantic flight and be on the fairways of Royal Birkdale within a couple of hours.

Plan Your England's Golf Coast Trip

The 2026 Open Championship will shine a global spotlight on England's North West, but you do not have to wait for the crowds to experience its best. With its unrivalled collection of championship links, luxury hotels, rich musical heritage and world-famous football culture, this corner of England delivers a golf trip like no other, and I would love to help you build yours. Every trip we create is bespoke, shaped around the courses you most want to play, the hotels that suit your group and the experiences that turn a golf trip into the trip of a lifetime. The best place to start is a free 30-minute discovery call, where we can talk through your dates, your group and what you want from the week before I put a plan together. You can get in touch with me here to arrange it.

England's Golf Coast: Frequently Asked Questions

How many days do you need for a North West England golf trip?

You want five to seven nights for a good North West England golf trip. That gives you time to play the three Royal courses plus a couple of the great supporting links like Hillside and Formby, with a rest day or an afternoon in Liverpool built in. Five nights covers the essentials comfortably from a single base, while a full week lets you add Lytham to the north and Hoylake across the Wirral without rushing, and still leaves room for an evening at the football or in the city.

Can high handicappers play Royal Birkdale and the Open courses?

Yes, within each club's handicap limit. The current limits at the three marquee courses are:

• Royal Birkdale: 24 (men), 36 (women)
• Royal Liverpool (Hoylake): 21 (men), 36 (women)
• Royal Lytham & St Annes: 21 (men), 30 (women)

Caddies are available at all three, and buggies are permitted only with a medical certificate at each of them. Bring a current handicap certificate, and expect smart golf attire on the course and in the clubhouse. If your handicap sits above a limit, do not worry: there are superb links nearby that are more relaxed about it, and we will build the trip around the courses you can play.

Is Royal Birkdale or Royal Liverpool the better course to play?

Both are Open Championship venues and ideally you play both, but they offer different experiences. Royal Birkdale is the more dramatic of the two, with towering dunes framing almost every fairway, and many rank it among the very best links in the British Isles. Royal Liverpool, or Hoylake, is flatter and more subtle, a strategic and historic test where Tiger Woods famously won the 2006 Open by hitting driver just once all week. If you only have time for one, I send most first-time visitors to Birkdale for the sheer spectacle and save Hoylake for those who love a thinking course steeped in history.

When is the best time of year to play England's Golf Coast?

May to September gives you the warmest weather and the best playing conditions, with July and August the busiest. April and October are quieter and a little cooler, and because these are true links with excellent drainage, they play well for much of the year. Pack layers whatever the month, as the wind off the Irish Sea can change the feel of a round quickly.

How far in advance should I book, especially around the Open?

As a general rule, 12 to 18 months ahead is ideal, and the larger your group, the earlier you should commit so we can secure consecutive tee times. Demand around an Open year is higher still, both for the marquee courses and for hotel availability, so if you are tying a trip to a Championship I would start the conversation as early as you can. Smaller groups of two to four have more flexibility and can often be arranged closer to the date.

How much does a luxury golf trip to North West England cost?

Our bespoke trips start from around £4,000 per person for a seven-night itinerary and rise to £10,000 or more per week at the very top end, including accommodation, breakfast, green fees and travel arrangements. Where you land depends on the courses, the standard of hotel and the level of hosting and transport you want. Because every trip is built from scratch, we can shape a dream itinerary around your budget.

Which airport is best for England's Golf Coast?

For visitors travelling from the USA, Manchester Airport is the best choice, with direct flights from New York, Boston, Atlanta, Orlando and Houston and a drive of around 45 minutes to Liverpool. For those coming from within Europe, Liverpool John Lennon Airport is compact and efficient, with quick connections to Dublin, Belfast, Amsterdam and Barcelona. We arrange private transfers from either, as booking taxis back from the courses can be difficult.

Do I need an ETA to visit England for golf?

Yes. Visitors travelling to England now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), similar to the US ESTA. It costs £16, takes only 5 to 10 minutes to apply for through the UK ETA app or GOV.UK, and is usually approved within three working days. It is valid for multiple visits over two years or until your passport expires. I would sort it well ahead of travel, and we are happy to guide you through it as part of planning your trip.

Can I attend the 2026 Open at Royal Birkdale and play golf on the same trip?

Yes. Royal Birkdale is closed to play during Championship week, but the surrounding courses stay open, so you can spend a day or two inside the ropes watching the world's best and still tee it up at Hillside, Southport & Ainsdale, Hoylake or Lytham around it. It is one of my favourite ways to build a trip. Tee times and hotels around the Open go quickly, so this is one to plan well in advance.