The Open 2025: How to get there, where to park & important event info you need to know
Are you heading to The Open this week? ⛳️
Last updated 11th Jul 2025
The world turns its eyes to Portrush this week, as The 153rd Open tees off at Royal Portrush Golf Club.
Portrush is staging The Open for the third time - Max Faulkner claimed the Claret Jug in 1951, then Irish golfer Shane Lowry triumphed when The Open returned in 2019 – but who will win this year?
Excitement is building as thousands of spectators from far and wide are expected to visit the course throughout the week.
Let’s take a closer look at the important travel details and event info for this historic major championship.
British Open Golf 2025 dates & times:
Sunday – 13 July 2025 (Practice Day 1)
Gates open at 9am
Park and Ride opens at 8am; last return is at 8pm
Players start their first practice rounds
Monday – 14 July 2025 (Practice Day 2)
Gates open at 7am
Park and Ride starts at 6:45am; last return is at 8pm
Tuesday – 15 July 2025 (Practice Day 3)
Gates open at 7am
Park and Ride starts at 6:45am; last return is at 8pm
Wednesday – 16 July 2025 (Final Practice Day)
Gates open at 7am
Park and Ride is available from 6:45am to 8pm
Thursday – 17 July 2025 (Round 1)
Gates open at 6am
Park and Ride starts at 5:45am; last return is at 10pm
Play starts around 6:35am — all players tee off
Spectator Village is open with leaderboards, live commentary, and food courts
Play is estimated to finish at 8:30pm
Friday – 18 July 2025 (Round 2)
Gates open at 6am
Park and Ride is available from 5:45am to 10pm
Play starts around 6:35am — only top 70 (plus ties) progress
Saturday – 19 July 2025 (Round 3)
Gates open at 7am
Park and Ride starts at 6:45am; last return at 9pm
Play starts around 8am; players tee off in reverse order of score.
Live music, big screens, and food spots are available in the Fan Village.
Sunday – 20 July 2025 (Final Round: Trophy Day)
Gates open at 7am
Play starts around 8:00am; leaders tee off last.
The Claret Jug is presented on the 18th green after the final round.
Park and Ride starts at 6:45am; last return at 9:00pm
Re-admission to the venue
All attendees will be able to leave the venue and return on the same day if desired. When exiting the course, all attendees wishing to re-enter the venue later that day, must ensure that they collect a wristband when leaving the venue. If you are unable to display a valid wristband and your digital ticket on The Open Tickets App upon return to the venue, you will not be permitted re-entry to the event.
Travel & transport options
The R&A is recommending that spectators consider the use of public transport, which will be significantly enhanced for travel convenience.
There will be no public car parking available at Royal Portrush or in the immediate surrounding area. All public parking will be provided at managed Park & Ride sites.
The PSNI have advised that temporary traffic regulations and parking restrictions will be introduced.
Every available train, coach and bus will be in operation to accommodate thousands of additional passengers.
For full details on Translink services, tickets and online booking options for travel to The 153rd Open visit translink.co.uk/the-153rd-open.
By Car
Spectators choosing to travel to the event by car or motorbike will be directed to managed Park & Ride sites as they approach Portrush.
Spectators are advised to turn off their satellite navigation systems and follow the appropriate signage.
Charges for use of the Park & Ride will apply and tickets are available to prebook now via The Open website
By Rail
Portrush is accessible via train from Belfast direction, including stops at Whitebbey, Mossley West, Antrim, Ballymena, Cullybackey, Ballymoney and Coleraine. It is also accessible via trains from the Derry-Londonderry direction calling at Bellarena and Castlerock.
For the latest travel updates, Translinnk recommends downloading the Translink Journey Planner App and follow @Translink_NI #OpenTravel
By Bus
Bus/coach timetables, ticket options and online pre-booking for selected services will be available on the Translink website.
To and From Belfast - 218 service will operate a normal timetable, departing from Laganside Buscentre, Belfast.
From Derry~Londonderry - 234 service will operate a normal timetable from Derry~Londonderry to Coleraine, serving Limavady with onward Portrush bus connection.
Local Services To and From Coleraine - The 140 triangle service will operate a 5 minute frequency from Monday 14 July 2025 until Sunday 20 July 2025 . This service operates between Coleraine Buscentre, and Portrush and back to Coleraine Buscentre.
From 14 -16 July, the 140 service will run from 5.50am - 11pm and on the Thursday to Sunday (17-20 July), the service will be extended to run at 11.30pm and midnight from Portrush via Portstewart to Coleraine.
402 rambler service Coleraine to Ballycastle will operate a 20 minute frequency with additional early and late services.
There will be two additional services at 06.00 and 07.00 (from Ballycastle) and two additional services concluding at 20.15 and 21.15 (from Portrush).
Prohibited Items
❌ Ladders (including step ladders), boxes, crates (including folding crates), periscopes, selfie sticks and other similar items used to achieve an elevated viewing position.
❌ Lawn or oversized chairs, folding chairs (with the exception of single stem shooting sticks), or any similar seating item deemed inappropriate by The R&A (or authorised person).
❌ Noise producing devices including air horns, portable speakers, PA systems, megaphones or similar items used for amplification or broadcast.
❌ Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) including drones, model aircraft, kites or similar airborne crafts/items.
❌ Still photography of play is permitted provided that it does not disrupt play and images are not used for any commercial purpose. Video recording is prohibited at any time.
❌ All bags may be subject to search on entry to the venue or elsewhere within the venue on request by security contractors authorised by The R&A. Oversized bags deemed inappropriate by The R&A (and/or authorised R&A security contractors) will not be admitted. Failure to comply with a request to search may lead to a guest's removal from the venue on the grounds of safety. The R&A will provide a left-luggage facility for the storage of searched bags.
READ MORE:
Rory McIlroy immortalised in sprinkles thanks to popular ice cream family
Sarah Montgomery death has left 'deep wound' on family and community
Portstewart Strand named best beach in UK