Unofficial guide · The Open 2027

Where to stay for the 2027 The Open

Independent guide · Last checked: Nov 6, 2026

In short

The 155th Open runs at the Old Course in St Andrews from 11 to 18 July 2027, with practice days from Sunday 11 to Wednesday 14 July and the four rounds from Thursday 15 to Sunday 18 July. Stay in St Andrews itself if you can find a room, since the town centre is a walk from the course, or pick a base a short drive away in Leuchars, Cupar or Dundee, since in 2022 drivers came in by park and ride and trains to Leuchars were very limited. General admission tickets went by ballot in summer 2026, and the next date that matters is the official face-value resale platform, due in spring 2027.

Where to stay for the The Open

Pick an area to see hotels and rentals there at live prices.

ABC St Andrews town centre1 Old Course Hotel area2 Leuchars and the Tay coast3 Cupar4 Crail and the East Neuk5 Dundee6

Course AWhere to watch Gate or parking

Live map · St Andrews town centreHotels and rentals at live prices, Wed, Jul 14 to Sun, Jul 18

Open the live map for St Andrews town centre ↗

Prices and availability come from booking sites through Stay22. Change the dates on the map to match your trip.

Plan ahead Book your bed now: rooms in and around St Andrews go very early, and you can line up a ticket from the official resale platform when it opens in spring 2027.

Getting in: parking, shuttles and gates

The 2027 travel plan is not out yet. For reference only, in 2022 there was no public parking at St Andrews Links or nearby: drivers used official park and ride sites on the A919 near Leuchars, the A91 near Guardbridge and the A915 south of St Andrews, with buses to the course, and local buses linked St Andrews with Leuchars, Balmullo, Cupar, Glenrothes, Kirkcaldy and Dundee, while trains to Leuchars were few and busy. The R&A lets you bring a phone if it stays on silent, with calls only away from play and no video or audio recording at any time. Small bags and rucksacks are fine but may be searched, and oversized bags are not allowed; gate times for 2027 will come with the spectator guide.

  1. Leuchars stationTrain or busThe nearest station to St Andrews, which has no station of its own. Buses and taxis run into town from here, but in 2022 Open trains were few and queues were long.
  2. Cupar stationTrain or busOn the Edinburgh to Dundee line; Dundee trains call at Leuchars.
  3. Dundee stationTrain or busOne stop from Leuchars on trains heading south.

House rules

Phones
Allowed with limits
Bags
The R&A accepts small bags and rucksacks (they may be searched) but not oversized bags, and offered free left luggage at the 2026 Open. The 2027 St Andrews spectator guide is not out yet.
Parking
2027 plan not published. In 2022 there was no public parking at St Andrews Links or nearby; drivers used official park and ride sites (A919 near Leuchars, A91 near Guardbridge, A915 south of St Andrews) with buses to the course.
Shuttle
2027 plan not published. In 2022 park and ride buses ran to the course, and local Stagecoach and Moffat and Williamson buses linked St Andrews with Leuchars, Balmullo, Cupar, Glenrothes, Kirkcaldy and Dundee. ScotRail ran a reduced timetable to Leuchars with no extra trains, long station queues and the station car park closed to the public, and Visit Fife advised ticket holders not to travel by rail.

How to get tickets

General admission for St Andrews is sold through a free ballot for One Club members, which ran from 6 to 24 July 2026, with results sent in waves through August and September 2026. If you missed out, wait for The R&A's own resale platform, due in spring 2027, where tickets sell at face value to One Club members. Hospitality and ticket-inclusive accommodation packages are still on sale; be wary of any other site selling tickets.

Official ticket information ↗

Where to watch at the The Open

Pick one end of the course: the Road Hole and the 18th by the town, or the Loop out by the estuary.

  1. Hole 17

    17th, the Road Hole

    One of the hardest holes in golf, with the Road Hole bunker and the road behind the green. Get there early on weekend days.

  2. Hole 18

    18th green and Swilcan Bridge

    The classic finish, a short walk from town, with players crossing the Swilcan Bridge. Grandstand positions for 2027 are not published yet.

  3. Holes 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

    The Loop

    Holes 7 to 12 cross each other at the far end of the course, so you can watch several groups without moving far. It is a long walk out from town.

The official packages, explained

The R&A sells official packages that pair a guaranteed ticket with a stay, from The Open Camping Village, a few minutes' walk from the course, to hotels, reported from GBP 355 per person. It is the surest way to get both a ticket and a bed if the ballot did not work out.

See the official offer ↗ · We link to the official option so you can compare before you book.

When to book

  1. NowBook a room with free cancellation as close to the course as you can.
  2. Sun, Jul 11, 2027Practice days start.
  3. Thu, Jul 15, 2027First round.
  4. Your cancellation dateKeep or cancel before it passes.
  5. July 15 to 18, 2027Tournament week.

Free guide

The Unofficial 2027 The Open Where to Stay Guide

Every area, the getting-in plan and the booking dates in one place, updated every year.

The Open questions

When is The Open at St Andrews in 2027?

The 155th Open is at the Old Course from 11 to 18 July 2027. Practice days are 11 to 14 July and the four championship rounds are Thursday 15 to Sunday 18 July.

How do I get tickets for The Open 2027?

General admission went through a free ballot for One Club members in July 2026, with results in August and September 2026. If you missed out, use The R&A's face-value resale platform, due in spring 2027, or an official hospitality or accommodation package.

Are there cheaper tickets for young people?

Yes. Youth tickets for 16 to 24 year olds are half the adult price, from GBP 20 on the first practice day to GBP 95 on the final Sunday. Under-16s go free with someone aged 18 or over, but they still need a ticket picked alongside an adult or youth ticket, and junior tickets are not on the resale platform.

Can I stay in a university residence during The Open?

Yes. The University of St Andrews sells seven-night Open packages (arrive 12 July, leave 19 July 2027) in halls such as John Burnet Hall, which is next to the Old Course, and University Hall, about 15 minutes' walk away. Some halls have already sold out, and full payment is due at booking.

Can I rent a house in St Andrews for Open week?

Yes, private home rentals are a big part of the market and suit groups. Fife Council offered a temporary short-term let exemption for The Open 2027, with applications from 15 June to 4 October 2026, so check that your host is licensed or exempt.

Can I take the train to The Open?

St Andrews has no station; the nearest is Leuchars, about 10 to 15 minutes away, with buses and taxis into town. Direct trains run from Edinburgh in about an hour, but at the 2022 Open ScotRail ran a reduced timetable with long queues and Visit Fife told ticket holders not to come by rail. The 2027 plan is not out yet, so for now the park and ride is the safer bet.

Official site ↗ · Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24