7 daysItinerarySelf-drive

A week-long England golf itinerary

England · Planning

The route

England's great golf is spread out, so the smart trip pairs two rich clusters rather than criss-crossing the country. Our favourite southern week links the Kent Sandwich links with the Surrey and Berkshire heathland — a couple of hours apart, both world-class, and both within easy reach of London and its airports.

It is the easiest world-class golf week to reach from an international flight: the whole loop sits within an hour of Heathrow and Gatwick, the driving is short (the longest leg, Kent to Ascot, is about two hours on the M25), and the sandy heaths drain so well that they play beautifully almost year-round. A car is essential, and one note runs through the week — several of the greatest heaths are private members' clubs, so arrange those tee times well ahead. A northern links alternative is at the foot of the page.

Day by day

Arrive London — down to Kent

Land at Heathrow or Gatwick and drive down to Sandwich, about two hours, on the east Kent coast. Base in the medieval town itself or at Prince's lodge on the links. Sandwich is one of England's best-preserved medieval towns — a fine place to walk off the flight before three days of championship links.

See the Kent coast guide for bases and the full Sandwich triangle.

Royal St George's

Royal St George's is the only Open venue in the south of England — big, wild and elemental over humping duneland, host of the 2021 Open won by Collin Morikawa. A member, Ian Fleming, immortalised it as the setting for Bond's match against Goldfinger. Expect unpredictable bounces and deep bunkers, and enjoy the adventure.

In the afternoon, the White Cliffs of Dover and Deal's seafront are close by, or simply rest for the two rounds to come.

Deal & Prince's

Complete the Sandwich triangle with the two links either side of Royal St George's: Royal Cinque Ports (Deal), a former Open venue with a brutal finish into the prevailing wind, and Prince's, where Gene Sarazen won the 1932 Open using his newly-invented sand wedge.

Canterbury and its cathedral are half an hour inland — a fine spot for dinner before the drive west tomorrow.

West to the heathland — Sunningdale

Drive around the M25 to Ascot, about two hours, into golf's finest inland cluster. Open with Sunningdale's Old Course, the archetype of the English heath — Willie Park Jr's layout refined by Harry Colt, where Bobby Jones shot his “perfect” 66 in 1926, and where the great spreading oak by the 18th is the club's emblem.

Base near Ascot, Sunningdale or Windsor for the rest of the week. Windsor Castle and the Thames valley fill any spare afternoon. See the Surrey heathland guide.

Wentworth & Walton Heath

Two more of the great heaths, if you can arrange them. Wentworth's West Course — the “Burma Road,” home of the BMW PGA Championship — is the headquarters of European golf, while Walton Heath, high on an open common, plays almost like a links and staged the 1981 Ryder Cup and the 2023 Women's Open.

Both are largely private, so plan ahead — a member's introduction or a resort package is the usual route on to Wentworth.

The Berkshire & the Three W's

Finish the heathland with the beautiful loops of The Berkshire at Ascot, or the understated classics around Woking — Woking, West Hill and Worplesdon, the “Three W's.” Everything here drains superbly, so this leg works even in the depths of winter.

London — or one more round

Finish with a day in London before flying home — the whole loop sits within an hour of Heathrow and Gatwick — or squeeze in one more heath. Allow ninety minutes at the airport to return the car and clear security.

A northern links alternative

Prefer a week of pure links? Base in Southport for England's Golf Coast— Royal Birkdale, Hillside, Formby, Southport & Ainsdale, Royal Lytham and Royal Liverpool, six great links from a single town — then cross to Yorkshire for Ganton and the Alister MacKenzie heaths at Alwoodley and Moortown, or south to Woodhall Spa, the finest inland course in the country. It is a longer, more spread-out drive than the southern week, but the golf is as good as any in England.

Getting around

The southern week is short on driving — Kent to Ascot around the M25 is the only real leg, about two hours, and everything in the heathland belt is within thirty minutes. A car is still essential, as the courses sit outside the towns. The M25 is best avoided at rush hour; otherwise the roads are fast and well-signed.

Drive on the left, and concentrate on the first left turn of the morning until the habit locks in. All the courses offer hire sets to a good standard, so there is no need to fly with your own clubs.

What to know before you go

England's courses split into two worlds for visitors. The championship links — Royal St George's, Deal, Birkdale, Lytham, Royal Liverpool — welcome green-fee golfers and take bookings online or through the office, busiest around their Open years. The great heaths are trickier: several of the very finest — Wentworth, Sunningdale, Swinley Forest and Wokingamong them — are private members' clubs where visitors play on limited days, by prior arrangement or as a member's guest. Check each club's policy and book well ahead.

England uses pounds sterling, cards accepted everywhere. Green fees run from very reasonable at the hidden gems to premium at the Open venues. Late spring and early autumn give the firmest turf, but the sandy heaths play well year-round — a winter heathland trip is one of golf's underrated pleasures.

Our trip planner builds either week into a day-by-day schedule with hotels; see also the best time to visit and what it costs.