Wimbledon

The Championships at Wimbledon — held over two weeks in late June and early July — is the world's oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament, and attending it is one of the genuinely great London sporting experiences. Here's how to make it happen.

Getting Tickets

Public ballot: The All England Club runs an annual public ballot for Centre Court and Courts 1 and 2 tickets. The ballot opens in late September and closes in early December for the following summer's Championships — you apply, and the ballot is drawn in December. Successful applicants get emailed in January. This is the most reliable way to secure Centre Court tickets.

The Queue

Grounds passes and a limited number of Court 1 and 2 tickets are available daily on a first-come, first-served queue system. The queue starts camping the night before for the best courts; arriving in the morning still gets you grounds access and some outer court tickets. The queue is a famous Wimbledon institution — organized, managed by volunteers, and a genuinely enjoyable experience even before the gates open.

Getting There

Southfields station (District line) is the standard approach — a 10-minute walk from the grounds. Wimbledon station (District line and National Rail) is further but still walkable. Avoid driving.

What to See

Outer courts (Courts 3–19) are included with grounds access and often show excellent tennis from earlier rounds — sometimes better than Centre Court for proximity to the players. The queue boards show remaining tickets for each court on the day.

Tips

• Enter the annual ballot — it's free and the most reliable Centre Court route.
• The queue is worth experiencing even without a specific court ticket — grounds access includes outer courts and all the atmosphere.
• Strawberries and cream at Wimbledon is a tradition worth doing once.
• Check the weather forecast — play is suspended in rain, which can make for very long waits.