Ah, summer in the UK. A time for barbecues, parasols that double up as umbrellas, and the Wimbledon Tennis Championships.
The annual tennis tournament held in south-west London is an absolute summer staple. At this point, it wouldn’t really be a British summer without it. Started in 1877, it’s the oldest tennis championship in the world – and the only one held on grass courts – but like a train timetable on a wet Sunday in August, that doesn’t mean it’s close to predictable. No two years are ever the same, and this summer’s tournament is set to be as exciting as ever.
If you’re none the wiser on basics like how to get there, what time Wimbledon opens for the day, and whether calling it Wimbledon will get confusing because that’s also the name of the borough in London it takes place in, it’s worth doing a little research ahead of setting out. By clueing yourself up on the latest Wimbledon tips, you can smash the logistics, and focus your match-day energy on what counts most of all: the tennis (and strawberries and cream).
And that’s where we come in. Here at Sipsmith, we’re The Championships’ first ever Official Gin Partner – which, let’s face it, is the coolest title ever – and since we’ve been playing doubles with Wimbledon for a few years now, we’re in a jolly good position to serve you a few quick tips to help you on your way to your first ever Wimbledon. So, without further ado: Quiet please! Let’s begin.
Wimbledon tip no. 1: Getting your tickets
One of the most popular ways to get a ticket is through the public ballot, which has closed for this year. But, there are also premium options, such as purchasing long-term arrangements known as debentures, or going through luxury hospitality providers such as Keith Prowse, the Championships’ official hospitality partner. And you can always join the famous Queue
Wimbledon tip no. 2: Know how to Queue
You heard right! One of the many brilliant things about Wimbledon is that you can still get premium tickets on the day of play. To figure out how best to go about getting tickets, you need to get familiar with The Queue. Spoiler alert: it’s the most British way to sell tickets ever.
Every day, a large Queue forms to purchase either a Show Court ticket (if they remain available), or a Grounds ticket (which are, of course, subject to the Grounds capacity). The Queue often starts the evening before and more people turn up very early in the morning to join. This year, The Championships advise downloading the Wimbledon app and creating a myWIMBLEDON account before showing up. Then, when you arrive and join the Queue, you will be issued with a Queue Card and ‘checked in’ by a steward via the Wimbledon App. More information about how this all works can be found here, including a link to a 2025 guide to the Queue which is coming soon.
Wimbledon tip no. 3: How to get to Wimbledon
The next thing to do once you’ve sorted your plan for tickets is to work out how you’re getting to Wimbledon. The Championships encourage people to access the Grounds via public transport, walking or cycling where possible, to help protect the environment, and the latter two options have the added benefit of squeezing in a bit of exercise if you’re feeling inspired from watching all this top-flight tennis action.
If you’re driving, you may need to look into booking your parking space ahead of time.
The Championships run a dedicated shuttle bus service – which is a bit like a regular bus service, but more exciting because the word shuttle makes it sound like some kind of spaceship – and this goes from Wimbledon Station to the Grounds and back. You can find more info on exact stop locations and the like here.
There are other choices. In fact, there are lots of them. By using the Championship’s dedicated Journey Planner that can be found on this page, you can enter the address you’ll be travelling from, together with relevant departure and return timings, and be given a bespoke list of options, covering buses, cycling, Park & Ride, carpark spaces that can be pre-booked, and more.
You can find more information on the Journey Planner here, along with a more detailed breakdown of public transport links. Plus, there are maps here including a walking map, and more info on taxis and parking in this FAQ. The All England Lawn and Tennis Club also has accessibility information on its website here for those with accessibility requirements.
Wimbledon tip no. 4: What time Wimbledon opens and finishes each day
The Grounds open to visitors at 10am each day, and close three quarters of an hour after the end of the day’s final match. All being well weather-wise, play begins on outdoor courts at 11am and on No.1 Court at 1pm. The start time for Centre Court is 1.30pm.
That covers days one to 12 of the tournament, but the icing on the Wimbledon cake, and the jam in the Wimbledon doughnut, is finals weekend: days 13 and 14. During finals weekend, play begins on Centre Court at 1pm and on No. 1 Court at 11am.
Match times on outdoor courts can be weather dependent, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for updates on that score, too. Centre Court and No.1 Court can get around this because they have covers for wet weather, but you might still want to bring that pack-a-mac if the screen on your weather app is looking like a big sploshy puddle on an SW19 pavement.
And if you’re feeling ready for a hot cocoa and a pillow by the end of the day, don’t worry: there’s a curfew in place that means matches don’t continue past 11pm.
Wimbledon tip no. 5: What you can take into Wimbledon
You can take a bag with you, just remember that the size needs to be about the same as it would be for a cabin bag on an aeroplane: it can’t exceed 40cm x 30cm x 30cm. Make sure you take a moment to read The Championships’ list of prohibited items to ensure you do not bring anything from that list before attending the Grounds, too.
Likewise, you can bring your own food and drink, but be aware that hard-sided containers, vacuum flasks over 500ml and certain other items such as picnic hampers, cool boxes, flasks and camping chairs are not allowed in. More info on food and drink, and what to do if you have special dietary requirements, can be found on The Championships’ website here.
Wimbledon tip no. 6: Do they sell strawberries and cream?
Yes, in fact an average of 200,000 portions are consumed during The Championships, and that’s just by this writer alone (only kidding, sort of). The price has remained the same since 2010 at just £2.50 and is one of the reasons they’ve proven so popular with first-time visitors and Wimbledon stalwarts alike over the years.
Wimbledon tip no. 7: Is there a dress code for spectators?
The simple answer is no, unless you’ve received an invitation to the Royal Box! That said, smart dress is encouraged, especially if you’re attending No. 1 Court or Centre Court. That means you don’t have to stress too much about wearing this or that particular item, but do keep in mind that the players have a dress code, so it’s best if spectators make a bit of an effort too.
Wear something that’s in keeping with the slightly formal sense of occasion and you’ll be right as rain. You do, however, need to avoid clothing that falls under the prohibited items list by – for instance – containing marketing messages intended as ‘ambush marketing’. That means not trying to get your pal Geoff’s 3D-printing-but-for-dogs company free advertising time on the BBC by wearing that T-shirt he begged you to wear. Sorry, Geoff.
Wimbledon tip no. 8: What the different courts are
The main courts are known as show courts: Centre Court, No. 1 Court, No. 2 Court, No. 3 Court, and Courts 12 and 18. Centre Court is, of course, the most famous, featuring finals and other key fixtures. No. 1 court is also home to many of the tournaments’ biggest matches.
The Grounds cover 42 acres, and can serve up to 42,000 spectators, so as you can imagine, there are a fair few others beside the show courts. There are 19 Championship courts in total, and All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) also has a range of grass practice courts in Aorangi Park which is in the north section of the Grounds. Lawn tennis is their speciality – after all, it’s in their name – but there are also clay courts, indoor courts and even a couple of acrylic courts at The Championships, with 55 courts overall.
And there you have it! Whether you like your singles to be served with ice and lime, or with a mean topspin on Centre Court, you’ve got the low-down and a few key tips to help you on your way to becoming a grand slam champion spectator at your first Wimbledon tennis tournament.
