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Attending the Wimbledon Championships would be a dream come true for all tennis fans around the world. It was always a dream for me too. I was lucky enough to get tickets three times now and be in the middle of the tennis universe for a day. You see, I love tennis, I play in a small club where I live. My club also has grass courts in the summer and I really like the social vibe. I mostly attend social mix-ins, which is when you play with 3 other random players present and so they are double matches. All abilities are welcome in my club and I’m not a great player but I enjoy playing a few double matches every other Friday evening or Sunday afternoon. Tennis is my thing. I watch matches and follow the calendar happenings as other sports fans do. I play as often as I can. I always get myself proper tennis shoes suitable for all courts, restring my rackets regularly and look after them. I always have a few sets of full white, quality tennis clothing for the summer lawn season and also some colourful ones for the rest of the season, that fit well and comfortable to play in.
And this is how I got my hands on tickets, my club being member of the LTA (Lawn Tennis Association) is entitled to a number of tickets for the Wimbledon championships and raffles the tickets between the members as well as I can add my name to the main public ballot organised by the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC).
The championships began in 1877 and have become one of the world’s most famous tennis tournaments. They’re one of four Grand Slam competitions, alongside the Australian Open, Roland Garros and US Open, and the only one of the four played on grass courts. There are nearly 700 tennis matches are played on 19 courts over the two weeks of the Championships: men’s and women’s singles, men’s, women’s and mixed doubles as well as junior matches.
How to get Wimbledon tickets?
The Public Ballot
Every year the ballot opens in September during which you can apply for tickets. If you are lucky, you get a pair of tickets per household. You can’t request tickets for specific days or courts, you get what you get (win what you win), pay for the tickets (it’s not a raffle) and attend or decline – so the tickets will be offered to someone else to buy. This normally plays out from September till around February.
If you missed out of the public ballot, then you have the option of the Queue and hospitality tickets.
Hospitality tickets
Official partners of the championships all offer Wimbledon hospitality packages to buy for their customers. These are normally big brands. The hospitality packages normally include a range of extra perks and like food, drink and even meeting a tennis players and other celebrities. Obviously they cost a lot of money.
Hospitality packages are often use to access to The Debenture seats (the best seats of Centre Courst, tight above the Royal box), reserved table with a la carte menu on the Lawn, reserved seats and nibbles at the Treehouse, private table at the Rosewater Pavilion and more.
The Queue
Yes, with capital letters as the Queue is an institution.
The Queue is a famous Wimbledon tradition: people can join the Queue to try to get tickets on the day of play. Meaning, literally, each day of the championships, a large Queue forms to buy either a Show Court ticket (which are much more limited) or a Grounds ticket at face value. Tickets are sold on a first-come-first-served, one ticket per person basis and are non-transferable. Five hundred tickets for Centre Court (except in the last four days), No 1 and 2 Courts are sold off on the day of play. You’ll br given a ‘queue card’ to mark your place if you need to nip out, to toilets or grab some food.
The Queue starts from the Sunday before the tournament starts. Joining the Queue can take from long hours (if you are lucky) to 2-3 days. It’s absolutely bonkers, but over the years, it became an institution where everyone respects the others also waiting for tickets, people bring tents (camping is possible in the designated area of Wimbledon Park in maximum two-man tents are allowed and you can store your camping gear in left luggage in the park for £5) , food, drinks and chat to each other whilst waiting.
Resale tickets
Grounds Pass holders can also upgrade to access to the show courts, but only after 3pm. These resale tickets are benefitting charities, people who’ve left for the day let their tickets be sold on.
With strict rules, tickets are allowed to be resold. Legally, only debenture tickets can be bought and sold. These are premium seats linked to a long-term financial bond (a “debenture”) issued by the All England Lawn Tennis Club. Talking about the most expensive and most prestigious tickets in this case.
How much Wimbledon tickets cost?
You can pay as little as £20 for a ticket (late rounds) for the championships and thousands of pounds too. It really depends when, what and how would you like to watch tennis.
Generally speaking, based on official ballot prices, you are looking into paying:
| Ticket Type | Early Rounds | Finals | Resale Prices/Queue Prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grounds Admission | £25–£75 | £150–£200 | £50–£150+ |
| No.1 Court | £70–£200 | £200–£250 | £150–£800+ |
| Centre Court | £100–£300 | £250–£350 | £300–£3,000+ |
What is the Wimbledon Grounds Admission?
You get access to:
- Lower, outside courts of Courts 3-19
- Henman Hill (AKA Murray Mound and Raducanu Rise)
- Visiting the Wimbledon Museum
- Big screens
- Food and drink stalls
You can stroll around and eat Wimbledon strawberries, take your picnic basket and enjoy sitting on the Hill or the Lawn, watching Centre Court matches on the big screens. It is not a bad way to enjoy Wimbledon at all.
A few thousand Grounds Passes are available on the day (arrive early before 9am).
So you managed to get tickets.
What time does the day start at the Wimbledon Championships?
The grounds open from 10am every day, and matches start on the outside courts at 11am, at 1pm on No 1 Court and at 1.30pm on Centre Court.
Here’s how to make the most of your day at Wimbledon
Plan your visit ahead
Before you even set foot on the grounds of Wimbledon, have a plan. Check the official Wimbledon website for information on match schedules and entry requirements. Create a schedule based on the matches you want to see, as well as the times of day when the main events are taking place.
Arrive early
Wimbledon is renowned for its long queues, especially for those who want to enter through the gates with ground pass tickets. security checks are thorough, it will take time to get inside the gates. Parking can be challenging (or rather non existent and even the nearby roads get clogged up), so using public transport is the best way forward. Train or the Tube to Wimbledon main station and bus from there, alternatively walk (about half an hour).
Dress appropriately
The weather can be quite unpredictable, so it’s best to dress in your nice, Wimbledon outfit but also be prepared for sudden changes. There’s limited shade or rain cover on most courts (other than under the roof overhang on Centre/No 1 Courts).
Wearing comfortable shoes is also essential since you’ll be walking a lot, especially if you’re planning to explore the grounds and watch multiple matches. The is no dress code at Wimbledon, but traditionally a smart attire is encouraged.
If you want to go shopping for the occasion, Wimbledon Village has great charity shops with designer and vintage stock – plus the whole village gets decorated for Wimbledon in the official green-white-royal purple colours. Worth a visit, look how pretty it is:
Bring essentials
You can’t take bags bigger than 40cm x 30cm x 30cm into the grounds, but make sure you are prepared for a full day of Wimbledon fun.
Here’s a short checklist:
Sunscreen: Even if it’s cloudy, sun exposure can be strong. The recent years we had days of heatwaves and really strong sun.
Hat and sunglasses: As above – some days can be very hot at the Championships.
Water bottle: Stay hydrated, especially during the warm summer days. There are refill stations all over the grounds. Remember to check Wimbledon’s rules regarding bringing food and drink into the venue.
Power bank: You’ll want to take plenty of photos and stay updated on match times, so make sure your phone’s battery doesn’t die.
Picnic
You can bring cool bags in with food but it has to be within the size limit and no hard-sided coolboxes or vacuum flasks over 500ml. You can also bring alcohol in but up to a bottle of wine or two cans of beer/premixed aperitifs per person.
Explore the Grounds
Wimbledon isn’t just about tennis; it’s a celebration of culture and traditions. Take time to explore the grounds – the Wimbledon Museum is a great spot to learn about the history of the championships.
Consider walking around the grounds in between matches, take photos, meet fellow fans, and truly appreciate the grandeur of Wimbledon.
Indulge in traditional treats
Wimbledon is famous for its strawberries and cream, so indulging in this classic treat is essential during your visit. Many food stalls offer this delightful treat, often accompanied by a refreshing glass of Pimm’s or champagne.
You can also find food trucks featuring British classics and international cuisine if you’re in the mood to try something different. Just keep an eye on your time so you don’t miss any important matches!
Always keep an eye on the schedule
Wimbledon is packed with action, and it’s easy to lose track of time. Make sure to keep checking the schedule for any changes. If there are unforeseen rain delays or match cancellations, you’ll need to know. There may be earlier matches or exciting doubles matches on lower courts to watch if your original plans fall through.
Sustainability at the Wimbledon Championships
In recent years, the Wimbledon Championships made a range of changes that made this world class event more sustainable. For example, the first time I went about 12 years ago, strawberries were still sold in plastic container. Now they are coming carton boxes. There are reusable, cloth hand towels in the restrooms and all the cups sold are reusable. But that’s just a few small examples.
They implemented seriously big changes, so that the championships is as sustainable as possible. For example: none of the day-to-day business or Championships waste goes to landfill or that the garden waste is used to create mulch used around the Grounds. They are aiming to add more and more yearly, planning to reach net zero by 2030.
This is an important aspect for me, so I wanted to mention it.