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The Wimbledon Championships, often simply referred to as Wimbledon, is the oldest and arguably the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world. Held annually at the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) in London, the event is a celebration of tennis tradition and features some of the best tennis of the year. Whether you’re a seasoned tennis fan or a newcomer to the sport, our guide to Wimbledon will help you navigate all the excitement about the tournament.
Dating back to 1877, Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world and one of four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, alongside the Australian Open, Roland Garros and the US Open. It’s also the only ‘tennis major’ which is still played on grass and has been ever since the first edition of the Championships.
During the Wimbledon fortnight, over 700 matches are played across a total of 15 events, including the men’s and ladies singles, men’s and ladies doubles and mixed doubles, as well as wheelchair and junior events.
In the main events, which are all direct knock-out events, the singles draws feature 128 players while the men’s and ladies doubles are 64 team draws and the mixed doubles features 32 teams.
This year’s Wimbledon Championships will take place from Monday 1st July to Sunday 14th July 2024, with the Ladies and Men’s Singles finals taking place on the 13th & 14th of July respectively.
The Wimbledon Qualifying competition will take place the week before, from Monday 24th June to Thursday 27th June 2024.
The All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club (AELTC), also known as the All England Club, is one of the most famous sports venues in the world and has hosted the Wimbledon Championships since 1877.
The club is located in the leafy suburb of Wimbledon in London and boasts immaculate grass courts and world-class facilities. It’s a place where history and modernity blend seamlessly. It’s home to a total of 18 Championship grass courts, 20 grass practice courts and an additional 8 American clay courts.
As one of the biggest sporting events of the year, the AELTC welcomes over 500,000 guests during the Wimbledon fortnight every year. So, naturally, getting tickets for Wimbledon can be very difficult and planning in advance can be key. Here are several ways to get Wimbledon tickets, including:
Regular ticket prices range from £50–£275 depending on the day you go and which court you’re on. It will come as no surprise that Centre Court tickets to watch the men’s and ladies singles finals are the most expensive. Grounds passes cost £30 for the first 8 days, and then get cheaper as there will be fewer matches played on the outside courts. Be sure to check out our guide on how to get Wimbledon tickets to discover all the options for getting your hands on matchday tickets.
The Wimbledon Championships are played at the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, located in the famous SW19 suburb of London. Getting there can be a little tricky, particularly when almost 40,000 fans a day descend on the All England Club. Roads get blocked up and parking can be a real nightmare, so your best option will be to use public transport. Here are the closest stations:
Alternatively, you could consider cycling as the AELTC also offers bicycle parking free of charge though do keep in mind that the roads will be busy.
The Grounds open every day at 10 am and play on the outside courts begins at 11 am. Play on No. 1 Court begins at 1:00 pm and play on Centre Court starts at 1:30 pm every day until the final weekend when it starts at 2:00 pm.
There’s no specific dress code for fans at Wimbledon, though most people choose to dress in smart-casual clothing, especially for matches on Centre Court. That said, the most important thing is that you dress comfortably and sensibly, and that you are prepared for any and all weather conditions. After all, the British summer is known for being wildly erratic, so expect both glorious sunshine and heavy rain. Keep in mind that not all courts have shaded areas, so suncream, a hat and sunglasses are essential in the heat. Take a raincoat or umbrella in case it rains and definitely wear comfortable shoes as you’ll be walking a lot.
From indulging in strawberries and cream, Pimms and Champagne to getting your fill of British comfort food like fish and chips, you’ll be spoilt for choice with Wimbledon’s huge variety of bars, cafes and restaurants. As you’d expect though, it comes at a bit of price. A punnet of strawberries and cream will only cost you £2.50, but the bills rack up when it comes to the alcoholic drinks as a glass of Pimms or a pint will typically set you back about £8.50.
That said, you are allowed to take food, snacks into the Grounds with you, so it’s worth stopping off at a supermarket on your way to Wimbledon. Just keep in mind that hard-sided containers and vacuum flasks aren’t allowed into the Grounds. You might also be happy to hear that you can take a limited amount of alcohol in with you too, but only the equivalent of one bottle of wine or Champagne (750ml) or two cans of beer (500ml) or two cans of premixed drinks per person.
But whether you’re drinking alcohol or not, just remember to stay hydrated. There are plenty of water refill stations spread around the Grounds, so be sure to take a refillable water bottle.
If you weren’t successful in getting your hands on some Wimbledon tickets, you can always catch all of the action on tv. Here’s how:
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