WIMBLEDON FAQs & BEGINNER'S GUIDE
HOW DO I GET TO WIMBLEDON?
We recommend taking the Tube. It’s the most convenient way to travel to/from the city center and the tournament.
***(Recommended) Southfields Station (District Line) – 15 mins walk to the Grounds.
Wimbledon Station (District Line, South Western Railway, and London Trams) – 20 mins walk to the Grounds.
Wimbledon Park Station (District Line) – 25 mins walk to the Grounds.
If you need a shuttle bus between the station and the tournament, a dedicated Championships bus service ONLY runs from Wimbledon Station to the Grounds. Tickets are available for purchase at the Station.
More Information about getting there
IS THERE A DRESS CODE AT WIMBLEDON?
Many of our guests choose to dress up for a day at Wimbledon, although there is no requirement for men to wear a jacket or tie in the debenture restaurants. Please ensure you dress comfortably and are prepared for the British weather, whether that be rain or very warm sunshine.
WHAT SIZE BAG CAN I BRING WITH ME TO WIMBLEDON?
Pack everything you need in one bag per person measuring no larger than 40cm x 30cm x 30cm.
Find out more about what you can’t bring into the Grounds here.
WHICH GATE SHOULD I ARRIVE AT?
Please download your ticket before arriving and bring a photo ID with you. All debenture ticket holders are encouraged to use Gate 4 on Church Road.
WHAT TIME SHOULD I ARRIVE TO WIMBLEDON?
10am – The Grounds open daily
11am – Play begins on outside courts
1pm – Play begins on No.1 Court (apart from Finals weekend when play starts at 11am)
1:30pm – Play begins on Centre Court (apart from Finals weekend when play starts at 1pm)
For a schedule of play, visit wimbledon.com
HOW DO I ACCESS MY WIMBLEDON DEBENTURE TICKET
Mobile Tickets – This year tickets are accessible via the Wimbledon app. Please be sure to bring your fully charged mobile phone with the Wimbledon app installed and ticket downloaded and be ready to have this scanned upon arrival.
Please note: The QR code on your mobile ticket will be active from 7am on the morning of the day you are attending.
Ticket Issues – If you encounter any issues with your mobile ticket upon arrival at the Grounds, please head to the debenture ticket holders’ resolution point at Gate 3.
WHAT DOES MY DEBENTURE TICKET INCLUDE?
Debenture tickets are for the court specified on the date shown and entitle the ticket holder to entrance to that court and a reserved seat in that court.
You may also watch matches on any court throughout the Grounds with unreserved seating. Please note that court No.1 and No.2 have reserved seating. You can watch matches in unreserved seats on No.3 Court, Court 12 and Court 18. Outside courts 4-11 and 14-17 all have unreserved seating.
To watch your favorite players practicing, visit the viewing platform next to the practice courts in Aorangi.
Your Centre Court debenture ticket includes access to the Centre Court debenture bars and restaurants and The Renshaw restaurant located in No.1 Court (by reservation only). Your No.1 Court debenture ticket includes access to the No.1 Court debenture bars and restaurants.
ONCE IN THE GROUNDS HOW DO I ACCESS THE DEBENTURE AREAS?
To gain access to the debenture areas within Centre Court and No.1 Court, please show your mobile ticket. Tickets will be scanned and you will be given a wristband to wear for the day. Please check-in with the hosts, which are located at the Debenture Information Point to the left of the Fred Perry statue, which is visible once you enter Gate 4. We strongly advise you to collect your wristband upon arrival and before taking your seat to watch the tennis.
WHERE CAN I FIND INFORMATION ONCE I’M IN THE GROUNDS?
Debenture hosts, dressed in Ralph Lauren uniforms and wearing name badges, will be on hand to assist you throughout the day. Hosts are located at the Debenture Information Point to the left of the Fred Perry statue, which is visible once you enter Gate 4, and throughout the debenture areas.
WHICH DEBENTURE RESTAURANTS AND BARS DO I HAVE ACCESS TO?
Center Court
Casual Dining: Courtside Brasserie (Seated on a first come, first served basis)
Self Service: The Terrace (No Reservations Required)
Bar: The Gallery or The Roof Top (Open Seating)
Court No.1
Casual Dining: The Veranda (Seated on a first come, first served basis)
Self Service: The Lounge (No Reservations Required)
Bar: No.1 Bar (Open Seating)
WHY AM I BEING ASKED TO SCAN OUT WHEN I LEAVE THE GROUNDS?
When leaving the grounds please have your ticket ready to be scanned out. If you have a court ticket and are leaving the Grounds before play has ended, please scan the ticket upon exiting so that it can be donated to our Ticket Resale with all proceeds going to the Wimbledon Foundation.
STAY CONNECTED AND INFORMED
Keep up to date with the latest Wimbledon news, scores and behind-the-scenes content wherever you are.
wimbledon.com – Log in to myWIMBLEDON to follow your favourite players, receive personalised catch-ups and follow live point-by-point scores.
The Wimbledon App – You will need the Wimbledon App in order to display your ticket, but make sure you check out the interactive map and other guest information to make the most of your day.
A beginner’s guide to Wimbledon and Centre Court
Beneath the country club aesthetics, the sport of tennis is a test of incredible physical and mental endurance. Perhaps because of the extreme intensity of play, the sport and its spectatorship are surrounded with longstanding traditions and manners that pay respects to the difficulty endured by the players.
If there is one nation that does tradition and manners better than any other, it is Great Britain. Accordingly, every summer in the outskirts of the British capital Wimbledon takes place. Wimbledon is the world’s oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament, a distinction that the tournament’s British hosts treat very lovingly and seriously.
Attending the Championships, Wimbledon should be a top line-item on every tennis fan’s bucket list. Even for casual viewers of the sport, Wimbledon is a massive cultural force and a fabulous reason to visit beautiful London. If you’re looking to attend Wimbledon for the first time, here is everything you need to know about the tournament, from its history, to the dress code, to the traditions, to waiting in the Queue.
What is the history of Wimbledon?
Did you know that the world’s most famous tennis tournament originated as a croquet event? Properly known as “The Championships, Wimbledon”, the tournament was first organized in 1876 at what was then known as the All-England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club. The first matches were played the following year. Since then, the club’s name has been reversed to the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, and croquet has hardly featured at all since 1882, despite being the club’s founding motive.
The tournament was open only to amateur players until 1968, when qualifying rounds were introduced. The whole modern tournament consists of sixteen events played over the course of two weeks in June and July each year. The five main events are the Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s Singles and Doubles matches, and the Mixed Doubles event.
What is Centre Court Stadium like?
The main stadium where the tournament is held, known as Centre Court, has been greatly expanded and improved over the years. It now features a retractable, translucent roof and nearly 16,000 seats, making it one of the largest and most impressive tennis facilities in the world. There are 19 additional tournament grass courts on the club grounds, including the similarly large No. 1 Court stadium, and the smaller stadium at No. 2 Court and No. 3 Court. The club and adjacent Aorangi Park also feature multiple additional grass practice courts, and several clay, acrylic, and indoor tennis courts. Centre Court Wimbledon is certain to impress any sports fans who appreciate a good facilities.
What are some Wimbledon traditions?
The English have a reputation for being terribly polite and traditional, and this really shows at Wimbledon. Wimbledon is now the only one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments which still uses grass courts (the French Open takes place on clay courts, while the U.S. and Australian Open are on hard courts), and the Brits take their lawn maintenance incredibly seriously. Furthermore, there are no advertisements at the All England Club, as the club’s patrons are the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Especially at Centre Court Wimbledon spectators maintain silence even between points. Naturally, players bow to the Queen and the Prince of Wales when they visit.
Other Wimbledon traditions to look forward to are the famous refreshments of strawberries and cream, a welcome change of pace from the typical American stadium fare of chili dogs and fries. There is also a trained hawk named Rufus who scares away other birds that might interrupt a match. It’s also worth noting the extensive team of rigorously tested Ball Boys and Girls, or BBGs, who assist on the courts.
What is the Wimbledon Queue?
As fancy as Wimbledon may seem, there is one aspect of the tournament that is very egalitarian. Wimbledon remains one of the only major sporting events in the UK where spectators can buy premium tickets on the day of the event. To do this, however, almost invariably requires spending the night in The Queue, or waiting all day in line. Those who do so often bring tents, folding chairs, games, and food with them. Each person receives a card indicating their place in the queue, and there is no way to hold a place for anyone else. Queuing is something of a tradition among local attendees, so you can expect that everyone will be in good spirits despite the heat and the wait. You might even make friends with your neighbors!
What is the Wimbledon dress code for Players?
The Wimbledon dress code is serious business for its players. This tournament differs from other Grand Slams in that it strictly enforces an all-white dress code for competitors. Since the last update in 2014, the Wimbledon dress code now forbids any non-white clothing that could at anytime become visible during play due to movement, lighting, or perspiration. The Wimbledon dress code is reportedly so strict that players even need to ensure that their underwear is white enough. Why do they wear all white at Wimbledon? Officials say that the all-white dress code ensures that players don’t stand out for anything other than excellent play.
What should I wear to Wimbledon?
There is no official Wimbledon dress code for spectators beyond a few forbidden items: no torn jeans, running vests, dirty sneakers, or sport shorts. Though this is all that will be formally enforced, visitors to Centre Court are still expected to dress up for the more important games of the tournament in a way that is very different from most other sporting events.
Obviously, this isn’t the kind of event you wear a jersey and face paints too. Wimbledon attire is much more refined. Men traditionally wear fashionable suits and ties at major Wimbledon matches, and while women have a bit more latitude, they often wear white dresses, or similarly summery outfits.
What to wear to Wimbledon is essentially what you might wear to an outdoor summer wedding – except of course that women can wear white. Sunglasses and summer scarves are some of the most-worn accessories at the tournament. If you plan to do any shopping during your time in London, be on the look out for classic, chic pieces that you can wear to Wimbledon!
What celebrities come to Wimbledon? Will I see the King?
One key feature of the Centre Court stadium is the Wimbledon Royal Box, where the members of the British royal family and those they invite can watch the matches with one of the best possible vantage points. Here and elsewhere in the stadium it’s likely that spectators will include a number of prominent celebrities, including musicians, actors, athletes from other sports, and UK politicians. Attendees at recent tournaments have included the likes of Beyonce and Jay-Z, Benedict Cumberbatch, Bradley Cooper, Irina Shayk, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi, Stanley Tucci, Natalie Portman, David Beckham, London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Former UK Prime Minister David Cameron, and of course, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge themselves, Prince William and Kate Middleton.
What are some unforgettable moments in Wimbledon history?
Some incredible moments in Wimbledon history include the longest match ever played (11 hours and 5 minutes), with a final score of 70-68, between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut in 2010.
Another would be Andy Murray’s championship win in 2013, making him the first Briton to win the tournament since 1936.
There’s also Martina Navratilova’s record 9th career Wimbledon win in 1990, and John McEnroe’s epic 1981 “You can NOT be serious” rant against a chair umpire, a moment that many fans remember fondly as their very favorite moment in tournament history.
Few events can compare, however, to the incredible 2008 tie-breaking match between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, which Nadal won after rain delays and gathering darkness had begun to set in.
