[BluBludd]

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone can give me some advice / tips / pointers etc on visiting Wimbledon.

Myself and my wife have always fancied a trip to Wimbledon and was looking at doing so this summer.  We have had a brief browse yesterday about ticket allocation (I believe we missed the 'ballot' for 2009) so I'm guessing would it a turn up and queue scenario for whatever game we can get???

Also any info on where best to stay and other general costs or websites to check out on organising such a trip.  This would be our first venture to anything like this but we are both keen to experience.  

Many thanks in advance  

Stef

[ljsmall]

Ok, the 2007 thread has some of the best advice. Thanks to Tennisplayer for this great rundown - I've edited it based on my 2008 experience:

I'm creating this thread because so many people have asked me for advice about queueing at Wimbledon. This just might save me having to repeat myself twenty times  

My advice....

Just to clear something up - Unlike the other Grand Slams, Wimbledon doesn't really have an "evening session." If you go in the morning, you've got tickets for the whole day until the end of play. This applies to both ground passes and show court tickets. If you go in after 6pm (I think) then the prices reduces.

If you want Show Court tickets..... ie. Centre, Number 1 Court, Number 2 Court.....

If you want Centre Court tickets, you MUST queue up overnight. Last year we joined the queue on Thursday morning at about 10am for Friday's play, this year we plan to queue from Tueday morning for Thursday's play.  Note that you'd be able to join it later than that as the queue doesn't usually start to build in high numbers until later on in the day...... however I like to be safe and be one of the first! Remember that the length does vary depending on the day, weather, who is playing etc.

Don't be put off by the sheer number of people in the queue - the first year we went I was expecting there not to be many people BUT there were THOUSANDS!

If you're camping, and you take a tent, there are left luggage cabins outside. They used to be inside the grounds but they changed it.

Lot's of people take BBQ's too..... but there are plenty of pizza places and stuff which you can use also...... just make sure you tell them which queue you are in because there are two!

If you want a ground pass.....

If you want to be in the grounds before play starts, I'd say you'd need to be in the queue for about 6am.

The queue lasts all day though....... so if you just want to go for the last couple of hours then you could do that too.

Travel.....

Southfields is the nearest tube station to the club NOT Wimbledon.

Parking anywhere in the area is an absolute nightmare, so if you're coming by car then I'd say park in another district and then get the train in. It's so much easier because you really can't park anywhere near the place.

Other bits

If you're in the queue the day before, you'll be given your spot in the park to pitch your tent. Although, they tend to stop you pitching them till the days play queue has moved on. Although, last year (2008) they let us put ours up at 10am cause it was raining! Take plenty to keep yourself entertained and comfy. There are left lugage bins for all that stuff. Although they do charge per item (and will make you take a sleeping bag off the bottom of a rucksack) so try to take a big bag.

If you do turn up as early as me (!), then make sure you tell the steward that you're queueing for TOMMOROW'S play and not today  

I'd say get in as early as you can. It's a really fun experience, and you can meet lots of interesting mad people!

Anyway.... hope that helps people. If there's anything else ya wanna know, feel free to ask me.

Most of all, if you're going, have a great time! I know I will and don't forget to take lots of pics  

Oh, and Wimbledon is pricey. So take suncream, hats, brollies and water with you. Pack a picnic if you can! You'll be very glad of it all, whatever the weather!

Hotels

Seeing as it's easily accessible by tube, anywhere close to a tube station is as good a place to stay as any. However, if you can get somewhere in SW London on the District line, you're laughing. Earls Court and Hammersmith are really good options if your looking at access to London as well as the championships and you'll find plenty of eating places/little supermarkets for buying picnic goods etc nearby.

[allyh84]

If you don't have show court tickets and want to see decent singles action, I am talking top 30 players, def go on the first few days.

DEF take a lot to do in the queue haha. I'd try to get there for 7am ish if you don't have show court tickets. You might get in around 11/12? I haven't been for a good 4 or 5 years though.

The practice courts are always good if you have a few minutes spare, you never know who you might see!

[TCK]

 the most important thing for me is for it to be sunny. Means you can get up to no good with your boyfriend / partner on the grass in the 2 hour queue

...

[Josh]

I'd say 2nd Monday is the best.  All of the men's and women's 4th Round.

[invisibleman18]

Anyone know when we should find out if we have got anything in the ballot for this year?
Knowing my luck, I'll get something but it will be in the first 4 days when I won't be back from Europe yet!

As for ground passes, when I went with my Dad in 2006 we went sometime in the middle of the first week. I think it was the 2nd round. We turned up at about 11am and one of the stewards said "if you join the queue now, you're unlikely to get in before 5 o'clock." We asked if we'd get in at all and he said we definitely would. So we joined the queue which then started moving and by midday we were seated on an outside court and stayed there all day before watching Murray on the hill at the end of the day.

We saw Nieminen, Ljubicic and Dementieva so got to see some good players, even on court 18.

[BluBludd]

Thanks for the replies and info.  What is exactly meant by Ground passes?  are these queued for, paid and then lets you mooch around wherever / see different match ups or is it a specific ticket(s) for specific match?

Sorry to come across the thickie  

[top_spin]

Thanks for the replies and info.  What is exactly meant by Ground passes?  are these queued for, paid and then lets you mooch around wherever / see different match ups or is it a specific ticket(s) for specific match?

Sorry to come across the thickie 

A ground pass can be bought by queueing on the day (about £17) - it lets you enter the Wimbledon grounds and gives you access to any court apart from Centre, 1 and 2. For Centre, 1 and 2 you either have to camp over night i.e. join the queue the night before so you're one of the first in line come the morning or apply through the ballot about half a year before.