Wimbledon. It’s one of the world’s most prestigious and oldest grand slam events and for many, a bucket list item just waiting to be ticked off. As an in-demand event that is well-known across the globe, it is essential to plan your trip to Wimbledon as early as possible to find and secure the right tickets and experiences to suit you.
We’ve been travelling to Wimbledon for over 30 years now and have helped thousands take their seats on Centre Court to witness the greats in what is an unforgettable experience. With our knowledge, we’ve come up with some top tips to help plan your trip to Wimbledon.
WHAT DAYS SHOULD I ATTEND WIMBLEDON?
Wimbledon is held annually across two weeks, starting at the end of June. Your budget and preferred Wimbledon experience will determine when you should attend Wimbledon.
Our travel specialists recommend the following:
- For those wanting to get the full experience of the event, then attending during week one will allow you to see a lot more players and at a slightly cheaper price. Our customer’s biggest feedback from attending Wimbledon is wishing they went for two days instead of one. Therefore, we recommend spending one day on Court No. 1 and another on Centre Court to make the most of your time there. Tip: by attending on consecutive days, you allow yourself to see different players battling it out.
- If you are looking for the best bang for your buck, then we recommend tickets to the quarter-finals and semi-finals during week two. These sessions are cheaper and you will see some of the top players battle it out.
- The best way to ensure you are getting exactly what you want out of your Wimbledon experience is to chat to an expert about it. Our travel team are happy to answer any questions about when to purchase tickets and the schedule of play across the two weeks.
WHERE SHOULD I SIT AT WIMBLEDON?
Before purchasing tickets, it’s important to understand the different Courts and seating options.
Centre Court, is the main stadium where the tournament is held with ticket prices being highest for this venue. With over 16,000 seats and a translucent and retractable roof, this is one of the largest and most impressive tennis facilities in the world.
Court No. 1 is the secondary stadium and often regarded as a player favourite. Seating over 11,000, as of June 2019, this court now too features a retractable roof. Slightly cheaper than Centre Court, Court No. 1 offers a great stadium vibe and also plays host to top tier players.
There are also 15 outdoor courts, with unreserved seating, that guests with tickets to Centre Court, Court no. 1 or Ground Passes can sit at and watch the action.
HOW TO PURCHASE WIMBLEDON TICKETS
With a world-wide audience of millions and only a handful of tickets available, it is no surprise that tickets can be hard to get a hold of. Here are the best ways to get yourself to Wimbledon.
The Ballot
The first way to score great tickets to Wimbledon is via the public ballot, which works just like a lottery. With millions entering the ballot and only a select amount of tickets available, there is no guarantee that you will be given the opportunity to buy tickets. But as they say, you have to be in it to win it!
If you are one of the lucky few who are successful in the ballot, you will be offered tickets for a specific court, on a specific day that you can purchase. As they are offered out at random, it is not possible to choose your dates or court preferences via the ballot.
To enter, visit the official All England Lawn Tennis Championships website.
Sports and Travel Provider
If you’re looking for a more tailored option to suit you, tickets can be purchased through companies such as us at Keith Prowse Travel. We have access to guaranteed reserved seating that can be purchased in a package with accommodation and exclusive extras or through our Wimbledon Week Tours. With access to all ticket sessions on Centre Court and Court No.1, this method allows you to pick and choose what you would like to see and tailor your experience to suit you.
To get the best value for ticket prices and accommodation, we recommend booking as early as possible.
Ground Passes And On-the-day Tickets
Although the cheapest option, scoring yourself a ground pass or on-the-day ticket is not for the fainthearted.
Ground passes allow you entry into the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club grounds where you can soak up the Wimbledon atmosphere, traditions and watch some of the matches via the unreserved seats on the outdoor courts. Each day there are also around 500 tickets each for Court No. 1, Court No. 2 and Centre Court (except for the last four days on Centre Court, where tickets are only sold in advance).
To get access to a ground pass and on-the-day tickets requires great patience and an up-close and personal experience with the infamous queue starting at Wimbledon Park. Hundreds of people queue and camp overnight to gain access to these on-the-day tickets and ground passes and it is a first-come, first-serve system. If you are attempting this option, get in early and bring snacks. Oh, and if you were thinking of performing a sneaky queue jump, think again because they have queue cards handed out to prevent any disruption to the almighty queuing system.
Returned Tickets
Guests that have purchased tickets to a session at Centre Court or Court No. 1 but decided to leave early can also deposit their tickets into a box on the way out of the venue which allows for others to purchase them for the remainder of the session. For those who have braved the queue, this option provides the opportunity to upgrade that ground pass to a seat on Centre Court. To access these tickets, visit the AELTC Ticket Office in the grounds and ask if they have any returned tickets.
WHERE TO STAY
Wimbledon is held at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club which is located in the outskirts of London in the town of Wimbledon. If you are looking at spending a lot of time at the tennis, then you can find accommodation options in the town of Wimbledon or nearby towns such as Tooting, Wandsworth Common or Kingston.
However, to get the most out of your trip, we recommend staying in central London in Kensington where you are conveniently located to transport to Wimbledon as well as the hustle and bustle of the incredible London city. Our hotels included in our packages and tours ensure you are only one train ride away from Wimbledon and walking distance to some of London’s best attractions.
With Wimbledon happening in UK’s peak summer season, it is best to book accommodation as early as possible to ensure you receive the most competitive price.
COMBINING WIMBLEDON AND LONDON ATTRACTIONS
When you’re not soaking up all the Wimbledon action, London has plenty on offer with museums, galleries, boutiques, cafes and many historic and modern attractions.
For the ultimate London and Wimbledon experience, we recommend taking a Wimbledon Week Tour. Our tours allow guests to truly immerse themselves in all that London has to offer with a week-long adventure that not only features world-class tennis, but also explores iconic landmarks, country-side cottages and unique dining experiences that will have you wanting more. Join our community of travellers and experience Wimbledon in the best way possible. Learn more here.
Experience Wimbledon with Keith Prowse Travel.
For more information on Wimbledon, tickets, packages, tours, accommodation or activities, get in contact with our Travel Specialists who will be able to help you out.
