If you didn't manage to get tickets for Wimbledon in advance, don't worry - there's still a chance for everyone to enter the grounds and main courts every day of the tournament, at a very reasonable price. All you have to do is... queue up ;) In this post, fresh off the press - as it's just a few days after our second Wimbledon, we'll walk you through how to do it yourself!
A Word of Introduction First - What Makes Wimbledon so Special?
Wimbledon stands as one of the four prestigious Grand Slam tournaments, representing the pinnacle of tennis competition. The sport's tournament hierarchy is meticulously structured, with rankings determined by victories in tournaments of varying stature. Iga Świątek's position as number 1 is not merely a subjective assessment of her performance but a reflection of her objectively accumulated ranking points. One distinguishing feature of Wimbledon is its revered grass courts, setting it apart from the clay courts of the Parisian Roland Garros or the hard courts of the US and Australian Opens. This distinction solidifies Wimbledon's reputation as the epitome of grass court tennis championships.
Moreover, Wimbledon boasts a rich heritage as the oldest among the Grand Slam events, cherishing its deep-rooted traditions. Notably, matches and titles are referred to as Ladies and Gentlemen (Singles/Doubles), emphasizing the tournament's esteemed aura. Players are required to adhere to a strict dress code, with attire mandated to be predominantly white, adding to the tournament's timeless elegance. Additionally, Wimbledon enjoys the patronage of the royal family, symbolized by the royal box adorning the central court. Scheduled at the juncture of June and July, Wimbledon starts on a Monday, culminating in the finals during the second weekend, marking it a highlight in the tennis calendar.
Let's Dive in: How to Experience Wimbledon Firsthand?
Of course, getting your hands on a ticket would be fantastic. But it's not as straightforward as one might hope. Securing a ticket involves participating in a lottery held in the autumn, meaning you have to plan well ahead and accept whatever day or court you're allocated. Additionally, there's the option of snagging tickets through resales, official sponsors (such as those offered by American Express, one of the main sponsors), or via tennis clubs (again, through a lottery system). While we're still relatively new to navigating these avenues (for now!), we're determined to master them for next year's tournament. Nonetheless, not having a ticket doesn't spell the end of your Wimbledon dreams – as we discovered this year!"
Enter The Queue: Your Ticket to Wimbledon Adventure!
You may or may not know, the British have a special fondness for queues, some say it's considered a national sport. The Wimbledon Queue is no exception – deliberately denoted with 'the' and capitalized, it's a tradition as enduring as the tournament itself. Unlike many other premier sporting events, Wimbledon offers a chance to secure tickets for each day and court on the day of play. This includes 500 tickets for Centre Court, Court No. 1, and Court No. 2, as well as numerous ground passes, granting access to the tournament grounds. From witnessing matches on smaller courts to catching the action on the main courts broadcasted on Henman Hill, it's an experience not to be missed – and don't forget to savor the quintessential Wimbledon treat: strawberries and cream!
However, there's a catch – the growing interest year by year. To secure one of the coveted 500 spots on Centre Court, or the subsequent 1,000 on Courts No. 1 and No. 2, many resort to spending a night or two in a nearby tent field. During the tournament, Wimbledon Park transforms into not just a line of eager attendees, but also a makeshift camping ground. Stewards maintain order, issuing numbered queue cards to each queue-goer. The line for ground passes starts forming in the early morning, sometimes as early as 2 or 3 am, in anticipation of the ticket booths opening at 10 am. Official advice recommends joining the queue before 9 am for the best chance of securing entry, although reports of queue cards being exhausted have surfaced as early as 8 am this year.
Yet, all is not lost – for every attendee who leaves the tournament grounds, another lucky individual from the queue gains entry. This used to make it possible for those with day jobs to try their luck 'after work,' typically between 5 pm and 6 pm. However, last year's unprecedented demand has seen ticket sales close as early as 7 pm, with the queue still numbering in the thousands.
Inside Tips for The Queue Experience:
Follow Twitter for real-time updates under the search term 'Wimbledon queue.' Many people share their queue numbers at different arrival times, giving you insights into the current queue status. This can be invaluable, as Wimbledon itself doesn't officially provide this info.
Listen to the advice of queue stewards with a pinch of salt. While their warnings like 'chances of entry are slim to none' or 'you'll be standing for hours' may sound daunting, they're often exaggerated. Remember, many people give up and leave, which can significantly reduce the queue length. Life has taught us the value of persistence here – sometimes, you just have to stand your ground! Though it's not to say it always pays off. This year, when we joined the queue on Thursday after work, there were thousands of people ahead of us, and indeed, we didn't make it in (or rather, we gave up after 3 hours). However, from Twitter, we learned that shortly after, the ticket booths closed, and nobody else was allowed entry.
Come Prepared: Bring essentials like a blanket for sitting on the grass (whether in the queue or at The Hill inside the tournament), a refillable water bottle (there are plenty of refill stations), sunscreen, a hat, and something to read or listen to during the wait in line.
Optimal Queueing Times: When to Join the Queue for Wimbledon?
For the second time, we've successfully entered 'without queuing' on the first Sunday of the tournament - interest seems somewhat low on this day, resulting in no queue. It's worth to note that we arrived in the early afternoon, around 1 PM - earlier in the day, there was indeed a queue, but it had dissipated by the time we arrived. On every other day, however, the queue appears endless.
Pinpointing why Sunday fails to attract as much interest is a bit of a mystery. Despite featuring top players, perhaps it's because Sunday historically served as a day off for the tournament? Additionally, this year, with British favourites already eliminated by Sunday and the weekend weather proving somewhat capricious (though Sunday remained rain-free and pleasantly sunny), interest may have waned. Regardless, it's a fortunate turn of events! While we can't predict if this serene queue experience will persist in the years to come, we recommend aiming to join the queue around 12-1 PM, a few hours after the ticket booths open, when the line begins to shorten rather than lengthen ;) Unless you prioritize guaranteed entry and waiting doesn't faze you - in that case, arriving before sunrise is advisable. Especially on days with decent weather, the ambiance and camaraderie will surely make those waiting hours an experience in themselves.
Navigating Wimbledon: Practical Advice and Maps
The queue starts in the northwest corner of Wimbledon Park, making the nearest tube station Southfields (a 10-minute walk). It's important to note that Wimbledon Park or Wimbledon stations would require a much longer uphill walk of over 40 minutes! To reach Southfields, take the green District line, which can be a bit complex due to its numerous branches. However, you can easily catch the right train by looking for those marked with 'Wimbledon' as their final destination (the last stop). While trains and trams also run to this station, traveling by those from any part of London will not be as time-efficient. Therefore, it's best to plan your route directly to the queue starting point rather than simply heading 'to Wimbledon'. Additionally, we've marked Wimbledon Village on the map, where you'll find plenty of shops and restaurants decked out for the occasion.
When you reach the queue start, you'll probably spot a line of people leading towards the entrance. This queue is 'guided' by stewards, and it's where queue cards are distributed and the camping ground is situated. If the queue is already quite lengthy, here's the unfortunate news: only a fraction of it is visible, as most of it extends beyond the initial gate, spanning nearly the entire length of the park. To put it into perspective, when there's no crowd, this section can be traversed briskly in about 10-15 minutes.
W zeszłym roku o godzinie 13 stanęliśmy w tej pierwszej części kolejki. Najpierw należy się ustawić i poczekać na swoją kartę z numerem - bez niej nie kupicie biletu i nie macie prawa do swojego miejsca. Karty mogą wam być rozdane od razu, ale czasem trzeba poczekać kilkanaście minut - jeśli jesteście w kilka osób, niech żadna nie wychodzi z kolejki do czasu dostania karty, ponieważ nie są one wydawane osobom nieobecnym. Jeśli steward przejdzie z kartami, gdy wy urządzicie sobie przerwę na toaletę, to niestety trafiacie na koniec ;)
Last year, around 1 PM, we joined the queue's initial section. The first step is to line up and await your queue card - it's your ticket to purchasing entry and securing your spot later. While queue cards may be distributed immediately, sometimes there may be a bit of wait. If you're queuing with others, make sure no one leaves until all have their cards, as they won't be issued to those absent. If a steward distributes cards while you're on a restroom break, unfortunately, you'll find yourself at the back of the line :')
If the queue is exceptionally long and extends to the area marked with tents on the map above, you may encounter 'queues within the queue.' The end of the last queue is indicated by a steward carrying a large yellow flag with the letter Q.
This year, on Sunday, there was no queue at all. We swiftly reached the ticket booths, where you can purchase what's known as a Ground Pass - priced at £27 per person for each of the first 8 days of the tournament (from the first Monday to the second Monday inclusive). As the tournament progresses, this price decreases. Firstly, fewer matches are scheduled on the smaller courts (as fewer players remain in the competition), and secondly, the chance of ticket resale for the main courts diminishes (as only the best players remain).
Second Shot at Tickets: Exploring Resale for Wimbledon's Premier Courts
Wimbledon is an extensive event that typically kicks off around 12-13 on the main courts and often lasts until the late hours of the night, around 23. Additionally, many spectators in the stands may not have purchased their tickets themselves (corporate or sponsor tickets), meaning they may be less invested in staying for the entire match. However, to ensure the stands aren't left empty, Wimbledon resells tickets from individuals who have left the tournament grounds (they must scan their ticket upon exit) for a nominal fee, which is donated to charity - £15 for Centre Court tickets and £10 for Court No. 1 and No. 2. These tickets can be purchased from ticket booths located near Court No. 18 within the tournament grounds. The ticket resale booths open at 15, and beware - there's usually a queue there as well.
Ones who entered the tournament grounds as some of the first but didn't make it into the initial batch of 1,500 individuals likely head straight to the second queue. Last year, we didn't even attempt to join the queue. However, this year, knowing it was going to be a long day (with a higher chance of resale), and with the final match on the main court being Hubert Hurkacz versus Novak Djokovic, we decided to give it a go. Especially since we hadn't queued yet that day ;)
We joined the resale queue quite late, around 6 PM, just before Iga's victory in the second set. As soon as it became apparent that her match wasn't over yet, the resale queue we were already queuing in started moving quickly (perhaps some people had enough for the day ;)). We managed to get our tickets for Centre Court at 7:30 PM and made it just in time for Hubert's match. We were debating whether to join the queue while watching Iga from The Hill, and if we had decided to line up earlier (we periodically checked the queue status), it seems we would have been able to catch the end of her third and winning set. Therefore, we recommend lining up around 5-5:30 PM - apparently, the queue moves fastest after 6:00 PM, so if you're already in line by then, there's a good chance of entry. In this queue, you also receive a number (though only verbally - not printed on a card), and we were around number 930 - to give you an idea, that's how many Centre Court tickets were resold at least. Note - the most available tickets appear in singles and in pairs. If you're in a group of 3 or 4 people, the chance of so many seats becoming available is much smaller, so it's worth splitting up (into pairs and/or singles). Additionally, the queue moves irregularly, so standing still for a long time doesn't mean the queue won't start moving soon. The biggest movement occurs around 10-15 minutes after each set ends, and even more so after the match ends. People from the stands must leave the tournament grounds, not just the court itself - so empty seats in the stands don't necessarily mean those same seats will become available for resale.
Off to Centre Court: Dashing with Tickets in Hand...
...and quickly found ourselves in the first section! Just seconds after taking our seats, Hubert and Novak entered the court, and we knew right away that this match would be unforgettable. Watching the game up close and live versus watching broadcasts, even on The Hill, is like night and day. The match was intense and incredibly thrilling; it was a tremendous pleasure to witness Hubert and Novak's beautiful play firsthand. After over two hours of play and two sets won by Novak, the game was suspended. Why? Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam tournament that observes... a curfew. Due to nearby residents, matches aren't played later than 11:00 PM. Consequently, the match was halted and postponed to the next day. Needless to say, it's a massive disappointment to attend a match and not see its conclusion, especially for those who bought tickets for the entire day and had been sitting at the court for many hours. We won't dwell on the validity of such game interruptions; we could barely keep our eyes open ourselves :P We regretted not seeing the end, but at the same time, we were incredibly thrilled that we managed to witness a few hours of play.
Therefore, we already know that we will do whatever it takes to get tickets for Wimbledon next year - it's simply worth it! As we mentioned, in the ticket lottery, there's no choice of day or court - you can't buy a ticket for a specific match or player. However, with the prestige of the event, securing a ticket for one of the main courts ensures that you'll see a top player - there's no one less than elite there!
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