Wimbledon Survival Guide
Heading to the Wimbledon Championships this summer? Grab your sunnies, dust off your best outfit and get ready to soak up one of Great Britain's most iconic sporting events.
The 2025 Wimbledon tournament runs from Monday 30th June to Sunday 13th July and promises to serve world class tennis action. Whether you’re a Centre Court regular or you’re ticking it off your bucket list for the first time, our Guide To Wimbledon will make sure you ace the experience from start to finish.
Buying Wimbledon Tickets
It's all well and good talking about how to survive Wimbledon, but let's start with actually making it happen.
How much do tickets cost?
While some of the more premium tickets cost an arm, a leg, standard tickets are surprisingly affordable, especially if you’re happy to queue or go for a Grounds Pass.
🎫 Ticket Types & Prices
Ground Pass (access to Courts 3–18 & grounds)
- Days 1-8: £30
- Days 9-11: £25
- Days 12-14: £20
This is the most affordable option, available only via The Queue on the day - so patience is rewarded with great ticket prices.
Show Court Tickets (Centre Court, No.1 Court, No.2 Court)
Prices vary by court and round, but here’s a general idea for 2025:
Centre Court:
- From £105 in the early rounds
- Up to £315 for the finals
No.1 Court:
- Typically between £65–£155
No.2 Court:
- Often more affordable, with limited availability via public sales or resale
These tickets can be obtained through the Public Ballot, the Queue, or limited next-day online sales, but they go fast.
Returned Ticket Resale (Inside the Grounds)
After 3pm, unused show court tickets are resold at the Grounds for a fraction of the price.
- Centre Court: £15
- No.1 & No.2 Courts: £10
All proceeds go to charity, so you’ll be doing a good deed while scoring a prime seat.
How do you buy tickets?
Turns out, there are plenty of ways to land yourself a seat courtside, even if you're leaving things a little last-minute. Whether you’re a seasoned spectator or a hopeful first-timer, here are your options:
🎟 The Public Ballot
So, ultimately, these are your best bet for affordable show court tickets, and this is arguably the most common route in. Enter the ballot online around September for the following summer’s tournament (so, you would have had to enter it in 2024 for this tournament). If the ballot gods smile on you, you’ll be offered tickets at face value, but you won't get to choose the court or date. It’s a bit of a lucky dip, but absolutely worth a try!
🏕 Join The Queue
Wimbledon is one of the last major sporting events where you can still buy tickets on the day, and it's a really fun tradition, but you’ll have to earn them. Enter: The Queue, the ultimate British custom.
If you're hoping for tickets from the Queue, you need to arrive super early (think 5am or earlier!) to snag one of the limited Centre, No.1 or No.2 Court tickets. Otherwise, aim for roughly mid-morning to grab a Ground Pass (which gets you access to outside courts and the atmosphere on Henman Hill).
Expect camping chairs, camaraderie, and an iconic experience in its own right.
💻 Next-Day Ticket Sales
Every evening while Wimbledon is happening, a small number of Centre, No.1, and No.2 Court tickets (plus Grounds Passes) go on sale via Ticketmaster for the following day. They drop at 10am and sell out within seconds, so set your alarms and get those refresh fingers ready.
🔄 Returned Ticket Resale
Already inside the Grounds? Head to the Ticket Resale Kiosk after 3pm, where unused show court tickets are resold for charity. It’s a brilliant way to upgrade your Grounds Pass and catch some late-afternoon Centre Court action for just a few quid.
💼 Hospitality Packages
For those looking to do Wimbledon in style, official hospitality packages are still bookable right up to the tournament. These typically include a guaranteed Centre or No.1 Court ticket, gourmet dining, and access to exclusive lounges. Expect Champagne, strawberries, and serious style... and prices to match.
💎 Debenture Tickets
These are the gold standard of Wimbledon seats. Debenture holders can legally resell their tickets, and you can purchase them in advance from official resale sites, but they are not cheap (we’re talking thousands), however, they’re guaranteed and come with access to top-notch facilities.
🎾 LTA Ballot & Club Allocations
Members of LTA Advantage or affiliated tennis clubs may have access to separate ballots or allocations. Great if you're connected to a club, but not an option for most casual fans.
👀 No Ticket Yet? Don’t Panic
If you haven’t managed to pre-book a ticket, don’t stress! It’s totally normal to make a last-minute Wimbledon trip with your fingers (and toes) crossed. The Queue and Next-Day Sales are great options for spontaneous adventurers, and Ground Passes still deliver an electric atmosphere and brilliant tennis.
Bottom line: whether you go luxury or grassroots, there’s always a way into Wimbledon. Just come prepared, stay flexible, and maybe bring a camping chair... just in case.
Travelling To Wimbledon
So, you’ve got your ticket (or at least a game plan). Now it’s time to figure out how to get there.
Wimbledon is hosted at the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club in the leafy suburbs of southwest London. Known colloquially as SW19, if you want to sound in-the-know. Despite its prestigious vibe, getting to Wimbledon is surprisingly straightforward, even if you’re coming from the other end of the country.
🚆 Coming from outside London?
No matter where you’re travelling from, London’s major train stations have you covered:
- From the North (Edinburgh, Liverpool, Manchester): Head to King’s Cross or Euston.
- From the West or South (Cardiff, Brighton, Southampton): You’ll likely arrive into Paddington, Victoria, or Waterloo.
From there, it's a quick switch to the Underground to get closer to the action.
🚇 Getting to the Grounds via Tube
The easiest way to reach Wimbledon is by hopping on the District Line (green on the Tube map). From there, you’ve got three stations you can choose from, and generally you'll just be able to follow the crowds:
- Southfields Station: 15-minute walk (most popular option)
- Wimbledon Station: 20-minute walk
- Wimbledon Park Station: 25-minute walk through a lovely green route
All three routes are well-signposted during the Championships, with volunteers and signage to help guide the way.
🚌 Need a lift?
If walking isn’t ideal (or you’re saving your steps for pacing between matches), a dedicated Wimbledon shuttle bus will be running in 2025! This travels between Wimbledon Station and the Grounds, helping you breeze past the crowds with minimal effort.
According to Wimbledon's own travel guide for 2025, prices for this shuttle are:
- Single fare: £4.00
- Return fare: £6.50
Follow The Right Dress Code
Now, for the exciting stuff: let’s talk fashion!
Wimbledon doesn’t have an official dress code unless you're in the super-exclusive debenture or hospitality areas - but that doesn’t mean it’s a free-for-all.
Smart casual is the safest way to go. Pull out your chicest sundresses, linen shirts, polos, chinos and stylish (but comfortable) footwear. Given the unpredictable weather situation at SW19, layering is essential so keep something pretty with sleeves to hand.
Smart jeans, trainers, and clean t-shirts are perfectly fine for general admission, but if you have splashed out on the posh seats, it’s worth bringing your sartorial A-game. Opt for tailored separates, elegant dresses and polished shoes. The vibe is summer wedding guest energy, without the formal fuss.
Remember, you’ll be outdoors all day, often walking long distances. So pick an outfit that’s stylish but still delivers on the comfort front. No one wants to be hobbling to Henman Hill with a blister!
Keep Your Eye on The Weather
Ahh, the Great British summertime! Let’s face it, Wimbledon wouldn’t be Wimbledon without the threat of pouring rain to stop play.
London weather is famously unpredictable in June, so come prepared. Even if it looks cloudy, always pack sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat - you never know when it might get blazingly hot. Raincoats and ponchos are a must, as umbrellas are permitted but can be awkward to use in super crowded areas.
If rain does interrupt play, don’t worry. Both Centre Court and No.1 Court feature retractable roofs, meaning the main events will continue to roll on, even if you get a little soggy on the walk between courts.
Get Your Hands on Some Famous Food
It’s hard to decide what’s more quintessentially Wimbledon: the tennis itself or strawberries and cream? One thing we do know is that the Championships wouldn’t be the same without this deliciously decadent treat. Amazingly, they’re still priced at just £2.50 a portion - that’s something that’s held steady since 2010. You’ll find ample stands serving them up around the Grounds, with many giving you the option to indulge in traditional or plant-based cream.
If you're in the mood for a tipple, Pimm’s is the drink of choice, a fruity, fizzy gin-based cocktail packed with mint, cucumber and strawberries. Champagne is in abundance too, if you’ve got the budget to splash out.
If you can, bring your own picnic to eat at the Grounds as that’ll save having to stand in yet another long queue!
Know The Rules of Tennis
Okay, so you don’t need to be a tennis pundit to have a great time at Wimbledon, but it helps to have a vague inkling of what’s going on on the court. If you don’t know your deuce from your match point, our Wimbledon Survival Guide will come to the rescue!
This Grand Slam tournament, like most pro tennis events, follows a classic scoring system. Matches are split into sets, and sets are split into games.
To win a set, a player needs to bag six games with at least a two-game lead. If things get tight at 6-6, a tiebreak decides it all.
Men's matches are best of five sets, while women play best of three.
Important Courtside Rules
There are a few rules that you really need to abide by to ensure that the tournament ticks along nicely (and to avoid scornful looks):
- Only move to and from your seat during change of ends or between matches - NEVER during a rally or tie-break
- Keep your glasses and uncorked champers bottles off the court
- Switch your phone to silent during play
