After 8 years working in Wimbledon, I finally got a ticket to the Wimbledon championships they year I moved away! Typical right? But I got tickets to the final day and so there was no chance I was going to miss it – even if it meant 4 different modes of public transport to get there! The buzz of the Wimbledon championships is amazing and the celebrations aren’t just in the grounds. Every pub, restaurant, shop and café pull out all the stops to feel a part of the tennis. So even though I hadn’t been before, I’d seen the whole of Wimbledon come alive to celebrate – Morrisons even changed its name in 2013! I’ve even been inspired to write a blog post on Wimbledon-inspired interiors before…
So it was my first time at the Wimbledon Championships and here are my tips on making sure you have a fantastic time:
Plan your route
A lot of this is going to depend on where you’re travelling from, but train, tube and tram routes to Wimbledon are really good. There are regular shuttle buses from the station up to the grounds. These can get really busy though so make sure you leave enough time. Parking is pretty expensive, but a lot of locals offer up their drives and you can save £5-£10 by snabbing one of these. There are dedicated buses that go directly to the Club from various locations in Central London. This was going to be my first choice, but the timings didn’t work for us in the end.
What to pack
When they say ‘come prepared for all weather conditions’, it’s not an understatement. Especially if you’re going to sit on Murray Mound/Henman Hill! Most of the Club is outdoors and so it’s good to bring a brolly or pac-a-mac so you don’t get soaked when moving about. Check out the list of prohibited items as you may be surprised with what you can’t take in. DO NOT TAKE A SELFIE STICK – it will get confiscated ; ) A hat and shades are good to take as well as plastic sheet or bag for sitting on if it does pour down with rain.
What to wear
Unless you have a hospitality ticket, there’s really not official dress code for the Wimbledon championships. A smart casual look is encouraged, but I saw people dressed really smartly to a couple of guys in fancy dress! I wore this stripy maternity dress from ASOS as I’d only given birth 7 weeks before and still not quite into my pre-bump clothes yet! Layers of clothing is good so you can strip off or layer up as the temperature changes. Do take some flats too as there’s a lot of walking around. Especially if you decide to skip the huge bus/taxi queue and walk 25 minutes down to Wimbledon station like us!
Food and drink
You can take in a bottle of wine, bubbly or beer as well as food. Food and drink are a premium and queues can get really long so it’s good to pack some food and drinks so you can have more time enjoying the tennis. There are loads of places to pick up drinks, snacks or a proper meal though. I’d really recommend the fish & chips in the food court, it was sooo yum! (I was so hungry that I forgot to take a pic)
Soak up the atmosphere
The Wimbledon championships really are an amazing day out and one that’s been on my 40-things list for years! (I have a list of 40 things I’d like to do before I turn 40). Whether you know your Ace from your Deuce, or you’re a complete tennis novice. You can’t help but get completely drawn into the Wimbledon championships. You can’t help but getting involved in the applaud or groans of the crowd! Enjoy the whole experience and take loads of photos (without flash or selfie stick of course…).
I’m definitely going to keep entering the ballot for tickets as I’d love the opportunity to go again. There’s just so much to experience that you can’t do it all in just one day!
Natalia xo
