Wimbledon - A guide to the Tennis and the Town

Wimbledon Tennis Tips
WARNING. Please do not buy tickets from people that approach you in the street. The tickets they are selling may be forgeries. These ticket touts will also charge you a high price for something that it is worthless. They will say they are the real thing but you will be refused entry as the tickets you will be given will not have the correct built in security systems on them. Undercover Police officers work in the area and target ticket touts. If you stop to talk to the ticket touts you may get involved in an arrest which could turn out to be violent as the touts try to get away. Please be warned that genuine tickets are not transferable and cannot be resold. 

Be prepared to queue for a long time. Wimbledon is very popular and the lines can be very big. Some enthusiasts start queuing for tickets two days prior to their release. They camp over night in the street. Remember you are going to Wimbledon Tennis in the middle of a British Summer so bring a raincoat and umbrella. You should also pack a sun hat, sun block and lots of water. You are not allowed to use barbeques after dark. Do not ride a bike to Wimbledon Tennis and expect to chain it up to railings near to the Tennis. Your lock will be cut and your bike will be removed by police. Terrorists have used bikes as bombs in the past. They have stuffed the inside of the bike frame with explosives.

You can be refused entry to Wimbledon Tennis even though you have tickets, if you arrive drunk or refuse to be searched. In the interests of security all bags will be searched by security guards at the gates. Please do no leave packages unattended around the ground as this may cause security alerts and result in the interruption of play. You can also be told to leave the stands if you are seen to be consuming alcohol. You will be arrested by police if you become abusive to staff or found to be carrying an offensive weapon. It is illegal to carry a mace spray or flick knife in Britain. You can also be arrested for carrying a folding pen knife that is over three inches. The staff at Wimbledon Tennis are hot on finding weapons due to the incident that occurred in the 1993 when a Monica Seles was stabbed during a quarter-final match in Hamburg. Picnic hampers and other large bags are not allowed in the stands and should be left at a the left luggage kiosk facility where you can leave coats, umbrellas, picnic hampers etc. for a small charge per item.

Please do not use flash photography when watching the tennis action from the stands. You will be asked to leave if you carry on. You must turn off the automatic flash on your camera before you use it. If the light quality is getting low and you still want to take photographs invest in a ‘Monopod’. A tripod is to big. You can use a monopod when sitting in the stands. It will help reduce camera shake. They are not that expensive and fold down to a small size that will fit in a handbag or rucksack. Photographs (still or motion) taken inside the grounds may only be used for private not commercial purposes

You will be sitting down for a long time watching the action. The seats are unpadded so to stop yourself getting a ‘num-bum’ pack a cushion. If you forget you can buy special high density Wimbledon Tennis Championships cushions from many of the stalls and shops. They are printed with the Championships year and a unique Wimbledon design making them a collectable item. If you do not want to buy one of these special cushions you can hire cushions.

If you need money to pay for your Strawberries and Cream treat you will find a Bank Situated just to the south of Gate 3. It is open every day of the tennis tournament. There is an ATM automatic till machine inside the Bank. If you need toiletries, pharmaceuticals, photographic film or memory discs they are available from the kiosk in No.1 Court (Level 1) near Gate 2. If you have an accident or feel ill the St. Johns Ambulance Brigade runs six first aid posts.

If you have a baby in arms with you they will be allowed into the Wimbledon Tennis Championships grounds free but NOT into any of the show courts (Centre Court and No.1 Court and Courts 2, 3, 13 and 18). If your child is 5 years and over they will be charged at the full rate. An adult must accompany children under the age of 12. If you lose any items of property go to the Wimbledon Tennis lost property office. It is situated under No.2 Court West stand - near Gate 13. If you need to phone them their number is telephone enquiries 020 8971 2251.

You must switch off all mobile phones and pagers in the stands and around the courts so as you do not disturb the players. There are public phones. They are located inside the ground near Gates 4 and 13, in the No.1 Court. They are also outside the grounds near Gate 9 and in Marryat Rd. Something you should not miss is the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum which is situated near the Tea Lawn. It is open all year round. The Museum has its own shop. The profits from the official Wimbledon Tennis range of gifts and souvenirs go towards the further development of lawn tennis in Great Britain.

If you want to find out the daily Order of Play and results you will find them displayed in the piazza inside Gate 3 by the turnstile entrance. It is also displayed outside the Debenture holders’ Lounge at the north side of Centre Court. There are scoreboards showing point by point scores for matches on Centre and No.1 Courts. They are located on the south concourse, outside the No.1 Courts and opposite the gate. There are television screens showing up to date scores, results and other public information located at various points around the ground. If you need to leave and then re-enter the grounds a ticket and hand stamp or a ticket and wristband are required. Hand stamping is available at most gates.

Always keep an eye on your belongings. Do not leave bags on the back of chairs or on the floor under tables. If you need police you can go to the Metropolitan Police office is located in the North Hall of Centre Court. Outside the main entrance on the other side of the road in the park there is a large temporary Police complex where you can also get assistance. You will find a lot of police on patrol inside and outside the grounds.

Please do not buy tickets from touts. Place your seat ticket in a red box, for sale on behalf of charity, as you depart the ground. Please be warned that your tickets are not transferable.

If you are a wheelchair users you will find that most areas of the ground are accessible. There are suitably equipped toilets in the main halls of the No.1 Court, in the south west Hall of Centre Court, at the north of Centre Court beside the Debenture Holders’ building, and near the Water Tower behind Court 13. Only guide dogs are allowed inside the grounds.

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