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Wimbledon - Queuing Overnight For Tickets
This is the most comprehensive survival guide anywhere on the web, so take note if you're serious
about queuing overnight for Wimbledon tickets.
We are not just relaying second hand information to you. All the notes on this page come straight from
those who know best, the seasoned professionals who are team britishtennis.com.
Standard Procedure - What To Expect
This is a guide to the order of events from starting to queue overnight to actually
gaining entry into the grounds:
- Join the queue on Church Road, at either the North (towards Southfields) or West
(towards Wimbledon Village). Entrance into the grounds from both queues is eventually via Gate 3. An
equal number of tickets is allocated to each queue, so it's just down to personal preference or convenience
as to which one you choose. See our Wimbledon Street Map page for
exact queue positioning points.
- Upon joining the queue you will be given a numbered Queue Card by one of the Honarary Stewards.
These Queue Cards were first introduced in 2003 as a result of major queue jumping problems in 2002.
- If camping for the first or second Monday of the tournament you can set up your tent straight away.
For any other day you can still queue but you cannot immediately put up tents. The reason being that they
block the pavement which is still a public right of way. You are required to wait until one hour after the
last match of the day has finished at Wimbledon (9.30pm is not uncommon therefore 10.30pm) before the
Stewards will let you take over the pavement. Ironically you can be queuing for "tomorrow", while people
are queuing right next to you are queuing for "today" to catch some late evening tennis!
- So you have now set up your tent and got comfortable. Chances are you've already got talking to the people
around you as well by now. With so many tennis fanatics you'll hardly struggle for conversation.
- Feeling hungry. Why not get yourself a disposable BBQ (the only type they will allow you to use on
the street) or order a take-away (more details later).
- Wash time before bed. There are a number of dedicated toilet / wash room facilities in the vicinity.
- No real need to set an alarm clock in the morning as you will be promptly woken up at 6.30am by an Honorary
Steward! Be warned that it is often cold in the mornings.
You now have about 30 minutes in which to pack your belongings as the queue will move up at 7am. So check your
excess luggage into the nearest Left Luggage facility and return to your position in the queue - you can do this
before or after the queue starts to move.
- The queue will now be moving forward and you will bunch up are realise you're much closer to the front
than you thought you were! Now prepare to wait around 3 hours until 10am for the "holdig area" to open - not
particularly nice if it's raining I can tell you.
- Depending on how far up the queue you are, you may have a choice of showcourt tickets
(Centre, No.1, No.2) so make sure you know in advance who is scheduled on each court (Radio Wimbledon or
check the available TV screens). You will know if any of these tickets are available before entering the grounds,
as if they are an Honorary Steward will ask you which court you would like a ticket for, and then issue you with
an associated wrist band. This band is then your key to obtaining the showcourt ticket once you reach
the turnstiles. Without a wristband of any kind you will only gain a Ground Pass admission at the turnstiles.
- Buy your ticket! Important - only cash is accepted, no cheques or credit cards!
Tent or Sleeping Bag?
To ensure a better nights sleep to take both. If you're not planning on taking a tent then
check the weather forecast in advance or it could turn out to be an uncomfortable night.
A tent on it's own can still get cold, as we have found out in previous years. Waking up due to the
cold isn't a nice feeling, so pick yourself up one of the tiny 1/2 season sleeping bags and you'll
be toasty (as they say in Scotland).
Other Equipment
Thermarest (Standard or Ultralight) :
Small camping matress. Far better than the bulky foam ones and will get you off the hard cold pavement.
Chair :
A small fold up chair is a good idea and used by many. We've never taken them outselves due
to the added weight.
Tarpaulin (Tarp) :
To cover your tent in the event of heavy rain or to cover those with only sleeping bags - can only
really be attached to fencing and railings which exist nearer the front of the queue.
String :
Obviously you can't peg your tent into the pavement! Many choose to tie their tent to the
fencing and/or railings. Very useful if it's raining, and you're camped on the Church Road hill,
to stop your tent flowing downstream! Only joking! Also essential for attaching your tarpaulin.
Waterproof Jacket :
Essential, even if just a small packable number.
Radio :
Tune into Wimbledon Radio 87.7 FM (8am onwards) to check the Order Of Play, latest news &
results, weather reports, etc. Also handy if the crowd camping near you are making a bit too much
noise at night and you can plug in your earphones. While on court a portable radio can also provide
commentary on the match you're watching, providing you're on the court they're commentating on!
Camera :
Don't forget your camera to capture the highlights of your day(s) at Wimbledon, and also to
take photos of all the new friends you've made while queuing.
Autograph Book :
Many people take autograph books, while others buy a programme on the day and ask players and celebrities
if they will sign.
Playing Cards :
They help pass the time!
Torch :
Very useful in the dark of night if you're camped in Wimbledon Park because your tent eill be extremely
dark inside.
Disposable BBQ :
What a great invention! You don't have to bring these with you, as depending on the time you can
drop into Wimbledon Village and pick them up in a supermarket.
Toilets / Wash Room Facilities
All readily available along Church Road at a number of different locations, you can't miss them.
Food and Snacks
You definitely won't go hungry as there are plenty of options regarding food during the day. The most
obvious is a short walk either into Southfields to the small array of shops/restaurants/take-aways
or the opposite way into Wimbledon Village which holds an even greater number of retailers.
Come late afternoon/evening while queuing you will be visited by a number of local take-aways
either walking or on scooters handing out their menus.
In the morning there are always one or two houses next to the AELTC who offer tea, coffee, bacon
rolls, etc.
The Weather
The Wimbledon Championships may be during the middle of summer in the UK, but that doesn't
guarantee the weather will be great. More often that not there is rain throughout the week
and it can still get rather cold at night, and even colder in the mornings.
Security
There are Stewards on both day and night shift to handle all problems. If anything
gets out of hand the Police are on tap so don't worry. Should you require any assistance throughout
the night just speak to one of the Stewards who patrol in small groups at regular intervals.
Left Luggage
This is where you can leave all your camping equipment and anything else you don't want to carry about
with you once inside the grounds. Left Luggage prior to 2003 could be taken to facilities within the
grounds of the AELTC as well as those located outside the grounds. However, for security reasons
Left Luggage facilities are now only available at 2 different loations outside the grounds
along Church Road opposite the AELTC. There is a small fee of £1.00 per item.
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