Can I queue to get show court tickets?
Yes, Wimbledon is one of the few major sporting events where you can buy premium tickets on the day of play – I have managed it three times. There are 500 Centre Court, Court 1 and Court 2 tickets available each day (except for Centre Court on the final four days).
When should I arrive?
You would have to camp for at least one night for the best chance of show court tickets. To give you a rough idea, in 2013 I arrived at the Queue (it has a capital Q where Wimbledon is concerned) at 2pm on Saturday for the second Monday and was 337th in line. I camped for two nights and secured Centre Court tickets. In 2011 I joined the Queue on Sunday at around 2pm, was 1,450th in line, camped for one night and got Court 2 seats.
How is it organised?
Once you get to the complex, via Church Road, a steward will show you to the end of the Queue and where to pitch your tent. They will also give you the all-important dated and numbered queue card which confirms your place. Keep this safe – you will know then if you have secured show court tickets and those who are eligible for court tickets will get wristbands on the morning of play.
What if I just want to get into the complex?
For ground passes you can queue from 6am, when campers dismantle their tents and form a standing queue. You could join the queue later, but by lunchtime it will be sizeable. With a ground pass you can watch matches on Courts 3-19, where seats are unreserved or take a spot on Henman Hill/Murray Mound. You can join a little later and still gain late entry after 5pm at a cheaper rate if you aren’t too bothered about getting court seats.
Do you have to camp on the pavement?
No. Camping is in Wimbledon Park and there are toilets and a cafe nearby. There is a great atmosphere and everyone, especially the stewards, is friendly. Take a tent (maximum two person), sleeping bag, pillow, camping chair, picnic mat, sun cream, waterproofs, food and drink, playing cards and ball games to pass the time, portable phone charger and maybe John McEnroe fancy dress if you want to be caught on camera. BBQs are not allowed. And leave the selfie sticks at home – they are banned inside the grounds.
Can you actually sleep?
The stewards will get everyone to settle down at 10pm and go inside their tents for the night. Wimbledon is at pains to keep disruption to local residents to a minimum, which is fair enough. Try to get as much sleep as possible – an airbed made a huge difference for me. If you’ve ever seen sleepy Wimbledon spectators on TV then they are most likely very tired campers! You’ll be woken up early at around 6am to dismantle your tent and leave camping equipment (max size of 60x45x25cm) in the left luggage facilities for £5, with smaller items costing £1. I recommend waking up even earlier to avoid long left luggage queues. Burgers and pizza are available from food vans in the park and local businesses hand out takeaway menus, from which you can order for delivery to the Wimbledon Park Road Gate entrance. Alternatively take your own picnic, Pimm’s and lemonade!
Are you allowed to leave the queue?
Only for toilet or refreshment breaks. If you leave the queue for a long time (more than 30 minutes) you could lose your place. A couple of years ago two guys were almost kicked out of the queue as their neighbours believed they had not actually slept in their tents, so don’t risk it.
Any other tips?
Check the order of play the evening before to see which court you want tickets for. Even if you are say, 200th in the Queue you can still opt for Court 1 or Court 2 tickets. Make sure you have enough cash to pay for your tickets at the turnstiles (they don’t accept cards). Ask if there are any seats near the players’ entrance on Centre Court if you want to get autographs. Most importantly, enjoy the tennis and have fun.
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