Wimbledon
Travel Guide
The Queue is its own London institution. Whether you're joining it at 5am or bypassing it entirely with a debenture ticket, getting to Wimbledon without a fuss takes a bit of knowing — here's what you need.
39,000
daily grounds capacity at The Championships
10 min
walk from Southfields station to the All England Club
5am
earliest sensible Queue arrival for Centre Court
2 weeks
duration of The Championships each summer
Getting there
Four ways to Wimbledon
District Line (direct)
The District line runs directly to Southfields and Wimbledon Park — the two closest stations to the All England Club. No changes needed from Central London. From Earls Court, it's just 12 minutes to Southfields.
Trains every 4–8 minLondon Overground
The Overground serves Wimbledon station, connecting from Clapham Junction, West Croydon and beyond. Useful for fans coming from south-west London. From Wimbledon station it's a 20-minute walk or shuttle bus to the grounds.
Shuttle bus available during ChampionshipsNational Rail
Wimbledon station is served by South Western Railway from London Waterloo (18 minutes direct) and Thameslink from Farringdon and City Thameslink. A great option for Waterloo commuters heading to The Championships.
Waterloo to Wimbledon: 18 minTramlink
Wimbledon Tram stop connects to Croydon, Mitcham and Beckenham. If you're travelling from Croydon or south of Wimbledon, the tram drops you right at Wimbledon station for the shuttle or walk to the grounds.
From Croydon: ~30 min tramThe institution
Before & after your visit
The Queue
Wimbledon's most famous institution — always capitalised
- Arrive by 5–6am: Best chance of Centre Court ground pass tickets
- Arrive by 8am: Typically reaches No.1 Court access
- Arrive by 9–10am: Outside courts — still a brilliant Wimbledon experience
- After 5pm: Ground pass holders move to Centre Court FREE — remaining matches
- Day 1 & 2: Hardest days to queue — arrive earliest or book in advance
After close of play
- Option 1: Walk 15 min to Wimbledon station — more trains, night buses, tram options
- Option 2: Southfields station — fine if you leave before final match ends
- Option 3: Pre-booked tickets: stay until close — trains run until midnight
- Last match: Can end at 9pm+ on long days — check last trains before you go
Ground pass tip: the 5pm rule
After 5pm during The Championships, all ground pass holders can enter Centre Court to watch remaining matches completely free. Stay late for the best value day out.
Station by station
Which station to use and when
Southfields
DistrictWimbledon
DistrictOvergroundWimbledon Park
DistrictAsk Roamer
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Popular questions
Food & drink
Eat & drink like Wimbledon
Wimbledon essentials
- Strawberries & cream — Compulsory. Sold throughout the grounds at fixed price
- Pimm's & lemonade — The signature Championships drink — iconic
- Murray's Bar — Centre Court members only — worth knowing for future
Pre-match pubs
- Hand & Racquet — Near Southfields — popular with tennis fans
- Alexandra Arms — Cosy local near Wimbledon Park station
- The Fox & Grapes — Wimbledon Common — great if you want open air
Sit-down restaurants
- Côte Brasserie — Wimbledon High Street — lovely pre-match French bistro
- The Light Bar — Wimbledon town centre — popular with families
- Cannizaro House — Elegant hotel restaurant on Wimbledon Common
Quick options
- Southfields High St cafés — Multiple options 5 min from the station
- Queue food stalls — During Championships, food stalls serve The Queue overnight
- Centre Court shopping — Marks & Spencer at Wimbledon station — grab-and-go
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What is The Queue at Wimbledon?
The Queue (always capitalised at Wimbledon) is the famous overnight queue for day tickets to The Championships. Fans camp in Wimbledon Park the night before to secure ground passes — and those at the front have the best chance of Centre Court and No.1 Court tickets. It is an institution unique to Wimbledon, celebrated as part of the tournament's character.
Which station is nearest to Wimbledon?
Southfields on the District line is the closest station — a 10-minute walk to the All England Club. During The Championships it gets extremely busy with dedicated queue management systems in place. Wimbledon Park (also District line) is a quieter alternative, 15 minutes walk away.
Can I walk from Wimbledon station?
Yes — Wimbledon station (District line, National Rail and Tram) is about a 20-minute walk to the All England Club. During The Championships, a dedicated shuttle bus service runs from Wimbledon station to the grounds, which is popular for No.1 Court overflow and ground pass holders.
How much are Queue tickets (ground passes)?
Ground passes (purchased at the gate by queuers) cost between £10 and £27 depending on the day and session. They grant access to the grounds without a specific seat — though after 5pm, all ground pass holders can enter Centre Court free of charge to watch remaining matches.
Is Wimbledon accessible for wheelchair users?
Yes — the All England Lawn Tennis Club has excellent accessibility provision. For the most accessible route, use Wimbledon station (via National Rail or District line) which has better step-free access to the grounds than Southfields. The AELTC website has a dedicated accessibility page with advance booking details.
What time do Wimbledon grounds open?
The grounds open at 10:30am for most sessions. However, The Queue starts forming much earlier — some dedicated fans arrive the night before to camp out. A 6am arrival typically gives a good chance of Centre Court tickets, 8am usually reaches No.1 Court, and 9am-plus generally gets access to the outside courts.
Quick journeys
Plan your route to Wimbledon
Earl's Court → Wimbledon
District direct to Southfields
Victoria → Wimbledon
District via Earl's Court
Waterloo → Wimbledon
District via Earl's Court (or NR direct)
King's Cross → Wimbledon
District various
London Bridge → Wimbledon
Jubilee to Waterloo then District
Clapham Junction → Wimbledon
National Rail to Wimbledon
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