NEWS
EVENTS
Doing Wimbledon in style
Other | Tuesday 5th May 2015 | Annalisa
Going to Wimbledon is something of a British institution. It conjures up memories of strawberries and cream, Cliff Richard, BBC commentators and of course, the familiar sound of the tennis ball on racket. But that doesn’t mean that attending Wimbledon has to be a cliché. There are still ways that you can visit this famous event with a bit of style. So if you’re thinking of seeing what championship tennis is all about, here are a few pointers.
Getting there
The Wimbledon Tennis Championships are held annually between June and July at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in southwest London. Driving to the event can be a bit of a nightmare as there are limited parking spaces, so instead, public transport is a much wiser option.
By far the easiest way to get there is to take the tube from the District line to either Wimbledon or Southfields where a handy shuttle bus will be waiting to take you directly to the venue. And there are also trams available that run every fifteen minutes from East Croydon station, or train services that run from London Waterloo directly to Wimbledon station too.
Getting In
The ticketing system for Wimbledon can be somewhat complex as the main way to get tickets is to enter a ballot that is held the previous year that places people in a draw for the prized tickets.
But if you’re feeling lucky, then a limited number of tickets for Centre, Number 1, Number 2 courts and Grounds Admission are available on each match day. Just remember to get there early to brave the queues!
The main event
As for the actual matches, the competition kicks off on Monday 29 June and lasts until the highly anticipated finals on the weekend of 11 and 12 July.
Favourites for the men’s competition include the Serbian player Novak Djokovic who has displayed some impressive form in recent tournaments including the Australian Open where he beat Andy Murray in just four sets.
As for the women’s competition, all eyes will be on Serena Williams who will be looking to equal Steffi Graf’s record of 22 majors in a single season. For all of the latest Wimbledon news and updates, check the Coral website.
Other attractions
And whilst the tennis is undoubtedly the main attraction, Wimbledon is such an iconic fixture on the sporting calendar that should you stray away from the courts, you can still participate in the party atmosphere.
If you fancy autograph hunting, then head to the Aorangi Pavilion for a meet and greet session with the world’s top players. And for those of you with a musical leaning, then on the morning of second Tuesday the Wandsworth Pops Orchestra will play a selection of classics on the Tea Lawn – the perfect accompaniment for that well-deserved strawberries and cream!
