How to do Wimbledon without breaking the bank
- Kick The Concrete
- 16 hours ago
- 6 min read
If you’re like us, you might think a day at Wimbledon would break the bank. Especially if you missed the Wimbledon Public Ballot option and start browsing for one of many hospitality packages that can cost an arm and a leg. But we were pleasantly surprised that with a little strategic planning, you can have a pleasant day without emptying your pocketbook.
Did you know that events outside the U.S. can be less expensive than those within? We figured this out a couple of years ago when we heard of people flying from the U.S. to Paris to see Beyoncé because the total package (airfare, lodging, event tickets, etc.) was cheaper than going to her show in the States. So in 2024, when we decided to spend the month of July in England, excited for all the sporting events we’d get to see (the F1 British Grand Prix and Wimbledon), we were happy to know we would spend less money than we have in the States for similar events.
Wimbledon Tips
We started our trip north of London to attend the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Our Airbnb hosts were very helpful with some local tips and tricks for how to attend Wimbledon.
From our English Airbnb hosts:
When the English athletes aren’t playing in the tournament that day, the grounds at Wimbledon are less crowded.
Everybody tries to get when the grounds open in the morning, so avoid the crowds by going around noon when The Queue is shortest.
Wimbledon Championships is in a small borough 8 miles outside of London called Merton. If you choose Uber, the traffic will be terrible, as it is anywhere in and around London. That’s why the extensive public transportation system is so helpful. The Tube is pretty easy to navigate. Choose your mode wisely.
And here's a tip from Kick The Concrete that we picked up:
Download the Wimbledon app and create a myWimbledon account to save time and avoid the hassle of doing both while walking The Queue.
Getting to Wimbledon
We took the advice of our hosts seriously and decided to head over to Wimbledon around 11:00 a.m. We took an Uber (£47/$64) from the West Kilburn area. The plan worked as traffic was fairly light in town (the borough of Merton) since it was later in the morning. Our Uber driver got us close enough to the grounds that it was about a seven minute walk to The Queue.
The Queue at Wimbledon
When we arrived, there was no line at The Queue. We walked right through the roped grid and up to the service desk. While we were walking, event personnel instructed us to download the myWimbledon app and create an account. Our plan was to buy a Grounds Pass — which grants access to all the courts except No. 1 Court, No. 2 Court and Centre Court — as well as all concessions, shopping vendors and The Hill. We wanted to then go up to the Ticket Resale Kiosk to put our name in for Centre Court.
Grounds Passes are £30 ($41) at The Queue for the start of the Wimbledon tournament. They decrease to £25 ($34) then £20 ($27) as the Championship matches approach and there are less matches played in a day. We went on a day when quarterfinals were being played and a Grounds Pass cost £25 ($34).
Ticket Resale Kiosk at Wimbledon
After entering the grounds, we headed straight for the Ticket Resale Kiosk where we put our name in for returned Show Court tickets. When people with tickets to Centre Court, No. 1 Court or No. 2 Court leave the complex, Wimbledon resells the tickets to other fans at a discounted rate. You need your myWimbledon app to choose which one of three courts you wish to visit, Centre Court, No. 1 Court or No. 2 Court. The tickets start being allotted after 3 p.m. Resale tickets on Centre Court are £15 ($20) and No. 1 Court and No. 2 Court tickets are £10 ($14).
We put our names in for Centre Court. The resale tickets are only available in singles or pairs, so the three of us got a pair and a single. We got to the kiosk around 1:30 p.m. and all of us were well into the 2,800s on the waitlist. Fingers crossed.
We walked around a bit and took in the sights around the Wimbledon grounds (more on that below). Then, low and behold…
Our number was called! All three of us! In the famous Centre Court!
A quick note on why our number in the 2,800s got called: Novak Djokovic received a walkover into the semis because Alex de Minaur was injured in his previous match. So their match at Centre Court in the quarterfinals was cancelled and a Ladies Invitation Doubles Match was played in its place. People who were hoping to see Djokovic left for the day, giving us, nearly 3,000th in line, the opportunity to get Centre Court tickets.
The Centre Court Ladies Invitational Match between Ashleigh Barty and Casey Dellacqua and Andrea Petkovic and Magdalena Rybarikova was a thrill. Lots of back and forth — not just with a tennis ball but funny jabs and grunts of frustration or cheers upon success of getting the ball where one wanted it. What a fun way to experience such a venerated sports venue!
What to Eat and Drink at Wimbledon
While we were waiting for our number to be called for Centre Court tickets, we got lunch in the Walled Garden Food Market (£13/$17.60 on average for a sandwich) and washed it down with a pitcher of Pimm’s and lemonade (£11.95/$16.22 for a reusable glass). Pimm’s No. 1 is a gin infused with herbs and spices. At the Championships, it is served with lemonade, “fruit cup” style (with strawberries, oranges and mint). And it is delicious.
We ended the day with the famous Strawberries and Cream… So simple and so sweet. We saved the best for last. At only £2.70 ($3.66) it is easily the most affordable, enjoyable treat at the Championships. If a similar dessert was served at an event in the United States like the Super Bowl, it would cost way more than that.
The Hill at Wimbledon
After lunch, we wandered around a bit and then found a seat just above The Hill. We decided to sit in a grandstand right in front of the famous waterfall you see in all the promotional videos for Wimbledon. It wasn’t the best seat in the house because the people walking by blocked the screen showing the quarterfinal match between Taylor Fritz and Lorenzo Musetti, but it was a fun place to people-watch and enjoy a view of the city. And it was close to Pimm’s on The Hill. Yes, we got another pitcher of Pimm’s.
Shopping at Wimbledon
Of course you have to visit the Centre Court Wimbledon Shop. There is something for everyone. We chose the Polo Ralph Lauren snap up fleece jacket. Ralph Lauren has been synonymous with Wimbledon since it became the official outfitter in 2006 and is the definition of class. There were other trinkets and mementos that had Wimbledon's signature purple and green colors with some tennis balls and strawberries. The baby onesies that said "Quiet Please" were so cute.
The sponsor souvenirs were also fun. There was a metal water bottle by Evian that had pink, green and purple tennis balls on it that was a must-have.
Leaving Wimbledon
We left the Wimbledon Championship grounds at dinnertime. We walked down to Wimbledon Hill Road and decided to eat at Sticks ‘N’ Sushi right in Wimbledon Village. It was on our list of restaurants to check out since it is F1 champion Fernando Alonso’s favorite sushi place when visiting England for the British Grand Prix. We loved the atmosphere and the food hit the spot.
Since we had no timeframe for getting back to our Airbnb, we decided to take the Tube home. On our walk to the Wimbledon station, we came upon The Alexandra, a pub that was playing the Euro Championship semifinal match, England vs. Netherlands. We had to grab a pint and check it out. England won 2-1 and the crowd was excited, although slightly subdued. It was a tennis crowd, after all.
Cost of a Day at Wimbledon
We estimate our day at Wimbledon cost us $400 for three people. For an event that seems unattainable to many in the States, it was very affordable. And a check off the good old bucket list, for sure.
Wimbledon Grounds Passes: £25 x 3 = £75 ($102)
Centre Court Resale Tickets: £15 x 3 = £45 ($61)
Sandwiches: £13 x 3 = £39 ($53)
Pimm’s: £10.20 x 3 = £30.60 ($42)
Strawberries & Cream: £2.70 ($3.66)
Uber ride to Wimbledon: £47 ($64)
Tube fare back to Airbnb using Oyster card (Wimbledon to Kensal Green): £3.80 x 3 = £11.40 ($15.50)
TOTAL: £250.70 ($341.16)
We hope this inspires you to make your own day trip to Wimbledon if you happen to be in England!