Wimbledon??

[Redsgirl]

This is my favourite ever sporting event, and I would love to go during the championships, but I've never applied for tickets as the lottery aspect makes it difficult for me to organise babysitters etc.

What I could maybe do though is if I can get a day free during the fortnight just jump on a train and turn up, I don't mind queueing or just hanging about, If I could get on the hill it would be great, if I could buy court tickets it would be fantastic!

I've had a look at the website with regards to this, but I'm still not sure what to expect, has anyone else ever on here just tried there luck on the day??
Advice please!

[Woodsey]

Yes I've done it but not for a few years, you need to turn up very early but you should get in to see the lesser games on the outside courts. It's better in the first week when there is more games to see on the outside courts. Might be worth taking a little picnic or something as its very expensive inside.

[TightEnd]

Get the tube to Southfields

Walk out of the tube and go straight on for about a mile

You'll come to the queue for tickets on the day/returns

Obviously the first week you can turn up and have the run of the outer courts and a place on the hill to watch the show courts on the big tv screens

If you arrive late one day, you can find departing people from centre and number one handing tickets back at the returns office, but there's no certainty on that

Used to live at Southfields and went every year round the outside courts, picking and choosing which matches to watch with complete freedom. its a great day

[TightEnd]

oh and Woodsey is right. food and drink prices are extortionate. picnic, shop before you go, eat before you go and save yourself £25-30 of spend per head over a full day in there...

[Woodsey]

Also doubles games are far more entertaining live than singles IMO, I'd be looking for those first probably unless you can get to see a big name.

[Graham C]

Are you allowed to wonder in and out of matches on the outer courts?

[Woodsey]

Are you allowed to wonder in and out of matches on the outer courts?

Yep you can just mill around the non ticket/show courts.

[Graham C]

Nice, I didn't realise that

[Ant040689]

Been a few times, and I found the most enjoyable aspect of the day was, especially during the first week with many games, was that you could watch little snippets of all the games, and just carry on walking to the next court to watch a bit of another game instead.

Would advise queuing up once inside, for the unreserved seating section of court no.3, as you get a stadium feel of the tennis for free, as you have to pay for no.2, no.1 and centre courts.

I was never one for sitting on the hill to watch the big screen, much preferred to watch any other game in person.

It does really hit home how hard some of these guys hit a tennis ball too. Saw a Ivo Karlovic serve in person, and that is borderline attempted assault when he connects with one.

[Redsgirl]

Thanks a lot guys, its starting to sound very do-able now. Excited already
 How early is early by the way?

[Doobs]

If you get there at 8, you should still get in.  You have to queue for hours obv.  You have to get three very early to get centre and number 1.  You can also just show up in the afternoon, I have been after leaving work early, and just watch a couple of hours.

Would recommend asking for court 1 or centre no matter how late you are. My wife badgered me to ask on year, and I was confidently telling there was no chance at all, so I asked in order to prove my point... The fella goes hold on I think we have two for number 1, I'll just check. 

Definitely prefer touring the outside courts, rather than watching the screens.  If you go in the first couple of days, you should be able to cheer on a few Brits.

Don't think the food is so bad.  You can get fairly average  fish and chips for about £7 and think noodles were about the same.  Always feel obliged to buy a pimms when there.  Think it is about £4 and a few strawberries are about £2.50.  But you are on a special day, right?  We were also offered a trip in to hospitality for afternoon tea one year.  I wouldn't bother, it was a bit rubbish.

[Waz1892]

Thanks a lot guys, its starting to sound very do-able now. Excited already
 How early is early by the way?

When the gorgeous Steffi Graf was around, I was a huge fan, so followed her every year, so things may have changed recently, as I'm talking late eighties, early nineties, but early was the previous evening to get Centre court tickets on the Tuesday (which was always the defending ladies champion day)

so i used to start queuing on the monday evening for Tuesday games, and I wasn't alone!  Never failed to get front row, centre.

[EvilPie]

Thanks a lot guys, its starting to sound very do-able now. Excited already
 How early is early by the way?

When the gorgeous Steffi Graf was around, I was a huge fan, so followed her every year, so things may have changed recently, as I'm talking late eighties, early nineties, but early was the previous evening to get Centre court tickets on the Tuesday (which was always the defending ladies champion day)

so i used to start queuing on the monday evening for Tuesday games, and I wasn't alone!  Never failed to get front row, centre.

Gunter?

[Waz1892]

Thanks a lot guys, its starting to sound very do-able now. Excited already
 How early is early by the way?

When the gorgeous Steffi Graf was around, I was a huge fan, so followed her every year, so things may have changed recently, as I'm talking late eighties, early nineties, but early was the previous evening to get Centre court tickets on the Tuesday (which was always the defending ladies champion day)

so i used to start queuing on the monday evening for Tuesday games, and I wasn't alone!  Never failed to get front row, centre.

Gunter?

Hated him at the time. By doing what he did for the reasons he states he did it, shows he was a fool, as he actions acknowledged that Seles was a relevant threat to Steffi.  She wasn't. Ever. Wimbledon '92 proved that

[Woodsey]

I worked at Wimbledon a few times when a student and had a pass that got me into a lot of places, saw the final twice because half my mates worked security lol.