Wimbledon

There are a lot of preconceptions about Wimbledon. It's hushed, it's polite, it's precise, it's elite, or even elitist. Here's the thing: it is these things, but not to the extent people think. Wimbledon is actually a very accessible event.

Hushed awe and polite applause is perhaps the preferred atmosphere for many of the tournament's most experienced attenders. But if you want to cheer and shout for your favourite player, or whoever has won your heart in the match you're watching, go right ahead. One or two people might give you odd looks (as happened to me a couple of times), but on the whole your fellow spectators kind of admire your enthusiasm. Plus, if you go to a match between two players from countries with big fanbases or passionate nationals, the atmosphere is much more exuberant. I found that out one year watching Poland's Magda Linette take on Ukraine's Elina Svitolina.

Now don't get me wrong, you do have to make your own entertainment between games. Unlike every other tennis event, they don't play music over the loudspeakers at all. But there's always a quiet hum of conversation even during play, especially on the bigger courts. Many people there aren't seasoned tennis fans, they're there to enjoy the day out, and their choice of Prosecco or Pimm's. Make no mistake though: if there's a big moment or high tension, you can hear a feather drop.

Walking around the grounds, it's a hive of activity. People making their way between courts, or to and from the food and drink vendors. Yet, so long as you pick the right spot, you can look around and admire the scenery. The lawns are cut to perfection and the flowers planted around add natural colour to everything. With running water cooling the air, hedgerows bordering the grounds, and ivy coating the external walls of Centre Court, the whole thing looks like a park. Perfect for the world's largest garden party, or a festival of sporting prowess.

The London Underground is the easiest way in.

Getting Wimbledon tickets is a unique process that really deserves its own guide, and braving the famous Queue is a whole separate adventure too.

Get there as soon as you can, queuing or not. Gates open at 10am and everyone has somewhere they want to be, so demand is hard to predict. Don't miss out.

Manage your expectations here. Of all the Grand Slams, Wimbledon gives fans the least access to the practice courts, and unlike other tournaments, they don't even post a practice schedule. So this one is very much luck of the draw.

The players warm up at the Aorangi practice courts during the tournament, and there's a viewing area where you can watch and, if you're lucky, grab a selfie or a signature. There's no telling who you'll catch on any given day. Your best move is to get there early, wait around, and see who turns up. No guarantees, but that's part of the fun.

This is the hardest thing to pull off at Wimbledon. There's actually an underground system that lets players move around the grounds in private, which is a real help to them at a Grand Slam, especially here. Wimbledon is the smallest slam by square footage and the grounds get very packed, so the players largely stay out of sight.

Your best bets are the viewing areas at the Aorangi practice courts, or an outside court if you come early, claim a front-row seat, and try your luck after the match. Be patient and kind, and have a pen ready just in case.

For the camera roll, these are the shots worth pausing for.

You can bring your own food on site, so a picnic in the tennis park is fair game. But a couple of things are worth buying.

The weather at Wimbledon is genuinely unpredictable. Tap each one as you sort it.

• A raincoat AND sunscreen. The weather really is that changeable.
• A reusable water bottle. Refill points are dotted across the site.
• A picnic, if you fancy. You're allowed to bring your own food in.
• An early start. Gates open at 10am and the best spots go fast.