The Queue

What you are getting into

It is not unusual to have a sporting event where you can turn up on the day and see what tickets are still left. It is not even that unusual in tennis; the US Open still has a box office you can walk up to, though whether you'll get any tickets there is debatable. But Wimbledon is one of the last events where arriving on the day is genuinely encouraged. And of course, being done in Britain, it has to be conducted in the most orderly fashion possible.

The word "tradition" can spark divisive reactions depending on how you feel about it. This is one that Wimbledon does well. They have been doing it for over a century, continuing even in the twenty-first century age of online kiosks. We are here to help you know what to expect, with some top tips to make the most of a very long day.

What you can actually get

This is why you are queuing, so let us make sure you are successful. Once you reach the gates, you can buy a ticket for any court.

If you want Centre Court, Court One or Court Two, there are 500 tickets per court for those willing to queue. That covers roughly 10% of everyone in line, so get there before sunrise if a show court is the goal. Camping overnight is an option they cater for. That said, I have turned up around 7am and found a single Court Two ticket still waiting at the gate, so luck plays its part.

If a trusty Ground Pass is what you are after, you can turn up at pretty much any time. The queue caps around 10,000 before it switches to a one in, one out policy, so I would still get there as early as you can. It varies how quickly they let people in, and arriving too late risks missing the start of play. Before 8am is the safest bet. Do not push it much past that.

How to find the field

The queue happens in Wimbledon Park, opposite the All England Club. It winds across one of the many clearings in the urban jungle of London. It looks like thousands of people all decided to have a picnic breakfast in the same field on the same morning.

Given how early you arrive, staying nearby is a must. Some camp on site, and a line of tents always appears along the trees in the centre of the park. Camping is free, gives you the best shot at a show court ticket, and at the very least guarantees you get in with time to spare for a Ground Pass. You can arrive any time the day before to camp, though you can only start queuing for the following day.

Camping is not for everyone. Plenty of people would rather sleep in a warm bed first. If you live in London it is no problem; roll out of bed and onto the Underground. Even just outside London is doable, you just sacrifice an hour or two of sleep. If you are further out, stay somewhere in the city.

The Underground really is the best way in. Get out at Southfields Station and it is a straight walk to the park entrance where the queue begins. Signs and banners on every lamp post point you the right way.

The friendliest line in tennis

When you enter the park you are directed to the back of the queue as it snakes across the field. Stewards then make their way through handing out printed branded cards with a number on, showing your place. Hold onto that card and you are free to step out of line until you reach the gates. There are food trucks and toilets in the queue area, so the basics are covered while you wait. And you will wait at least a couple of hours before the line moves.

That wait creates one of the friendliest vibes in tennis. You can talk to the people in front, behind, or both, building a little huddle. I still remember conversations with total strangers: Brits who have come for years, families on their first visit, Americans on holiday trying it for the first time, Europeans hoping to see their player. Everyone is there because they love tennis. In that moment it is a real community.

The line usually starts moving around 10am. You wind through a specially built path lined with sponsor activities, shops and bars, and at the end are the gates, where you ask the attendant for your Ground Pass or chosen ticket. It is a marvel of patience and organisation that is uniquely British.

One expectation to manage: there is no player spotting out here, since the whole queue sits outside the grounds. There are staged photo spots as you near the gates, but the outside vibe is more about selfies with friends than the outfit shot. Save that for once you are inside.