Tickets for the Wimbledon Championships
Did you manage to bag a ticket this year?
What to do if you missed the ballot….
If you were unlucky in the public ballot for Wimbledon tickets this year, here are your options, so you don’t miss out on the action on those immaculate lawns.
Join the Great British Queue
The obvious answer here is, the earlier you join the daily queue, the greater the chance you have of getting that elusive Center Court ticket.
Believe me, people camp out overnight, and even your tent is in a queue.
Who Knew?
There’s a queueing <a href="http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/aboutwimbledon/queuing_code_of_conduct.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">code of conduct</a>
Wake up call
So, if you did risk the Great British weather and sleep under the stars, you’ll be woken at 6am by a steward and asked to pack your bits together and form a tighter queue.
Then at around 7:30am stewards will start to issue wristbands to those towards the front of the queue, for the show courts (Centre Court, No.1, No.2). These wristbands will only be issued for the exact number of seats available that day.
Point to Note
One ticket per person, don’t think you can grab a few for your buddies who turn up later.
Grounds Passes
Several thousand Grounds Passes are also available each day at the turnstiles. So, you can use these for the unreserved seating and standing areas on Courts No.3 to 18 (known as ‘Outside Courts’).
Don’t forget as these types of tickets are Grounds Passes, you can sit on Henman Hill or Murray Mount (you name it, depending on your era, I suppose you could also have Perry’s Peak) and watch all the action on the big screen.
The grounds open at 10:30am, so if you didn’t camp or join the back of the queue a few hours earlier, you might be disappointed.
Good to know
On the last four days of the Championship, Centre Court tickets are sold out in advance, and you will not be offered these if you are queuing
Resale Tickets
If you managed to get a, Grounds Pass keep an eye on the Ticket Resale kiosk after 3pm. If a current ticket holder had to leave early for the day, they have the option of handing back their tickets for resale (or have it scanned if you wish to keep it as a souvenir), so that others can enjoy your seats at a small charge and the proceeds are given to charity.
Some matches continue on later into the evening & often some spectators need to leave.
Be Warned
Do not buy tickets from touts; chances are they will not gain you access. Other than ‘Debenture’ tickets all other tickets are non-transferable and cannot be sold or offered for sale. If you are unable to use your Public Ballot ticket, then contact the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
Big Brother is watching you….
Another Option
Is via Ticketmaster online daily ticket sales, several hundred tickets are sold online via the Ticketmaster.co.uk website the day before play.
As you can imagine these tickets sell fast, however, to be one of the first to know each day of the sales, register to MyWimbledon. You’ll also be kept up to date on other tennis goings on.
Wimbledon Souvenir
Used tennis balls are occasionally sold from the Wimbledon Foundation kiosk near Court 14, with the proceeds donated to the Wimbledon Foundation.
Other possibilities (depending on budget)
Obtaining a hospitality ticket, which unless you are ‘in the know’ could be quite expensive.
Equally the same with Debenture tickets, as mentioned these can be sold via secondary websites. However, ensure that you are completely happy with the origin of the ticket, as Debenture seats are not allocated until the end of May.
Some package holiday breaks are available via Newmarket Holidays.
Lastly, if you are a member of a Tennis Club or federation, they may have had an allocation.
There’s always next year
If you want to enter the ballot for next year, here’s how to go about it.
You’ll be entered into a public ballot for tickets for Centre, No.1, No.2 or No.3 Court for The Championships.
- The opening date for the Public Ballot is usually 1 September.
- Public Ballot application forms are available until 15 December.
- The closing date for receipt of all completed ballot applications is 31 December.
- Successful applicants will be notified from February the following year.
Point to Note
There is a separate application form for wheelchair spaces, so ensure that you write ‘WHEELCHAIR’ clearly on both envelopes.
In Summary
1. Join the queue
2. Daily Ticketmaster sales
3. Hospitality tickets
4. Debenture tickets
5. Packaged tour
6. Watch it on TV and apply for the public ballot next year
Or last resort you can have mine……..ONLY JOKING!!!!
Oops we did it again
Did I forget to mention that my mum and I managed to get tickets for 2018 Championship, how lucky are we?
Inspired to visit Wimbledon?
Don’t take my word for it, enjoy the Great British spirit and join the queue.
Why not checkout the latest deals on Booking.Com?
(Why not Pin It for Later?)
Comments
Congrats for getting tickets to this year’s Wimbledon, well done! I’ve always wanted to watch tennis at Wimbledon but I was told that the tickets are difficult to get for they are sold out pretty quick! For now, I shall make do with the telly 🙂 Have fun at Wimbledon. Hope you write about your experience 🙂 #FarawayFiles
Thanks Kat, my mum and I have been very lucky, we have managed to get tickets through the public ballot on and off for the last 10 years or so.If you don’t get tickets through the ballot, I think the next best way is queuing. However, I have also enjoyed a Pimms and the pleasure of strawberries & cream at home many times.
I’m not a big tennis fan, gasp, I know, weird isn’t it? Wow! I admit that I had no idea how difficult it is to get tickets to Wimbledon. How lucky are you and your mom!! I know what its like to try and get tickets to popular events and enjoyed reading about this! Thank you for sharing on #farawayfiles
I believe that Wimbledon is one of the hardest tennis events to get tickets for. I have been applying via the public ballot for the last 15 years or so, however, in the last 10 years we have been pretty lucky.My mum and I are really looking forward to it.
This is a really useful guide for getting tickets, Janis. I think it’s a bit harsh waking people up at six in the morning though! Hope you enjoy your visit this summer. #FarawayFiles
Thanks very much, I hope it comes in handy for some folk. I agree, I have never actually camped overnight for the tickets, so not too sure how I would be, if woken up so early then to find it is raining.I think I’ll stick to applying through the ballot.
Oh how I’d love to go to Wimbledon! I’m a huge fan of tennis and play it obsessively myself, and I had a great uncle who won doubles at Wimbledon! Thanks for this useful guide for the very coveted tickets! Thanks for linking up with #farawayfiles
You should apply through the ballot one year, you never know you may be lucky. I found persistence pays off.That’s interesting about your great uncle, what was his name?I hope you get there one day, the atmosphere is wonderful, everyone is friendly, upbeat and just there to have an enjoyable day.