Wimbledon is one of the biggest sporting events in England and we have all the information you need if you are thinking of attending the tournament.
Attending Wimbledon is an item on the bucket list of many people but getting a ticket for the famous fortnight in south-west London is not easy.
Competition for places around the grass courts can be as fierce as some of the matches on them and there are a number of routes by which tennis fans can secure a place at the Grand Slam event.
With a potential French Open final rematch on the cards between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner – who are the top two favourites in the Wimbledon betting – this promises to be one of the most exciting majors in years, with tickets in high demand.
Below, we’ll explain the main methods by which you can try to acquire a ticket, as well as taking a detailed look at the queue process that is open to all.
How to get tickets for Wimbledon
Public Ballot
The Public Ballot is probably the most satisfying way to acquire tickets for Wimbledon but demand far exceeds supply each year so your chances of success are not high.
Applications on the official Wimbledon website open a year in advance and approximately one in 10 applicants will be successful.
Hospitality Tickets
Those who work for tournament sponsors or who have friends in high places may be invited to one of the many hospitality suites at Wimbledon for free, but hospitality packages can also be paid for.
This guarantees you a seat and usually comes with a sumptuous food and drink package but it comes at a significantly higher cost than the basic day tickets you can get from the Public Ballot or The Queue.
Debenture Seats
Those with even more money can gain access to Wimbledon tickets for a five-year period through the purchase of Debenture Seats.
These come at a steep cost running into five or even six figures, but provide access to a premium ticket for each day of the Championships.
These are the only Wimbledon tickets that are permitted to be sold to third parties if the holder cannot use them.
The cost of debentures themselves is prohibitive for most tennis fans, but the purchase of an available debenture seat for one day may just be in reach for a one-off purchase, although it will be a four-figure sum.
The Wimbledon Queue
The competition at Wimbledon each day begins long before the first ball is struck as a number of tickets are held back to be sold in The Queue, which has become an event in itself.
The Queue can start to form the evening before with some hopeful fans sleeping in tents overnight, to be joined by a rush of early-morning arrivals.
Which Tickets Are Available in The Queue?
Up to 500 tickets for Centre Court, No. 1 Court and No. 2 Court are available daily to early arrivals for all but the last four days of the tournament, but more Ground Pass tickets will be sold, which allow access on a first-come first-served basis to seats on the outside courts.
Where is The Queue?
The Queue starts at Wimbledon Park, which is a five-minute walk from Southfields underground station. Stewards are available to explain the process to newcomers.
How Does The Queue Work?
Fans arriving at the end of The Queue will be given a dated and numbered Queue card, which shows their position in the line and must be retained until you reach the Ticket Sales office.
You will also have to download the Wimbledon app and sign up to a myWIMBLEDON account in order to present your myWIMBLEDON ID to check into The Queue.
Early arrivals will receive a wristband enabling them to buy show-court tickets until the supply is exhausted.
What Facilities are there in The Queue?
Queueing fans are well provided for with toilet facilities in Wimbledon Park as well as food outlets, water refill stations and First Aid support.
What Rules are there for The Queue?
Smoking and vaping are not allowed, noise must be kept to a minimum and campers will be woken up at 6am by stewards in order to form a queue.
Which Matches Can You See With a Ground Pass Ticket?
A Grounds Pass ticket enables access to all matches on Courts 3 through 18, provided there is space. You can also opt to watch the top matches on the big screen from the famous Wimbledon Hill.
Other methods
Members of the Lawn Tennis Association who have LTA Advantage Membership may be able to receive tickets through the LTA ballot.
Local tennis clubs will also be provided with a limited number of tickets each year which can be given to or purchased by their members.
Returned Tickets is a method by which fans who accessed the grounds via The Queue can get a glimpse of the biggest stars in the game.
Anyone leaving the grounds who has no intention of returning on the same day is invited to hand in their tickets, which will then be made available for sale to Ground Pass holders at the Resale Kiosk. This can be found near Court No.18 at the top of St Mary’s Walk.
Anyone who had to make do with a Grounds Pass at the start of the day may be able to use this route to acquire Centre Court and No.1 Court tickets for an additional £10, while No.2 Court tickets can be purchased for £5 with proceeds donated to charities via the Wimbledon Foundation.
