Wimbledon Ticket Queue & Camping: The Complete Guide

If you don't manage to get tickets to the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament through the Public Ballot, you could try joining the famous Wimbledon Queue. If you are prepared to start queuing early enough, this is one of the cheapest ways to get a Show Court seat at the Championships.

The Wimbledon Championships Queue

The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) keeps a number of tickets in reserve for allocation to the Wimbledon queue.

For each day of play at the Championships, the following (approximate) number of tickets are distributed to people in the queue:

• 500 tickets for Centre Court (excluding last 4 days)
• 500 tickets No.1 Court
• 500 tickets No.2 Court
• A few thousand Ground Passes

How does the Wimbledon Queue work?

The Queue works on a first-come, first-served basis.

When you join the Queue, you will be given a card showing your number in the queue. If your number is below 500, there is a very high probability that you will get a ticket for Centre Court. There are no guarantees however, as there may fewer than 500 Centre Court tickets available for the day.

If you miss out on Centre Court, you could still get tickets to No.1 Court or No.2 Court. Again, no guarantees.

Miss out on the Show Court tickets and you could still get a Ground Pass and end up watching matches on the outside courts, or on the big screen on Henman Hill.

Where is the Queue?

The Wimbledon Queue starts in Wimbledon Park. The nearest train station is Southfields.

Queuing on your own or as a pair

You can join the Wimbledon Queue on your own or as a pair. If you are successful, you will have the option to buy a single ticket as an individual or two tickets if you are with a companion. Wimbledon debenture tickets

Can I leave the Wimbledon Queue without losing my place?

Yes, but only for 30 minutes. If you need to leave the Queue for any reason, you can re-join it at the same point - as long as you return within 30 minutes.

The Queue is actively monitored by Wimbledon Stewards who tend to take a hard line. If you are late in returning to the Queue, you might get away with it but in all probability, you will lose your place.

If you lose your queue card, you will also lose your place.

How early should I start queuing for Wimbledon tickets?

Competition for tickets gets fiercer every year. Joining the Queue as early as possible is the best way to maximise your chances of getting a ticket.

It is generally held that, to be in with a chance of getting a seat on Centre Court or No.1 Court, you should join the Queue before midday the day before.

And this means camping out for the night...

See also: What time do the Wimbledon Championships open and close?

Camping overnight in the Wimbledon Queue

If you are serious about watching play on the Show Courts, you should plan on camping out for the night before the day you wish to attend.

The AELTC provides a limited number of camping pitches within the Grounds. When you arrive at the Grounds, the Stewards will direct you to a pitch for your tent.

With your tent erected, you will need to stay put until you have been given your queue card. You could find yourself waiting hours before you receive a card as there is no schedule for this.

Once you have your queue card, you can then leave your place and get something to eat, locate the toilets or just have a wander.

The AELTC will usually lay on a heated marquee, offering catering, live music and television coverage.

The Stewards will start to encourage campers to quieten down at around 10.30pm. Most people retire to their tents at this point, but with the combination of snoring and excited banter about the next day, you might want to take some earplugs.

People typically start to rise as early as 5am. A lie-in is unlikely, as the noise of people getting up and taking down their tents will probably wake you up.

In any event, the stewards will start waking everyone up at 6am. You will now have until the security opens at 9:15am to grab some breakfast.

Once the gates open, it's the moment of truth as tickets will start to be allocated.

Camping’s not for me…

If you don't fancy spending the night under canvas, you could arrive early on the day (think 5am) and still stand a good chance of getting a Ground Pass.

With a Ground Pass you can access the Wimbledon Grounds and Unreserved Courts.

The Unreserved Courts (Courts 3 to 18) are outdoor courts that host a variety of matches throughout the Tournament. It is still possible to see highly ranked players on the unreserved courts – especially in the first week of the Championships.

Even if you cannot get a seat on an Unreserved Court, you can still soak up the atmosphere with a picnic near the big screen on Henman Hill.

See also: How many courts does Wimbledon have and what's the difference?

What should I wear when queuing at Wimbledon?

The forecast may look good, but expect the unexpected. This is the UK after all. Even if the outlook is fair, pack an umbrella and waterproof jacket in anticipation of the mercurial British summer weather.

You should also wear 'sensible' shoes rather than flip-flops or sandals. There can be a lot of walking involved in the queuing process. If you do get a ticket, you will end up covering quite some distance once you enter the Grounds.

What else should I take with me when queuing at Wimbledon?

Take plenty of sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses, as you could get sunburned when sitting around for protracted periods.

The night will be cooler so a sleeping bag is a must. You might also want to take a thermos flask.

If you will be waiting around for a long time, a cheap fold-up chair and a picnic blanket is a good idea.

Think about anything else that will help you get a good night's sleep, but won’t be either too bulky to carry around or too valuable to throw away. For more information see our article on what you should take.

There are a few shops nearby if you need anything, but they can be expensive.

A mobile phone, charger and spare battery are essential

From 2021, the AELTC migrated to e-tickets. E-tickets are downloaded to a myWimbledon App which will need to be installed on an Android or IOS mobile phone.

You can also install the myWimbledon App on a PC device or tablet, but it must be capable of connecting to the internet to show your ticket on entering or repentering the grounds. Wimbledon will not accept an offline copy or screenshot of the ticket, and will not accept a printed paper copy.

See also: Is there public Wi-Fi access at the Wimbledon Championships?

What are the food and drink options when queuing at Wimbledon?

The Queue experience includes access to a service tent where you can buy snacks, such as sandwiches, baguettes, pastries and drinks throughout the day.

You can take a picnic with you or order take-aways or food deliveries from local eateries.

You can also go and pick up food but remember, you must not leave your position in the queue for more than 30 minutes or you will lose your place.

Are there any toilets or facilities for people in the queue?

There are toilets in Wimbledon Park and a few places to sit down along the queue route, but the facilities can get crowded, so be prepared for a long wait.

Is there anywhere to wash or take a shower?

No, not on the Wimbledon Grounds. However, seasoned queuers will buy a day pass from one of the local gyms.

In summary

The following are our top 10 tips for queuing at Wimbledon:

1. Arrive as early as possible. This will give you a better chance of getting tickets to see world-class tennis on the court and day of your choice.
2. If planning to camp overnight, be prepared with a pop-up tent, sleeping bag, blow up mattress and pillow, toiletries, microfibre towel and camping wet wipes. This gear will be essential if you end up sleeping outdoors for a number of nights. Wimbledon provides left luggage facilities outside the Grounds. See our: Completre guuide to camping
3. Although there are toilets and sinks in the Grounds, there are no showers for public use. There is a gym about a half-mile walk from the Grounds where you can shower, if you pay for a day pass.
4. Check the weather forecast. You will want to be as comfortable as possible, so you need to be prepared for the unpredictable British summer. Items that should be packed include sun cream, hat, raincoat, small umbrella and light clothing layers. These will also be useful for the actual day of play. London nights can be cold, even if the weather is sunny during the day.
5. Bring a cheap fold-up chair and a picnic blanket for waiting during the day, for that classic "I'm in the queue at Wimbledon" look.
6. Plan entertainment for the long wait time and bring spare chargers and batteries for your devices. There is a convenience store nearby which will charge power packs and devices for a fee.
7. Take-outs can be ordered from local restaurants for delivery to the Wimbledon Park Road entrance by 22.00.
8. Obtain as much information as you can. Download "A Guide to Queueing" produced by the AELTC and sign up to Wimbledon’s social feeds. This will help you plan your visit and make the most of Wimbledon’s facilities on the actual day of play.
9. Make friends with your neighbouring tennis fans in the queue. They might help you pass the time and can keep an eye on your possessions if you need to go and buy food or use the toilets.
10. If you miss tickets to the Show Courts, no longer wish to queue or are unable to queue for the following day, then with your Ground Pass you may still be able to buy a returned ticket after 3pm from the Ticket Resale Kiosk. This kiosk resells original tickets, which are no longer needed and have been posted in special boxes around The Championships Grounds.

For more information, see also:

Queueing for tickets AELTC

Get the ball rolling...

For an unforgettable day at The Championships 2025, find your perfect tickets here: Buy Wimbledon tickets

If you would like to sell your debenture tickets, sell your tickets here.

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