What You Can, Can't & Must Take to The Wimbledon Championships
By Ed C
Updated 16th July 2024
The Wimbledon Championships are the ultimate experience for any tennis fan. In all the excitement, it can be easy to forget to take something vital you might need on the day.
Here’s a quick checklist of everything you might need with you to enjoy an unforgettable day of tennis.
Get weather-ready for Wimbledon
If you are planning to queue for tickets you need to be well-prepared. Wimbledon can produce all four seasons’ worth of weather across the fortnight, or sometimes in one day, so planning ahead is key.
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Sun (and rain) protection
Sun cream, sunhats, sunglasses and a handheld fan are hopefully all you will need to protect you from the elements. Even if the forecast is good, taking a poncho or other packable waterproof, a retractable umbrella and something warm, is a good idea in case the weather turns.
If the weather is likely to be poor, you could also bring a lightweight towel to dry yourself off. Only Centre Court and No.1 Court have roofs, and you will still be doing a lot of walking outdoors on the day.
Read more:
What happens when it rains at the Wimbledon Championships?
Wimbledon Championships 2025: Which day is rain most likely?
Clothing
Several thin layers of clothing (including a waterproof layer) will give you the most flexibility. You’ll be able to adapt to Wimbledon’s famously changeable weather, without being weighed down by extra baggage. There is a left luggage service at Wimbledon, but queues can be lengthy at times.
Footwear
The Wimbledon Grounds are huge. Although you will be sitting for a large part of the day, first-time attendees are often surprised by the distance they have to walk over the course of the day.
Sacrificing style on the big day might be unthinkable, but Wimbledon isn’t the place to break in a new pair of shoes. Bring sensible, comfortable footwear.
While you might not explore all 42 acres of the grounds, the back and forth of the day could mean blisters in the wrong footwear.
Camping out
If you are planning to camp out in the Wimbledon Queue, there are many more things to consider:
Tent and sleeping equipment
Wimbledon rules state that you cannot pitch anything larger than a two-person tent. Although you will be pitching your tent on grass, this can be unforgiving in the Summer months, so you will need an inflatable mattress or foam camping mat and sleeping bag.
Don’t forget a towel, toothbrush, wet wipes and any other essential toiletries. There will be portable toilets and sinks available, but no showers. Local gyms often offer a day pass to weary Wimbledon fans in need of a shower, but be prepared for more queuing.
Some fans camp out for multiple nights. If you intend to camp for more than one night, consider a picnic blanket and a fold-up or inflatable chair as you will be sitting around outside your tent during the day.
You will need a lantern and/or a torch as there is minimal lighting around the Wimbledon grounds at night.
If you are a light sleeper or are likely to be kept awake by the snoring of a thousand tennis fans, pack some earplugs.
A camera or camera phone
You’ll want to capture memories of the day and, depending on your seat, a camera phone or a camera with a good lens could get you some amazing close-up shots of the action. Zoom lenses over 300mm, tripods, monopods and selfie sticks are not allowed.
Flash photography is prohibited as it is off-putting for players.
Food and drink
There are plenty of food and beverage options at Wimbledon, and certainly no shortage of strawberries and cream, and Pimm's.
There are numerous water refill points, so you do not need to bring multiple bottles of water.
You can take your own food and drink into the grounds, although certain rules apply:
Food
You can take a small picnic, but it will need to fit into your bag allowance. Flasks over 500ml are not allowed.
Hot or pungent foods cannot be taken onto the show courts.
Alcohol
You can take alcohol into the grounds with you but this is subject to the following per-person allowance:
- 1 bottle of wine or Champagne (750ml) or
- 2 cans of beer (500ml) or
- 2 cans of premixed aperitifs
Bottles of spirits or fortified wines are prohibited.
See also:
Food & drink options at the Wimbledon Championships
Bags and picnic boxes
Visitors to Wimbledon can bring 1 x bag per person which must not exceed 40cm x 30cm x 30cm.This is approximately the size of a small rucksack or allowable cabin bag on most flights. You will likely be refused entry to the Grounds if you your bag exceeds these measurements.
For security purposes, bags are usually searched on entering the Grounds.
Picnics and packed lunches should be packed on a soft sided bag as hard-sided containers, cool-boxes and picnic hampers are not allowed.
Liquids can be taken onto the grounds but must be in a transparent container. You may be asked you to empty any opaque bottles before you enter the Grounds. Vacuum flasks or dual skin liquid containers that exceed 500ml in volume are not allowed.
Foldable picnic chairs are also not permitted.
Medication
Don’t forget to pack any regular medication you’ll need to take during the day, such as antihistamine tablets if you suffer from hay fever. Consider packing Paracetamol or Aspirin, so your day isn't ruined by an unexpected headache.
A debit or credit card
Note that the food and drink kiosks at Wimbledon now accept only cards for payment - cash is no longer accepted anywhere in the Wimbledon Grounds. It is probably a good idea to have a spare card, kept apart from your primary card in case you lose one.
A fully-charged smartphone and accessories
Remember to charge your phone the night before, and consider packing a solar phone charger, portable power bank charger, or spare battery. If your phone’s battery isn’t likely to last the day, you should also consider taking printed copies of schedules and a map of the grounds.
Bring headphones or earbuds to listen into commentary or scores from other courts when there is a lull on yours. Bluetooth speakers may not be permitted.
The myWimbledon app
From 2021, you will need an e-ticket to enter the Wimbledon Grounds. You will need to download the myWimbledon App to be able to display your ticket at the gates. Wimbledon state that they won't accept paper copies of tickets. However, we recommend that you take a printed copy in case you lose your mobile phone. At least you will have some evidence to present to then Wimbledon Stewards.
The myWimbledon app is also useful for visitors to the grounds generally. It displays real time scores and has a map of the grounds.
A good bag
Given all the clothing and other gear you’re planning to take with you to Wimbledon, a good-sized bag is essential. Hard-sided containers like cool boxes and hampers are not allowed, and bags cannot exceed 40cm x 30cm x 30cm (16" x 12" x 12").
Wimbledon weather can be unpredictable, but if you're taking chilled foods, you can pack everything in a soft-sided freezer bag.
Things you can’t take into the Wimbledon Grounds
Wimbledon has general discretion to ban any item that may 'pose a hazard to the safe delivery of The Championships'.
The AELTC will refuse access to anyone attempting to bring in:
- anything that could be used as a weapon or threaten the safety of others, or
- items that could damage or sabotage the Grounds or Wimbledon property.
Examples of the above might include:
- sharp or pointed objects such as knives
- large corkscrews
- fireworks
- flares
- spray paint
- hazardous materials
Other items prohibited include:
- selfie sticks;
- wheeled footwear;
- large electronic equipment;
- large flags;
- any clothing that has a political, offensive or commercial statement on it; or
- any ambush marketing or promotional materials.
- selfie sticks
- professional camera lenses over 300mm.
The AELTC will dispose of any confiscated items.
For more information on entry restrictions to the Wimbledon Championships, check out Green & Purple’s guide detailing the conditions of entry to the Wimbledon Championships.
Check for updates before you go
Wimbledon’s rules regarding food, alcohol, bags and other restrictions are unlikely to change at the last minute, but you still don’t want to be caught out as you enter the grounds.
TLDR checklist of items to take with you to Wimbledon:
- Sun cream
- Sun hat
- Sunglasses
- Handheld fan
- Poncho or packable waterproof
- Umbrella
- Several thin layers of clothing
- Warm layer of clothing
- Lightweight towel
- Sensible footwear
- Camera phone or camera
- Food
- Drink
- Medication
- A spare credit or debit card
- Printed copy of the schedule and map
- Printed copy of your tickets
- Headphones or earbuds
- myWimbledon app
- A good-sized bag
- Facemask (if required)
If camping:
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- Inflatable mattress or foam mat
- Towel
- Toothbrush
- Wet wipes
- Toiletries
- Picnic blanket
- Fold-up or inflatable chair
- Lantern and/or torch
- Solar phone charger
- Earplugs
Get the ball rolling...
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If you would like to sell your debenture tickets, sell your tickets here.
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