The best days to go to Wimbledon

The wait is over – the greatest tennis competition on earth is back. The start of Wimbledon today means we’re set for two weeks of Pimm’s, strawberries and cream, quintessential British culture and the best tennis players in the world.

Carlos Alcaraz is looking to defend his crown after shocking Novak Djokovic to claim his maiden title at SW19 a year ago. Meanwhile, there was another shock as Marketa Vondrouvosa became the first ever unseeded player to go all the way in the ladies’ competition.

Ahead of the third Grand Slam of 2024 and a fortnight of thrilling action, here’s everything you need to know.

Who are the big hitters playing?

As Djokovic looks to become the undisputed greatest player of all time by winning a record 25th Grand Slam, he’ll be relieved to be on the other side of the draw to French Open winner Alcaraz, meaning they can’t meet until the final.

Alcaraz claimed his third Grand Slam in Paris earlier this month after beating Alexander Zverev in an action-packed five-set final. The Spaniard has been tipped to become the next superstar in tennis and a title defence at Wimbledon would certainly help his cause.

Djokovic’s first round match sees him face Vit Kopriva, while Alcaraz has been drawn against Mark Lajal. Murray is set to play at Wimbledon for the final time but his tournament is in jeopardy following recent surgery. The two-time champion will make a late decision ahead of his match against Tomas Machac.

There will be no Rafael Nadal at this year’s Wimbledon. The 2008 and 2010 champion, who has been plagued with injuries in recent years, is prioritising staying fit for the Olympics, which gets underway next month.

Elsewhere, world number one Jannik Sinner will face Yannick Hanfmann. On the ladies’ side of the draw, Iga Swiatek faces a tricky test against 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenen, while Emma Raducanu meets Ekaterina Alexandrova.

What is the best day to go to Wimbledon?

You’re guaranteed a great time whatever day you go to Wimbledon (unless it’s raining!) but to see as much tennis action as possible, going in the first week is advised as there will be non-stop action on all courts.

The grounds will be packed full of spectators on all days, although you may find it’s slightly less busy on weekdays. The schedule for each day is released the night before, meaning you’ll be able to plan your day if there are particular matches that you want to see.

The likes of Alcaraz, Sinner, Raducanu and Coco Gauff are all playing today, although they’re on centre court. For those with ground passes, you’ll be able to see Heather Watson play Greet Minnen on court 18, while fellow Brit Liam Broady faces Botic van de Zandschulp on court 12.

Djokovic, Murray, Swiatek and 2023 champion Vondrousova get their tournaments underway on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Murray and brother Jamie are scheduled to start their doubles campaign on Wednesday against Australian duo John Peers and Rinky Hijikata.

How long do you have to queue for?

If you’ve not been to Wimbledon before, you may have heard tales of the infamous queue. While the majority of tickets for the show courts have to be bought in advance, anybody is free to buy a ground pass, which allows you to walk around the grounds and watch matches on courts 3 – 18.

The only catch is that you’ll need to queue in order to get in. The grounds open at 10am each day, with play starting at around 11am – but the queue starts long before then. You’re free to join the queue at any point, with many people opting to camp the night before to guarantee entry.

Each day, there are 500 tickets available for centre court and courts 1 and 2. Following that, those in the queue will gradually be able to buy ground passes until capacity is reached. Once all ground passes have been purchased, a ‘one in, one out’ policy is enforced.

How much are Wimbledon tickets?

If you’re lucky enough to get centre court tickets, prices start from just £70 and gradually increase as the tournament progresses. No. 1 court prices start from £40, while court number 2 tickets start from £50. For the first eight days of the championships, ground passes cost £30, although they decrease in the second week as games become less frequent.

Wimbledon hospitality

If you’d rather skip the queue and watch the tennis from the best seats in the house, you’re in the right place. We offer hospitality for every day of the tournament, including both the men’s and ladies’ finals.

Engage offers four different hospitality packages, each offering bespoke food and drink options, as well as plenty more. If you fancy joining us, enquire today to book your place.

How to get there

Wimbledon is easily accessible by train, with Southfields station just a 15-minute walk away. Alternatively, Wimbledon station is 20 minutes away by foot and both stations are served by the District Line.

For those driving, limited parking is available and pre-booking a space is recommended.

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