Getting to Wimbledon Tennis

If you're heading to Wimbledon Tennis to watch your favourite players in action, knowing how to make the journey can save you time and hassle on your day out. Whether you're coming from abroad or just the other side of London, we've assembled some local knowledge for getting there.

How to Get to Wimbledon Tennis via Public Transport

From in or near London, there are a few public transport options to consider. First, depending on your starting point, figure out if you'll arrive in the Wimbledon area via London Underground (tube) or train. Those taking the tube (District Line) should disembark at Southfields Station (it's closer); if you're coming by train (South Western Railway) then disembark at Wimbledon Station.

From Southfields Station (District Line)

Southfields is the closest station to Wimbledon tennis—from there it's around a 15 minute walk to The All England Lawn Tennis Club. Or if you don't have a ticket and are joining the Queue in Wimbledon Park opposite The All England, it's less than a ten minute walk from Southfields. If you're not up for a walk, there are fixed-fare, shared taxis available.

From Wimbledon Station (District Line and South Western trains)

If you arrive at Wimbledon Station via South Western Railway, one option is to take a shared cab to The All England. Prices are very reasonable and you can meet some fellow tennis fans on the way.

Another option is to catch a bus to get to the All England. Special Wimbledon shuttle buses can be found when you step outside the station—you can't miss the queue lines and officials waiting to direct you. When the shuttle line is packed, there's another bus option—if you have an Oyster card (you can read our article about Where Can I Get an Oyster Card) or a contactless debit/credit card to pay the fare, you can walk to the bottom of Wimbledon Hill Road where you can hop on a public bus 493 that will take you through the Village and close to the tennis grounds. (Note: the District Line also stops at Wimbledon Station, but it's further away from The All England than Southfields Station.)

If you decide to walk the whole way from Wimbledon Station to The All England, be warned there's a very steep uphill walk once you leave the station! That said, you may want to walk through Wimbledon Village at the top of the hill, as part of your day. There's a great vibe in the Village during The Championships and you may even catch a glimpse of a player or two—they often rent houses in the Village and eat locally. The restaurants and shops decorate with gorgeous displays and even the local Wimbledon Village Stables decks out their horses in the theme (last year the horses' rumps sported animal-friendly painted green and yellow tennis balls!). If you want to see the horses, be in the village just north of the Dog & Fox around 9 am, 10 am, 10:15 am, 11:15 am, 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, 2 pm and 3 pm everyday except Mondays.

How do you Get to Wimbledon from London Airports?

If you're flying in for the big event, we'd recommend booking your flight to Heathrow or Gatwick. Due to their proximity, you'll save both time and money transferring to Wimbledon from these major airports versus further-afield Luton, London City or Stanstead. From the airport, we recommend taking either public transport or a private car/minicab—while you can take a black cab, the costs can be prohibitive.

Getting to the Wimbledon Area from Heathrow

There are two public transportation options from Heathrow to Wimbledon. Either take the Heathrow Express (20 minutes) to Paddington Station in Central London, from which you take the District Line directly to Southfields or Wimbledon Station (25 to 30 minutes). Or stick with the London Underground and take the Piccadilly Line to Earl's Court, where you'll switch to the District Line to Southfields or Wimbledon.

Getting to the Wimbledon Area from Gatwick

From Gatwick the best options are a minicab or the public transportation option of Gatwick Express to Victoria, from where you'll hop on the London Underground District Line to Southfields or Wimbledon. If you're travelling with a companion, it can be just as cheap to hire a minicab from Gatwick as taking public transportation.

Whether you've managed to procure much-sought-after Wimbledon tickets or you're planning to join the Queue to get tickets on the day, there are a number of options for getting to Wimbledon to watch your favourite tennis players in action. Regardless of the route you choose, remember to check the weather because you may need sunscreen or an umbrella—or both!