Ace Your Experience: A Guide to Wimbledon Championships

Get ready for the grandest tennis event of the year, Wimbledon 2023, which will be held Monday 3rd of July to Sunday 16th of July.

The two week tennis celebration during Wimbledon is the pinnacle of British summer and DTB have your all your questions and queries covered. We have gathered all the essential information for Wimbledon 2023, from schedule and travel to what to wear and things to do. 

Wimbledon Schedule 

This year’s format will follow the same as previous years, the only change for 2023 is the Gentlemen’s doubles format will be changed from best of five sets to best of three. This was to bring Wimbledon in line with other Grand Slams which adhere to this format.

Play begins on the outdoor courts at 11am, followed by No.1 Court at 1pm and Centre Court at 1:30pm, up until finals weekend where play beings at 11am on No.1 Court and 2pm on Centre Court. 

Please note that while we provide you with the following schedule for Wimbledon 2023, it is important to keep in mind that unforeseen circumstances may arise, potentially leading to changes in the schedule and possible match delays on the day.

Travel

The Championships take place at the All-England Lawn Tennis Club in SW19. As the roads can become very overcrowded, we recommend planning travel before the day to ensure you arrive in plenty of time and don’t miss out on any of the tennis action.

Public Transport

  • Southfields station (District line) – 15-minute walk
  • Wimbledon station (District line/ Southwest/ London Trams) – 20-minute walk
  • Wimbledon Park Station (District line) - 15-minute walk
  • There is a dedicated championships bus service that runs from Wimbledon station to and from the grounds - £3.80 and £5.90 return.

Parking 

  • Reserved parking via the AA in car parks 6 and 10
  • Parking on day subject to availability – car park 6
  • Blue badge parking located in car parks 6 and 8
  • Motorcycles – car park 4
  • Park and ride – Available from Morden Park

Taxis 

  • Ranks are situated at Southfields and Wimbledon stations.
  • Designated pick up and drop off areas for taxis are located opposite Gate 4 on Church Road as well as Gate 12 on Somerset Road. 

Wimbledon Etiquette

Although it is tempting to cheer on your favourite tennis stars, this should be saved for after points have been played. Spectators should refrain from yelling as the players are taking their serves and during the middle of rallies.

Also, be cautious that you can only leave the courts after the third game of a set, after that you may leave every time the players change sides, every two games. The same rules apply for returning to your seats, so try and hold off on the Pimm’s until after the match if you don’t want to miss any crucial moments!!

What else is there to do in the grounds?

Although you may be busy embracing the exceptional tennis on the courts, off the courts between play there is plenty going on around the grounds if you fancy a wonder.

Some activities include:

The American Express Tennis Fan Experience – Located in the Southern Village, this lively experience has a variety of activities to keep you entertained including: Centre Court Challenge – see if you have what it takes to be a Wimbledon ball boy or girl, Find Andy – challenge your attention to detail as you try find Andy amongst the giant Wimbledon grounds illustration, Trainer cleaning – Complimentary trainer cleaning service, Postcards – Choose from a set of bespoke Wimbledon postcards – including personalized photo option. 

AMEX Card member Lounge -  A place for Amex cardmembers to sit back, relax and recharge as well as up to 2 guests. Located next to Gate 12.

Babolat Experience - Gear up and play on the immersive and interactive wall to win Wimbledon x Babolat products. 

Ralph Lauren Store - Shop the Wimbledon collection from our Official Outfitters and create your own personalised products.

The official Sipsmith Swan Trike - The copper Trikes will be selling delicious G&T all day long.

Pimm’s on the hill - Designed to epitomise British summer, enjoy an ice-cold Pimm’s and take a snap against the Pimm’s flower wall located next to the bar.

What to wear to Wimbledon

Despite the players having a strict ‘all-white’ outfit enforcement, for people visiting Wimbledon there is no specific dress code. However, it is encouraged especially if attending games on either court 1 or centre court to be dressed smartly. Furthermore, if you have chosen to be in one of the hospitality or members areas. Such areas require guests to dress on the smarter side of casual, for example no jeans or sports trainers.

Things to bring:
  • The grounds of the All-England club are quite large, so if you’re thinking of exploring the different areas wearing comfortable shoes is a must.
  • Placed in the middle of British summer time, the weather could go either way. Check the weather forecast and if its hot make sure to pack a hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water (there are refill points around the site).
  • Centre Court and No.1 Court have roof's than can be used if the weather takes a turn, causing only a short delay to play. However all other courts are uncovered therefore, bringing an umbrella or poncho would be advisable for walking round the grounds. 

Who is playing in 2023?

Qualifying for the tournament has already begun, this gives an opportunity for the top-ranked players who are not automatically entered into the main draw a chance to participate in one of the largest tournaments of the year.

Wimbledon will be featuring seven-time winner Novak Djokovic, alongside other top ranked players Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Holger Rune and more. With Nadal still ruled out due to injury.

For the ladies top seed at this year’s championships Iga Swiatek, joining her will be the likes of Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina and Jessica Pegula. Emma Radacanu is still currently absent from the grass court season, meaning sadly, we will not be seeing her appear at this years Championships. 

As for Wildcards; players whose world ranking is not quite high enough to qualify to play, but on the basis of past performances and at the aim of increasing British interest are accepted to take part by choice of the Committee. Some of the British wildcards for 2023 include Liam Broady, Jan Choinski, Jodie Burrage, Katie Boulter and Gordon Reid. 

How to get tickets?

Wimbledon is and has been the most recognisable and sort after tennis tournament to gain tickets to in the world. Whilst there are a few ways to get tickets, some are easier than others! There has been a public ballot for the tournament since 1924, but with the many individuals bidding their luck, it is difficult to be successful through this route.

The only way to guarantee a prime seats at the main courts is through Wimbledon debentures. Debenture tickets not only secure you the best seats on Centre Court and No.1 court, making them highly sought after. They also gain you access to a range of dining options within the centre court and No.1 court facilities, not available to the public.

At DTB we have built the relationships necessary to acquire a range of debenture seats, so get in contact today if you want to watch from premium views.

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