London/Wimbledon - suburb of London

Wimbledon is a district in south-west London and hosts one of the world's four tennis grand slam tournaments.

Understand

Wimbledon is a well-known and affluent suburb in the south-west of London, England and is part of the London Borough of Merton. It is best known for the All England Lawn Tennis Championships (or often just referred to as Wimbledon) held every summer and which form part of the worldwide tennis grand slam series. This is the oldest tennis championship in the world.

Get in

By tube

Wimbledon is serviced by the following stations, in Zones 3 or 4:

• Wimbledon (District line) – Zone 3. During the Tennis Championships, direct buses run from outside for a small charge.
• South Wimbledon (Northern line) – Zones 3 and 4.
• Southfields (District line) – Zone 3. This is the most convenient station for the tennis club.

The quickest route into Wimbledon from central London is usually via a combination of Tube and the National Rail. Though the District Line is the most obvious choice from central London, it is usually the least efficient. Trains depart every 3–5 minutes from Waterloo to Wimbledon during week days with a journey time of about 15 minutes (South West Trains operates this service.)

By train

Wimbledon Station 📍 is the most important transport hub in the area. Located in central Wimbledon, it is well served by South West Trains and First Capital Connect (dead link: January 2023) train companies.

Services run from London Waterloo via Clapham Junction to Wimbledon Station (about 15 min). Trains from Wimbledon go to Guildford, Hampton Court, Dorking, Shepperton and Woking. Change at Clapham Junction to get to Brighton, Epsom, Gatwick, Reading, Portsmouth and further afield.

Wimbledon Station has two entrances, one at the front of the station serving as a drop off point for cars and a taxi stop and one to the side that leads to buses and a shopping mall. Disabled access to the 10 platforms are by lifts. Public toilets can be found near the tube District Line platforms. There are food and drink shops within the station complex.

By plane

Wimbledon is almost equidistant between the two major London Airports, Gatwick Airport and Heathrow Airport.

The quickest way from Gatwick is to catch a fast Southern train for London Victoria and get off at Clapham Junction. Here, change onto a South West Trains service south bound to Wimbledon (weekdays: 15 an hour).

From Heathrow, you can either catch the London Underground Piccadilly Line from Heathrow to Earls Court and change onto the District Line to Wimbledon, or you can catch the Heathrow Express (or Heathrow Connect) service to London Paddington Station and then catch a Wimbledon bound District line train from there. Both of these require luggage movement through underground stations.

By tram

Wimbledon is served by the Wimbledon-to-Croydon tramlink which terminates at Wimbledon Station (route 3), other tram stops in the area include Dundonald Road and Merton Park. A route map can be found here

By car

The A219 runs through Wimbledon Hill Road, Wimbledon Bridge to the Broadway and beyond. The A3 is the main route to Wimbledon when coming in from the M25 Motorway or Heathrow Airport. From Gatwick Airport follow the M23/M25/A217. The nearest petrol station is an Esso Garage with a Tesco Metro (Open 24 hours) found along the Broadway towards South Wimbledon underground station.

Get around

Wimbledon is mostly pedestrian friendly and most places can be easily reached on foot. Buses leave outside the Centre Court Shopping Mall next to Wimbledon station. The main bus station is near Hartfield Rd on Sir Cyril Black Way (behind Morrisons supermarket and the car park on Hartfield Rd). Additionally, there is a taxi stand outside the main entrance to Wimbledon Station.

By bus

Wimbledon is served by local bus routes including routes 57 Kingston/Clapham Park), 93 (Putney Bridge/North Cheam), 131 (Kingston/Tooting Broadway), 156 (Vauxhall), 163 (Morden), 164 (Sutton), 200 (Raynes Park/Mitcham), 219 (Clapham Junction), 493 (Richmond/Tooting) and N87 Night Bus (Aldwych/Kingston). A bus map of Wimbledon (PDF) can be found here .

By car

Parking available at Centre Court Shopping Mall. Off-street parking is normally made available by home-owners looking to make some additional income from the rental of their driveways and garages. Prices are normally in the region of £30-50. Alternatively, you can try renting one of these private parking spaces online through various services.

See

• Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum, Centre Court, All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Church Rd, 51.4347°, -0.2135°. 10:30AM-5PM, closed 24-26 Dec, 1 Jan, middle Su and first M after the Championships. £6, concessions £5, children under 16 £3.75, children under 5 free, tours available with additional fee

• Wimbledon Common, 51.4309°, -0.2304°, +44 20 8788-7655, rangersoffice@wpcc.org.uk. 24 hrs. A large area (460 hectares) of woodlands, open grass areas and healthland with a windmill, nature trails and ponds. Also the legendary home of the Wombles. Free
• Wimbledon Society Museum of Local History, 22 Ridgway, Wimbledon, 51.42320°, -0.21655°, +44 20 8296-9914. Sa Su 2:30PM-5PM, by appointment at other times. Showing local history in Wimbledon from the Stone Age to the present day. Free
• Wimbledon Windmill Museum, 51.4375°, -0.2312°. End Mar-end Oct: Sa 2PM-5PM, Su 11AM-5PM. A museum which depicts the history of windmills. £1, children £0.50, concessions £0.50
• Buddhapadipa Temple, 14 Calonne Rd, 51.4307°, -0.2205°. Temple ground: M-F 9AM-6PM, main temple: weekends. The first Buddhist temple in the UK.
• Cannizaro Park, 51.4240°, -0.2306°. 34 acres of parkland.

Do

Sports

• Wimbledon – Lawn Tennis Championships, The All England Lawn Tennis Club, Church Road, Wimbledon, SW19 5AE (Take tram from Croydon to , then either use special bus service or short walk using directions provided on website. Typical journey time should be no more than 30–40 minutes), 51.433744°, -0.214064°, +44 20 8944-1066. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, held each year over a two week period in late June & early July.
• Football: AFC Wimbledon were relegated in 2022, so they now play soccer in League 2, England's fourth tier. Ther home ground is Plough Lane (capacity 9200) a mile northeast of the railway station. "The Wombles" were formed in 2002 when the historic Wimbledon FC relocated to Milton Keynes and became MK Dons.
• Wimbledon Village Stables, 24 a/b High St, 51.4252°, -0.2176°, +44 20 8946-8579. Lessons and horse riding on Wimbledon Common.

Arts

• New Wimbledon Theatre, The Broadway, 51.41935°, -0.20157°, +44 870 060 6646. The theatre is a Grade II Listed Edwardian theatre showing West End plays and musicals.
• Odeon Cinema, Odeon Wimbledon, The Piazza, The Broadway, 51.41974°, -0.20500°, +44 871 22 44 007. A large modern multiplex in Central Wimbledon with 12 screens and IMAX screen.
• Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, 51.41946°, -0.19575°, +44 20 8543-4888. Telephone bookings: M 9:30AM-4:30PM, Tu-F 9:30AM-6PM, Sa 10AM-5PM; box office opening hours: Tu-F 9:30AM-4:30PM, Sa 11AM-5:30PM. Children's theatre.

Buy

Shops are to be found along the Broadway towards South Wimbledon and along Wimbledon Hill towards Wimbledon Village and in Wimbledon Village.

• Centre Court Shopping, Queens Road, SW19 8YE (In Central Wimbledon next to the station), 51.421062°, -0.20505°, +44 20 8944-8323. M-W F 9:30AM-7PM, Sa 9AM-6PM, Th 9:30AM-8PM, Su 11AM-5PM. Shopping mall with two floors of shops. Includes shops such as Body Shop, Boots, Gap, H&M, Kew, La Senza, Monsoon, River Island, Sony and Warehouse. There are food outlets on the third floor and a cafe on the ground floor. 2021-12-16
• Supermarkets, NA°, NA°. Include Morrisons (The Broadway), M&S (Centre Court), Sainsburys (Worple Rd and The Broadway towards South Wimbledon), Tesco Metro (Centre Court, South Wimbledon & Wimbledon Village) and Waitrose (near Wimbledon Bridge).
• Elys of Wimbledon, 16 St George's Rd, SW19 4DP, 51.421059°, -0.208512°, +44 20 8946 9191. M-W, F: 9:30AM-7PM, Th: 9:30AM-8PM, Sa: 9AM-7PM, Su: 11AM-5PM. A department store just off the High Street and a few minutes' walk from the Tube & Rail station. 2019-08-03

Eat

At the tournament, strawberries and cream are a traditional, if expensive, snack, but Wimbledon proper is home to many eateries.

• Al Forno Wimbeldon, 2A Kings Rd, SW19 8QN, 51.4199°, -0.202°, +44 20 8540-5710. M–F noon–3PM & 5:30–11:30PM, Sa Su noon–11PM. Italian. 2021-05-05
• Aya Labanese Cuisine, 195-197 Merton Rd, SW19 1EE, 51.4162°, -0.1926°, +44 20 8417-0606. Daily noon–9PM. Lebanese food, courtyard garden. Mid-range 2021-05-05
• Chutneys, 31 Hartfield Rd, SW19 3SG, 51.4195°, -0.2056°, +44 20 8540-9788. Daily noon–2:30PM & 6PM–midnight. Indian. 2021-05-05
• Confucious, 271 The Broadway SW19 1SD, 51.4195°, -0.1946°, +44 20 8542-5272. M–F noon–4PM & 6–11PM, Sa Su noon–11PM. Chinese. 2021-05-05
• Gourmet Burger Kitchen, 88 The Broadway, SW19 1RH, 51.4196°, -0.2014°, +44 20 8540-3300. M–Th 11:30AM–10PM, F Sa 11AM–11PM, Su 11:30AM–10:30PM. Great burger restaurant. 2021-05-05
• Light House, 75-77 Ridgway, SW19 4ST, 51.4212°, -0.2199°, +44 20 8944-6338, info@lighthousewimbledon.com. M–Th 5–10PM, F Sa noon–2:30PM & 5–10PM, Su noon–3:30PM. 2021-05-05
• Makiyaki, 149 Merton Rd, SW19 1ED, 51.4183°, -0.1932°, +44 20 8540-3113, ukmakiyaki@gmail.com. M–Th 5–9PM, F Sa noon–9PM, closed Su. Good Japanese food. 2021-05-05
• Mai Thai, 75 The Broadway, SW19 1QE, 51.4196°, -0.2026°, +44 20 8542-8834, maithaiwimbledon@gmail.com. M–F 11:30AM–3PM & 5PM–10:30PM, Sa 12:30–4PM & 5–11PM, Su 12:30–9:30PM. 2021-05-05
• La Nonna, 213-217 The Broadway, SW19 1NL, 51.4192°, -0.1967°, +44 20 8542-3060. M–Th noon–3PM & 5:30–11PM, F noon–3PM & 5:30–11:30PM, Sa noon–11:30PM, Su noon–10:30PM. Italian. 2021-05-05
• Slurp, 138 Merton Rd, SW19 1EH, 51.419°, -0.1935°, +44 20 8540-7918. Good Chinese and Japanese noodle bar, great value. Try the bento box.
• Thai Tho Restaurant, 20 High St, SW19 5DX, 51.425°, -0.217°, +44 20 8946-1542. W Th noon–10PM, F Sa 11AM–11PM, Su noon–10PM. Thai. 2021-05-05
• Stage Door Steakhouse & Bar, 92 The Broadway, SW19 1RH, 51.4195°, -0.2013°, +44 20 8543-8128. M–Sa noon–2PM & 5–9:30PM, closed Su. 2021-05-05

Drink

• The Alexandra, 33 Wimbledon Hill Rd, SW19 7NE, 51.42203°, -0.2081°, +44 20 8947-7691, alexandra@youngs.co.uk. M–Sa 11AM–11PM, Su noon–11PM. Large pub with a wine bar next to the main pub called Smart Alex. Food served. Roof terrace with bar. 2021-05-12
• All Bar One, 37-39 Wimbledon Hill Rd, SW19 7NA, 51.4224°, -0.2086°, +44 20 8946-9072. Food served.
• Bar Sia, 105-109 The Broadway, SW19 1QG (next to the Wimbledon Theatre), 51.4193°, -0.2013°, +44 20 8540-8339.
• Bertie's Bar, 2 Hartfield Rd, SW19 3TA, 51.4203°, -0.2062°, +44 20 8946-5369. A wine bar below the Prince of Wales Pub. Seating outside. Food served.
• Crooked Billet, 14-15 Crooked Billet, SW19 4RQ, 51.4214°, -0.2278°, +44 20 8946-4942, crookedbillet@youngs.co.uk. Th–Su 11AM–10PM, closed M–W. A Youngs pub, food served. 2021-05-12
• Dog & Fox, 24 High St, SW19 5EA, 51.4252°, -0.2181°, +44 20 8946-6565, dogandfox@youngs.co.uk. M–F 11AM–11PM, Sa Su 9AM–11PM. Large pub in the centre of the Wimbledon village. Food served, lots of seating outside. 2021-05-12
• The Fox & Grapes, 9 Camp Rd, SW19 4UN, 51.4264°, -0.23°, +442 0 8619-1300, reservations@foxandgrapeswimbledon.co.uk. Food served.
• Kilkenny Tavern, 131 Merton High St, South Wimbledon, SW19 1DE (next to South Wimbledon tube station), 51.4155°, -0.1917°, +44 20 8543-7308. Daily noon–midnight. 2021-05-12
• O'Neill's, 66 The Broadway, SW19 1RQ, 51.4198°, -0.2026°, +44 20 8544-9573. Food served.
• Rose and Crown, 55 High St, SW19 5BA, 51.4257°, -0.2202°, +44 20 8947-4713, roseandcrown@youngs.co.uk. M–F 11AM–11PM, Sa 9AM–11PM, Su 9AM–10:30PM. Food served, seating outside. 2021-05-12
• Suburban Bar and Lounge, 27 Hartfield Rd, SW19 3SG, 51.4196°, -0.2058°, +44 20 8543-9788. Tu–Th 5–11PM, F Sa 5PM–midnight, closed Su M. Cocktail bar for chavs, run by chavs! 2021-05-12
• The Sultan, 78 Norman Rd, SW19 1BT, 51.4186°, -0.1853°, +44 20 8544-9323, sultan@hopback.co.uk. M–Th 3–11PM, F Sa noon–midnight, Su noon–11PM. Decent local pub serving very good real ale. The only pub in London owned by the Hopback Brewery. Walled garden. Bar food served. BBQ on Sundays weather permitting. "No loud music/TV policy" for those who want a quiet pint. 2021-05-12
• The Prince of Wales, 2 Hartfield Rd, SW19 3TA, 51.4206°, -0.2062°, +44 20 8946-5369. M–Th 11AM–midnight, F Sa 11AM–1AM, Su 11AM–11PM. Serves food, owned by Punch Taverns. 2021-05-12
• The Terrace, Above Centre Court Shopping Centre, Queens Rd, 51.4213°, -0.2046°, +44 20 8944-9970. Terrace overlooking central Wimbledon. Serves food. 2021-05-12
• The Wibbas Down Inn (J D Wetherspoon), 6-12 Gladstone Rd, SW19 1QT, 51.4192°, -0.2026°, +44 20 8540-6788. Food served. Some seating outside - now nearly completely taken up by smokers. Always has a wide and well-kept selection of real ales.

Sleep

• Antoinette Hotel, The Broadway, 51.4193°, -0.195°, +44 20 8543-4222. A 50-bedroom hotel, refurbished.
• Hotel du Vin, Cannizaro House, West Side Common, Wimbledon, SW19 4UE, 51.4243°, -0.2293°, +44 330 016 0390, theteam@hotelduvin.com. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. A beautiful hotel overlooking Cannizaro Park to the rear and Wimbledon Common to the front. Excellent dining.
• Justin James Hotel, 43 Worple Road, SW19 4JZ, 51.4202°, -0.2113°, +44 20 8947-4271.
• The Wimbledon Hotel, 78 Worple Rd, SW19 4HZ, 51.4171°, -0.2159°, +44 20 8946-9265, enquiries@wimbledonhotel.com. Small family-run hotel.

Connect

As of May 2022, Wimbledon has 5G from all UK carriers.

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