How to Do the Wimbledon Queue: A Simple Guide to Getting Tickets Without the Ballot

First glimpse inside Wimbledon - and the moment it all starts to feel worth the effort.

I camped overnight for Wimbledon’s opening day - here’s exactly how the Queue works

Most people assume Wimbledon tickets are impossible to get.

Ballots, debentures, resale prices… it can all feel a bit out of reach.

But there is another way.

Every day during The Championships, Wimbledon releases a limited number of tickets through something called The Queue - a system that allows you to simply turn up, wait, and get in.

And yes… it does involve sleeping in a park, if you choose the camping option.

It’s one of the few major sporting events in the world where this still exists. And if you do it properly, it works remarkably well. Ahead of what turned out to be the hottest opening day in Wimbledon history, I camped overnight to secure a ticket through the famous Queue for Day One of the 2025 Championships.

Here’s how it works - although I can’t guarantee the weather.

At a glance

• Location: Wimbledon Park, London

• Nearest tube: Southfields

• Arrival times:

  • Show courts: day before (camp overnight)

  • Grounds passes: 5–7am

• What you can get:

  • Grounds pass (full Wimbledon grounds such as Henman Hill, outer courts, Wimbledon museum and Southern Village)

  • Limited show court tickets

  • Access to virtual resale queue (a key component - I'll come to this later)

• Key tip: Earlier always = better

  
  

Watch the full journey on YouTube below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoOi3SREXbw

What the Wimbledon Queue actually is

The Queue is Wimbledon’s official same-day ticket system.

Each morning, a set number of tickets are released for:

• Centre Court (500)

• Court No.1 (500)

• Court No.2 (500)

• Grounds passes

  
  

When you arrive, you’re given a queue card and that card is everything.

It locks in your position in the Queue, and from that point on, the entire system is incredibly well organised. Typically, the first 1,500 people in the Queue will secure a show court ticket. Everyone else will be offered a Grounds Pass.

This isn’t chaos.

If anything, it’s one of the most structured and civilised queues you’ll ever experience.

Very British, as you might expect.

When you need to arrive (this is where it’s won or lost)

It's all about timing.

Show court tickets

You need to arrive the day before and camp overnight. I actually arrived at 1pm the day before to be sure to be close to the front.

There’s no shortcut here.

Grounds passes

You can arrive early morning - around 5–7am - and still get in comfortably.

One thing to avoid

Day One.

If the weather’s good, it can be extremely busy in the queue.

If you’ve got flexibility, pick another day and give yourself a much better chance.

Where the queue starts (and how to get there)

It begins here. No ticket yet… just a place in line and a bit of optimism.

The Queue begins in Wimbledon Park once you have entered the park via Gate 10.

The easiest route:

• Tube to Southfields

• Follow the signs up Wimbledon Park Road (and people carrying tents)

  
  

From there, everything is guided.

Stewards are on hand to help, and you’re moved through step by step.

It’s actually very hard to get it wrong.

What camping in the Wimbledon Queue is really like

Home for the night. Not glamorous… but part of the story.

This is the part that puts people off.

And honestly… it’s nowhere near as bad as it sounds. That’s if you don’t mind heading into one of the world’s most prestigious sporting events without taking a shower, and the weather plays ball.

You arrive, get your queue card, pitch your tent, and settle in.

A quick note here - the queue is not staffed until 2pm the day before Day One. If you do turn up before that time, just head to the last tent into the queue and pitch up. You'll then need to wait for the stewards to come around with the Queue Cards.

There’s a calm, slightly surreal atmosphere to it. People chatting, eating, setting up camp - all for a day at the tennis.

It’s not quite a festival…

…but it’s closer to that than you’d expect.

The key rules

• You’ll be given a queue card - don’t lose it as you'll need it in the morning

• You can’t leave your tent for long (around 20 minutes max)

• Around 5am, you'll be woken up to pack up your tent and store your luggage in the 'Left Luggage' areas

  
  

The wake up didn't come as a surprise to me, I had barely an hour's sleep due to the warm temperatures and one man insistent on complaining about another man snoring, although his complaining quickly became louder than the snoring itself.

Food, drink and small survival wins

Survival tip: don’t rely on food trucks - this was a very good decision.

This is where a bit of planning helps.

From experience:

• There’s a nearby shop (McCluskey’s) on Ravelstoke Road just outside the park to the east, which has food, drinks and snacks and easily reachable within the 20-minute rule.

• Deliveroo and Uber Eats will deliver to Wimbledon Park - you can meet them at Gate 10 where you came in

• Food trucks aren’t reliable the night before - as I found out.

• You can also walk back down to Southfields where there are a few supermarkets / shops but it's a little further and tighter to fit in to the 20-minute away from your tent rule.

  
  

My advice, don’t wing it. Bring food and drinks and then for something hot, order in.

You’ll enjoy the whole thing a lot more. I went for a pizza.

Facilities (honest version)

Let’s keep this real.

• Toilets, yes

• Wash basins, yes

• Showers, no

  
  

There are also:

• Phone charging rental machines (paid + a deposit when you return the charger, which you can do once inside the Wimbledon grounds)

• A Wi-Fi cubicle.

Left luggage (very useful, slightly chaotic)

Morning reality. Pack up, queue again, and try to stay awake.

In the morning, once you have packed up your tent and belongings, you need to drop everything off at Left Luggage before heading into the grounds. You can store:

• Tents

• Bags

• Camping gear

  
  

It’s inexpensive, and the money goes to the Wimbledon Foundation.

But…

Queues here can be long in the morning so give yourself enough time to drop everything off and return to your position in the Queue before it gets moving.

It's a good idea to make friends with your camping neighbours, or at least remember their faces, for when you return to your Queue position.

The morning Queue

Thousands of people, one shared goal - getting through those gates.

In the morning, as the Queue begins to move, your queue card will be checked - don’t lose it.

It proves that you have been queueing and if anyone is out of position, this is when you will get re-ordered into the right position.

First, you'll be guided to a holding area where wristbands will be handed out to those with Queue Cards that warrant a show court ticket - normally the first 1,500. Everyone else is entitled to Grounds Passes for £30.

From here, you will be filed down to the payment tent which can be stop start - this bit took about 2 hours for me to get through - before you can finally pay for the ticket you choose to have.

If you are one of the first 1,500 people in the Queue, you don’t have to take a show court ticket if you’d prefer a Grounds Pass.

Once all paid up, you arrive at the 'Queue Village' which is like a mini-festival with big screens, loads of merchandise stands and food and drink stalls.

Barclays do a free coffee for everyone in the Queue, which is a nice touch… and, unsurprisingly, comes with another queue.

A very important aspect of the 'Queue Village' is also the Ticket Resale desk. It's here you can join the virtual queue for show court tickets later in the day for when show court tickets holders leave.

The trick here is sign up as early as possible so that you are as close to the front of the virtual queue as possible. If you get selected you are paying a fraction of the price for a show court ticket.

Finally, once the Wimbledon Gates open, you are then directed through 'to the grounds' where you will go through a security check before arriving at the glorious Wimbledon Championships.

A little fatigued, granted.

That moment. Ticket in hand, bit tired.

What you actually get at the end of it

If you’ve done it right, here’s what you’re looking at:

• Grounds pass = access to outer courts, Henman Hill, Southern Village, Wimbledon Shop, Wimbledon Museum and the food courts.

• Chance at show court tickets (if you’re far enough forward)

• Access to the virtual resale queue

  
  

And this is important:

You don’t need Centre Court to have a great day. In fact would you believe it, despite turning up 24 hours earlier ahead of Day One, I still didn't get a show court ticket, just a Grounds Pass. But it is marvellous.

Some of the best tennis at Wimbledon happens on the outer courts and some of the best areas for atmosphere can be found walking around the grounds.

Closer, more relaxed, and often more memorable.

Is the Wimbledon Queue worth it?

If you’re expecting guaranteed Centre Court tickets…

This probably isn’t for you.

But if you want:

• A real shot at getting in

• A proper Wimbledon experience

• A slightly different kind of adventure

  
  

Then yes.

It’s one of the most unique ticketing systems in sport.

And one of the few places left where you can still just turn up, wait your turn… and be part of it.

Practical tips before you go

• Bring layers (it gets cold overnight in England - but also be prepared for hot summer temperatures like I experienced). An umbrella isn’t a bad idea - useful if it rains, and equally useful if it’s blazing sunshine.

• Pack food and opt for a delivery for a hot dinner

• Don’t lose your queue card

• Allow time for left luggage

• Avoid Day One if possible

• Be patient - the system works

Is it worth it? (Final thoughts)

You don’t need Centre Court tickets to enjoy Wimbledon.

There aren’t many sporting events in the world where you can still just turn up, wait your turn and get in.

Wimbledon is one of them.

Is it perfect? No. Is it comfortable? Not always. Is it worth doing at least once? Definitely.

There’s something quite special about earning your way in.

Even if that means very little sleep, a slightly stiff neck, and a long walk carrying a tent through Southfields and up Wimbledon Park Road.

If you get the chance, this is one of the best ways to experience London in the summer.

And as a family, it becomes even more of an adventure.

With Wimbledon planning to expand its grounds into Wimbledon Park in the coming years, it does make you wonder how long the Queue will survive in its current form.

I hope it does.

Because it’s one of the most unique traditions left in sport.