Wimbledon Wonders: Strawberries and Champagne
When my name was pulled in the public ballot for Wimbledon tickets, I couldn't believe my luck!
This was a golden opportunity to experience one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world, and we quickly planned a long weekend in London. Although it meant attending Championship Sunday—less action-packed than the first week of matches—it turned out to be an unforgettable experience. So, whether you're a tennis fan or just looking for a unique trip, here’s how to enjoy a fabulous adults-only weekend in London!
Getting to London: Travel in Style
We flew Jet Blue Mint to Gatwick, and let me tell you, it was a game-changer! With lay-flat seats and a quick five-minute exit from the airport, we felt relaxed and ready for our adventure. Once in central London, we checked into The Edition (of course booked on points), a chic hotel perfectly situated for exploring the city.
Navigating London Like a Pro
Soho is a fantastic neighborhood for walking—everything feels within reach. We took the Tube and walked everywhere, which made getting around incredibly easy. Pro tip: Invest in an Oyster card or use contactless payment for hassle-free travel on public transport.
Score Those Wimbledon Tickets
If you’re dreaming of attending Wimbledon, start by entering the public ballot—it's how I snagged our tickets! This lottery system has been around since 1924, and it's very popular. You can apply online through the myWIMBLEDON system starting in September, with results coming in mid-February. Just remember to plan ahead! If you are not lucky enough to have the opportunity to buy through the public ballot, there are other options. Public ballot tickets range in price from £50–£275 depending on the day and which court you’re on. There are likely to be limited dates and choices available in your allotment, you may need to pick what is offered to you. Tickets are not transferrable so make sure that you want to use them before buying.
You may see that there are debenture seats available for purchase, as these are the only tickets that are resalable and tend to be in high demand. Debenture seats offer the best seats on Centre Court and No 1 Court for each day of the Championships as well as access to exclusive lounges and restaurants. Debenture owners can sell off any unwanted tickets on the Wimbledon Debenture Holders website if they can’t make certain days. Prices tend to be in the thousands of pounds range- yikes!
There is also an opportunity to join Wimbledon queue, where five hundred tickets for Centre Court (except in the last four days), No 1 and 2 Courts are sold off on the day of play. To be close enough to the front of the line to purchase these tickets, many people camp out in a designated area of Wimbledon Park the night before. Each person who is looking for a ticket needs to queue, as you only get one ticket per person. You are given a ‘queue card’ to mark your place if you need to step out of the line to get food or drinks or use the bathroom.
There are also Grounds Passes available on the day of, you still need to arrive early to join the line. For this past year these cost between £20–£30 and let you watch matches on the unreserved courts and have access to watch the bigger matches on a screen from Henman Hill (or Murray Mound). Grounds Pass holders may be able to upgrade their tickets for access to the show courts after 3pm by buying a resale ticket, where people who’ve left for the day let their tickets be sold for charity. There is no guarantee that these will be available, and certainly these are harder to come by later in the tournament.
Our Championship Sunday
Wimbledon was everything I imagined and more. Being there for the last championship day meant that there were not as many matches happening on the outer courts to watch. We were lucky enough to watch Novak Djokovic warm up while we were waiting for the match to start. Mostly we just strolled around enjoying the atmosphere. Participating in Wimbledon traditions like sipping champagne and indulging in strawberries and cream added to the magic. We even caught glimpses of celebrities like John McEnroe and Lin-Manuel Miranda—what a thrill!
Best Tips for a Wimbledon Visit
When to Go: If you can, try to visit during the first week of the tournament for the most tennis action. But if you’re like us, Championship Sunday is still an incredible experience.
Get the Right Tickets: A Ground Pass lets you explore the iconic grounds, including Henman Hill. Center Court and Court 1 offer the marquee matches, however just being on the grounds and watching from the hill or other courts is also pretty special.
Dress Smartly: While there’s no strict dress code, looking sharp is encouraged, especially on the more prestigious courts. We opted for light colors that matched the sunny day, and white required by the participants.
Be Prepared for Weather: Bring an umbrella just in case! There are plenty of places to shelter if the weather doesn’t cooperate. During our day, rain was brief so we waited for it to pass in order to keep enjoying ourselves.
Plan Your Food: From restaurants to food markets, the options are endless. We made sure to have our strawberries and cream while exploring the grounds. Pro tip: you can bring your own alcohol to drink in designated areas! While we didn’t know this in advance, we purchased a bottle of champagne to sip throughout the day wrapped in a cute tennis polo—a great souvenir!
Explore Beyond Tennis: Take time to enjoy the grounds, including the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum—free for ticket holders!
London Highlights Beyond Wimbledon
Our London adventure didn’t stop at tennis. We had a delightful lunch at Dishoom before hitting the Peloton studio for a killer ride with Sam. Trust me, he’s just as inspiring in person!
Afterward, we were treated to the immersive experience of “Guys and Dolls” at the Bridge Theater—a truly enchanting evening.
On Saturday, we strolled through Kensington Gardens and, in a last-minute decision, swapped our booked afternoon tea for bubbly at Harrods and scones at the Tiffany Blue Box Café—an indulgence that exceeded expectations.
Dinner at The Clove Club was the highlight of our culinary journey. With two Michelin stars and a top-ranking in the San Pellegrino list, it was perfection! If you can, request Table 2 to experience the excitement of dining right in the kitchen.
Next up was the official Ted Lasso tour in Richmond, where we enjoyed a lovely lunch at his pub and recreated some iconic moments from the show.
After an incredible dinner in Chinatown, we felt like we’d tasted the best of London.
Farewell for Now
As we boarded our Jet Blue flight from Heathrow on Monday morning, we reflected on what an amazing weekend it had been. Attending Wimbledon was a dream come true, and I can’t wait to enter the ballot again for another chance in the future.
If you’re planning a trip to London, even for a short-weekend you can make it an adventure filled with unique experiences—you won’t regret it!
