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The Wimbledon Queue

Wheresmeticket
Wheresmeticket Posts: 17,304
edited June 2019 in Other Football and Sports
Thinking of doing the queue this year for the first time. We've been lucky over the last 5 years and got centre court tickets twice, once through the public ballot and once local tennis club. TBH I'd be happy with a ground pass. Anyone here done the queue?
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Comments

  • Covered End
    Covered End Posts: 52,006
    Did it about 20 years ago.
    I think we got there about 8am and scraped in to no 2 court.
    I'm guessing to get centre or No 1 you'll need to be there by 6 or 7 am, but only guessing.
  • Er no sorry mate.
  • Weegie Addick
    Weegie Addick Posts: 16,521
    Many, many years ago managed to be first on Centre Court when they sold standing tickets on the day - first train from Abbey Wood, queuing for hours, then running like mad once through the turnstiles. All for the second or third match on - McEnroe. 

    Good luck.
  • snowinberlin
    snowinberlin Posts: 807
    Went once on first tuesday before the tube started, got centre court, and it was raining.  I think you have to queue overnight these days which is probably a better idea as I was just nodding off by the time we was watching the tennis
  • North Lower Neil
    North Lower Neil Posts: 22,952
    Thinking of doing the same this year during the first week, might camp as it's just as easy as getting up very early and getting over there with not much public transport open yet, and should get a show court that way.

    There's a Twitter page (ViewfromtheQ I think) where people post what time they got there and how far down the queue they were so it might give you an idea of how early to go.
  • SporadicAddick
    SporadicAddick Posts: 6,855
    Middle Sunday 1991. The first week had been obliterated by rain and so, for the first time ever, they played on the Sunday.

    Me and a mate were in the pub and we'd had a few. As we walked out at closing time, a nightbus went past. We both looked at each other, shouted "Wimbledon" and jumped on (these were the days when you could literally jump on a bus). 30 minutes later we were in Trafalgar Square getting on the next night bus to Wimbledon, and soon we were in the queue. Everyone except us was well prepared with tents, blankets and food.

    I entertained the crowds in the early hours by projectile vomiting multiple pints of Holsten Pils. 

    Although we were a long way down the queue we got into Centre Court (because there was no play scheduled, no tickets had been sold, so the whole of Centre Court was filled with queuers). We saw some great names, including (I'm pretty certain) Jimmy Connors on his last Wimbledon appearance. I was in the background as he was filmed walking of court and was subsequently on the opening titles of the BBC coverage for the next week.

    When walking out at the end of the day, we saw a huge crowd running towards us. I tried to move out of the way but as I did so Martina Navratilova collided with me as she was trying to get away from the hordes of autograph hunters.

    I also got interviewed by Sky news on the way out and was seen in the pub that we'd left the day before. 

    A very memorable 24 hours.  
  • Wheresmeticket
    Wheresmeticket Posts: 17,304
    Thanks for the replies.  Coming up from Cornwall so will have to commit to a day.  Best thing seems to be to avoid days when Federer is playing, but will have to guess that...
  • killerandflash
    killerandflash Posts: 69,846
    I'd be happy to just get outside courts in the first week. Chances are you'd see a better match and with a close up view rather than Djokovic in 3rd gear beating a British wild card in straight sets
  • I know someone who does it every year.  She gets there about 7am and usually gets to see lots of outside court matches.

    I'm told it's all very civilised and there is lots of camaraderie.

  • Wheresmeticket
    Wheresmeticket Posts: 17,304
    I'd be happy to just get outside courts in the first week. Chances are you'd see a better match and with a close up view rather than Djokovic in 3rd gear beating a British wild card in straight sets
    Agreed.
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  • Wheresmeticket
    Wheresmeticket Posts: 17,304

    I know someone who does it every year.  She gets there about 7am and usually gets to see lots of outside court matches.

    I'm told it's all very civilised and there is lots of camaraderie.

    Great. 7am is doable...
  • iainment
    iainment Posts: 8,039
    I have queued overnight. It's good fun and we ended up on Centre Court.

  • carly burn
    carly burn Posts: 19,459
    We did it about 18 years ago. 
    Bowled up about 10:30. Took a good few hours. Got outer court tickets.

    It was a scorching hot day. I remember some savvy fella selling Tesco ice lollies for £3 a pop. Reckon he paid £2 for a box of 15!
  • Done the queue every year from 2013 till 2017. We always went first week and early in the week . Left home about 4 always had to wait for the car park to open . I think you can now pre book the car park. Good half hour walk to end of the queue. Normally would be in the 3000s in the queue twice we was in the 5000s . Once inside have gone to the practice courts a few times and court hoped . Last time we stayed on court 12 most of the day and ended up with a resale on Court 1 . Truly great day out and go place to people spot . Enjoy 😊 
  • cafc999
    cafc999 Posts: 4,967
    I done it a few years ago. Arrive early and the queue goes down quite quickly. I was lucky and managed to get No1 court tickets. If the weather is nice its a really good day out
  • Addickforlife
    Addickforlife Posts: 2,101
    Sorry, not a queue question, but can anyone with better Wimbledon knowledge than me let me know what I can expect to see on Court 1 on the final Saturday (13 July)? Obviously Women's singles final will be on Centre Court so I'm wondering if I'll get anything half decent? I've managed to get tickets in the Ballot for the first time.
  • ForeverAddickted
    ForeverAddickted Posts: 94,318
    Sorry, not a queue question, but can anyone with better Wimbledon knowledge than me let me know what I can expect to see on Court 1 on the final Saturday (13 July)? Obviously Women's singles final will be on Centre Court so I'm wondering if I'll get anything half decent? I've managed to get tickets in the Ballot for the first time.
    https://www.wimbledondebentureholders.com/schedule

    Ladies Final | Ladies Doubles Final | Mens Doubles Final
  • killerandflash
    killerandflash Posts: 69,846
    Sorry, not a queue question, but can anyone with better Wimbledon knowledge than me let me know what I can expect to see on Court 1 on the final Saturday (13 July)? Obviously Women's singles final will be on Centre Court so I'm wondering if I'll get anything half decent? I've managed to get tickets in the Ballot for the first time.
    Boys and girls finals? Over 35 invitation matches?

    Unless a backlog means that one of the main finals is moved over, you're unlikely to see anything spectacular
  • Addickforlife
    Addickforlife Posts: 2,101
    Sorry, not a queue question, but can anyone with better Wimbledon knowledge than me let me know what I can expect to see on Court 1 on the final Saturday (13 July)? Obviously Women's singles final will be on Centre Court so I'm wondering if I'll get anything half decent? I've managed to get tickets in the Ballot for the first time.
    Boys and girls finals? Over 35 invitation matches?

    Unless a backlog means that one of the main finals is moved over, you're unlikely to see anything spectacular
    Cheers, that is what a suspected may be the case. A shame as not overly bothered for just boys and girls finals!
  • North Lower Neil
    North Lower Neil Posts: 22,952
    edited June 2019
    I'd be happy to just get outside courts in the first week. Chances are you'd see a better match and with a close up view rather than Djokovic in 3rd gear beating a British wild card in straight sets
    I was thinking that but then camping seems just as easy as a ridiculously early start to get to the queue at a decent hour.  

    I'm torn, we were thinking outside courts and return tickets as it's cheaper etc, but it seems a pain to get into London by 7am or something, especially if we fancy a few drinks and don't drive. 
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  • letthegoodtimesroll
    letthegoodtimesroll Posts: 10,619
    edited June 2019
    Not that I go there for the tennis unless its for corporate entertainment but I seem to recall neighbours here in SW19 going along (a few years ago now I admit) after work and getting in on tickets handed in by people leaving for the day and were being resold by the LTA for Charity. No idea if that’s still the case but might be worth checking out. A few hours of watching tennis in the evening has got to be just as boring as watching a few hours of  tennis during the day so you’d get the same experience.
  • iainment
    iainment Posts: 8,039
    Not that I go there for the tennis unless its for corporate entertainment but I seem to recall neighbours here in SW19 going along (a few years ago now I admit) after work and getting in on tickets handed in by people leaving for the day and were being resold by the LTA for Charity. No idea if that’s still the case but might be worth checking out. A few hours of watching tennis in the evening has got to be just as boring as watching a few hours of  tennis during the day so you’d get the same experience.
    You can get returns from 3pm.
  • snowinberlin
    snowinberlin Posts: 807
    i'd avoid middle saturday if you can
  • Wheresmeticket
    Wheresmeticket Posts: 17,304
    i'd avoid middle saturday if you can
    Gotta assume that the queue for the weekend are going to be bigger.

    I think I'll go for camping on first Tues from around 2pm for Weds or possibly Weds for Thurs.
  • North Lower Neil
    North Lower Neil Posts: 22,952
    Wednesday overnight camping for Thursday tickets in the first week is what we're going to do I think.
  • Covered End
    Covered End Posts: 52,006
    Wednesday overnight camping for Thursday tickets in the first week is what we're going to do I think.
    Warmest night of the year. Sounds like a plan.
    It's meant to hit 86F on Wednesday.
  • MrOneLung
    MrOneLung Posts: 26,853
    So do you then have to carry your tent around for the rest of the day ?
  • Wheresmeticket
    Wheresmeticket Posts: 17,304
    MrOneLung said:
    So do you then have to carry your tent around for the rest of the day ?
    Apparently you can store it in oversized lockers for a fiver...
  • soapboxsam
    soapboxsam Posts: 23,229
    edited June 2019
    Sorry haven't read all the replies as watching  Holland v Canada, cooking duties and just had barny with neighbour who parks so far away from the kerb in our cul De sac that she has to get a lift to her front door ! 

    I have been about 4 times in last 10 years and only go if The forecast is sunny with a 1% chance of rain. If you go on first two days you will see top players on out side courts but not  Rafa, Novak or Roger etc. 
    £22 last time I went may be £ 25 now but if you put up  with queuing in a park you will be given a card with a number on.
    We got there at 7am and still got in by 11.30 before play started on the out side courts.
    The tent people have their own queue and give them a wide berth as some haven't washed for a week.
    I'm a tennis nut and enjoy being close up to the action. 
    Highlight was doing up my shoe laces when Maria Sharapova Walked within touching distant ? I may be on the wrong thread for my next thoughts !

    It works out to £2 an hour if you stay till 9pm. If not you  can eat drink and be merry and spend £100 watching the celebs. 

    Anyone for tennis ?
  • snowinberlin
    snowinberlin Posts: 807
    I went to Roland Garros last year and having been to Wimbledon many times I can honestly say RG is a very poor man's Wimbeldon, there's hardly any atmosphere around the place and even in the stadia.  I watched France's best player (Gasquet) play Rafa and the French fans were barely even supporting him apart from a few cries of ("Rishard").  Wimbledon is a great day out and always a great buzz, Brit fans always create a great atmosphere for all players, RG by comparison was really mundane and doubt I will go again