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HOW
TO DO IT! Do What? -
Wimbledon !
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GENERAL INFO
: Passport is required. All prices are 1997. In 2004
the prices will have escalated. There are many URLs
where you can check out this info. The tournament
usually runs the last week of June, starting on Monday
through Sunday of the first week of July. Check it
out. Usually, there's no play the middle Sunday; however,
should rain persist during the first week it could
happen.
It happened in 1991 for the first time, and All England
Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTCC) offered Centre
Court (CC) and Court 1 (C1) tickets for $17 on a first
come basis. I know. I was there.
It happened again in 1997 and yes I was there, but
tickets were CC/$29 and C1/$26. If it happens again
you be there! Tickets are cheap and plentiful, but
start queuing by 8 a.m.
Middle Saturday is 'People Day'. Two thousand CC and
several hundred C1 tickets are available, but you'll
need to queue all night to get one. And all tickets
are cheaper for 'People Day'. Be early and hope for
an airline price war.
DAILY TICKETS
: For the first nine days, Wimbledon holds back approximately
1,200 tickets total for CC and C1, where the best
matches are scheduled. These tickets are divided equally
between the two Church Road queues, and they cost
$30 to $75, getting more expensive toward Wednesday,
but usually the caliber of tennis improves as the
cream rises to the top.
Court 1 ticket prices are slightly cheaper than CC.
And C2 ticket prices are slightly cheaper than C1.
A Ground Pass cost about $13 ($7 after 5 p.m. in 1997),
and you can watch action on eighteen courts, although
you may have to stand. Any CC, C1, and C2 tickets
entitle you to the same privileges as a Ground Pass
plus the designated court.
Starting at 2:30 p.m., return tickets for CC, C1 and
C2 go on sale for approximately $12 and part of the
money goes to charity. But don't count on getting
one, unless a long rain delay is forecasted, which
might cause ticket holders to become impatient and
they leave in droves. Ask Information for location
or refer to the diagram in the Official Programme
(At $8, it's a good-buy souvenir).
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QUEUING (LINING UP)
: Two queues form on Church Road. One runs north
and one runs south.
If you take the Tube out, you could get off
at Southfield and take a bus down to the grounds,
but I suggest you go on to the Wimbledon Station
where you can also catch a bus to the grounds.
The queue you join from here forms slower than
the other one. Now, to have a choice of CC,
C1, or C2 tickets, start queuing around 7 p.m.
the night before. Set up your sleeping arrangement
and meet your neighbors. Everyone is friendly.
After you have fully established yourself, walk
up the hill to Wimbledon Village and have a
pint at one of several friendly pubs (Take either
Church Road or Marryat Road). You will not believe
the wild scene you'll encounter. Then go to
Mange and Tout's Deli and buy food to take back
for breakfast.
Coffee is usually available on the queue. Leaving
the queue is permitted, but you're expected
to sleep there overnight.Queuing for tickets
ends on Wednesday of the second week. Normally,
Ladies Semifinals are played on Thursday, Men’s
Semis on Friday, and so on.No tickets are held
back for the public for these matches, which
are staged on CC.
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1999:
My last time queuing over night. I'm 69. I
was more than three miles away from the ticket
gate (nearly at Wimbledon Park UnderGround
Station). I bought a Court 1 ticket. Tim Henman
("come on Tim") was playing on CC: forget
it from this far back. I was kinda surprised
I got in .
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WEATHER
: The temperature at night can fall to the low
fifties. It warms to the low seventies if the
sun comes out. You'll need a sweater or light
jacket. Andpack a light-weigh poncho. Rain is
always only one cloud away.
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QUEUING GEAR
: Comfortable sleeping bag; Thin rubber mat
to go under sleeping bagor a blow up swimming
float (test it); Rain cover, approx. 8'x 8'
or an ampletent. And take a set of earplugs.
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FACILITIES
: Wimbledon provides a nice facility with hot
and cold running water. Ask someone for its location.
Food is available to the overnight guess, but
I don't recommend it. It's expensive and often
inferior.
But it’s better than nothing is.
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Nothing
daunts these Brits' spirit
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CLOTHING
: I'm not going to tackle this, since everyone
has different plans and tastes. Weather permitting,
Walker Joe dresses in tennis attire (white) per
chance they might ask him to play. And you might
want to stay a few days and see London, It's a
fabulous city. However, don't get carried away.
You're not a pack mule.
Hint: It gets really cool at night and when it’s
cloudy.
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TRIP PLANS
: I suggest you go over the first week of the
tournament. Commit early and pray for an airline
price war (repeated). Fly over Wednesday night.
Call Mrs. Jane Scoon, a sweet woman and great
Mom, at Tel. +44 (0)208 946 8491 or send her an
email
, and arrange for a B&B ($48) for Thursday
(unless you opt to queue for Friday's tickets,
then just book a B&B for Saturday night. You're
going to be sleeping on the road Sunday night
and the rest of the time.
If you plan to stay over a few days doing London,
arrange a B&B in the Wimbledon area up front
with Jane.
It's nice and safe, and London is only 30 minutes
away by the Underground. If you buy a day-pass
($6), you can go anyplace in London between 10
a.m. and 11 p.m. It will save you a fist full
of money.
Ask the ticket agent how to use it. Once again,
you'll need an Underground Planner (U-Planner)(free).
Most flights from the USA arrive early in the
morning.
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This
is my setup in the early years.
I made improvements through the years.
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I suggest that you get settled first, which can be completed
by noon.
Call Mrs. Jane Scoon, if you haven't already done so, and
arrange for a B&B for this night and Saturday night.
21 Farquhar Road, Wimbledon Park, London SW19 8Da. She'll
give you directions to her home, which is only four blocks
from Wimbledon Park Station on the Underground District/Green
Line. She'll give you a map and help you get to your B&B.
The stop is hardly out of the way.
Getting to Wimbledon Park Station: From Heathrow, buy a
day-pass and take the Underground's Piccadilly/Blue Line
to Earl's Court where you change to the District/Green Line.
From Gatwick, you take the Gatwick Express ($18) to Victoria
Station. There you buy a day-pass and take the District/Green
Line to Wimbledon Park Station.
You could catch the Circle/Yellow Line, but should you,
you'll have to change at Earl's Court.
Ask someone, if in doubt . The 'Brits' are helpful people.
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WOW! Five across. It was
never like this on Virgin Atlantic.
I won't say what Airline, but it's made in America.
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There’s a cheaper way to get to Wimbledon from Gatwick.
Take a train (so said Lawrence Welk) out of Gatwick that
takes you to an Underground Station and from there you get
to Wimbledon Park where the friendly B&B lady lives near
by.
Ask a train employee because I've forgotten the details.
You know, “Can I catch a train to the Underground station
on the District/Green Line.” After you get settled
Thursday, go have fun. London offers great theater,
but tickets often are scarce; however, you might make a
reasonable deal with a scalper. Been there. Done
that. If you're gung-ho for tennis, walk to Wimbledon and
check it out. You might be able to buy a Ground Pass
($8). If you go downtown be sure you're on the train by
11 p.m. A cab (hack) ride to Wimbledon from downtown will
be expensive. You don't need a car in London . waste
of money.
Always know what the weather forecast is before standing
in line and paying big bucks for a Wimbledon ticket. Check
Wimbledon's raincheck policy here: http://www.wimbledon-experience.com/rotw/prog/terms.htm
If the queue is long, you might not get in 'til late afternoon
or not at all. No patience, walk or cab to Wimbledon
Village. At Volleys, a modern pub, you can watch the
tennis on the teley. If you opt for site seeing or a pubcrawl,
walk (20 minutes) or catch the bus ($1.40) to Southfield
Station and head downtown.
Buy a day-pass if you haven't already bought one.
A site seeing adventure should've been planned at
home, so consult your UPlanner for the nearest U-Station
to the sites you have selected. (Write London Underground
Limited @ 55 Broadway, London SW1H OBD. They might
send you a planner.)
Your next day there, Friday, rise by 8 a.m., have breakfast,
dress, and if the weather permits, head for Wimbledon. Take
your queuing gear. Leave the rest. I'm sure
your host won’t care. The only ticket available will
likely be a Ground Pass. Buy it. You'll have
access to 18 courts.
The international atmosphere alone is worth the price of
the ticket. You might be lucky and buy a return ticket
later.
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And, at Aorangi Picnic Terrace, you can watch Centre Court
action on a huge TV screen or visit the Wimbledon Museum.
There's plenty to do.
Park your queuing gear at Left Luggage (50 cents) and go
have fun. When tennis is finished, collect your gear from
Left Luggage and head for a queue on Church Road. When in
doubt, Official Information is readily available or just
ask someone. As stated, there is no tennis on the middle
Sunday. Return to your B&B.
Sunday is up to you (research the NET). Plan it in advance,
and plan to be back at Wimbledon by 7 p.m. to set up your
sleeping arrangements. Monday and Tuesday nights play the
same way. So, three or four nights on the grass will leave
you reeling. Certainly, it will give you an immense appreciation
for le lit (French for bed).
Food is expensive in 'Jolly Olde', but Walker Joe found
a pub, The Grid End, only three blocks from the Southfields
Station, that serves tasty meals for about $7. Several times
I left Wimbledon and walked to the pub. If you do this,
be sure to get your hand stamped to gain readmission.
GOING HOME : The night before
your trip home head back to the airport. You can save a
night’s lodging. After all, you have a sleeping bag.
At Gatwick airport , you can take a shower.
Walker Joe did.
Actually, this makes good sense, since your flight probably
leaves around 9 a.m.; saves all that panic in the morning
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Suck
in boy! Court One -1999 - Waiting for a doubles match
featuring Graf/McEnroe. This match was a real surprise,.
Graf withdrew after this match: and made John right
mad. - Don't take much. !!
The older man who queues at Wimbledon,
- Walker Joe .
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Please note : - prices, Wimbledon
arrangements and travel reference do change from time to
time, for an up to date reference please
check our WIMBLEDON
INFOS SECTION
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