An insider's guide to Wimbledon

The British tennis season is here. That only means one thing, Wimbledon. Rebecca Morris gives you the low-down of the tournament that brings southwest London to life

The tradition of royalty, plucky fans and unpredictable weather make this tournament one of the biggest sporting events of the year. The 2005 Championships start on Monday 20 June and end with the Men's singles final on Sunday 3 July.

Who plays at Wimbledon? The Wimbledon draw is made up of 128 players for the Mens' and Ladies' singles tournament. This year defending champion Roger Federer will be taking on the likes of Andy Roddick, Rafael Nadal and our own Tim Henman for the Wimbledon Trophy, and the small matter of £630,000. The Williams sisters, Amelie Mauresmo and Maria Sharapova are among the big names vying for the Venus Rosewater Dish and £600,000. British players, other than Henman and Greg Rusedski, generally have to rely on the generosity of the Club to give them automatic entry into the tournament in the form of wild cards, which are predominately given to Brits, and these low-ranked players generally provide their share of upset and excitement in the first few days.

Getting tickets
Advance tickets are distributed by public ballot, and to be eligible you must write to The All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club requesting to enter by 31 December for the following year. Your chances of being successful in the lottery are remote. You can queue on the day, but get there early, and remember payment is with cash only. If you want Centre Court tickets, which start at £32, arrive around 3am, or the night before. If you just want to soak up the atmosphere, a ground pass at £16 will suffice - the benefits being that you don't need to queue so early, and on the first week you can see some big names on the outside courts. Or you can catch the evening matches after work for just £10.

Getting there
Take the District Line tube to Southfields station or to Wimbledon tube/train station, where there is a shuttle bus, although it is quite expensive. The tournament is only a seven-minute stroll away, and it's an even shorter walk to join the queue. The No 39 bus from Clapham Junction to Putney goes right to the road that runs in front of the club. Parking is limited and costs from £15; another option is to try the various side streets nearby where residents often rent out their driveways for smaller sums.

The scene
Inside Wimbledon the atmosphere is electric. You can watch matches from the show courts on a giant television screen on Aorangi Terrace, otherwise known as 'Henman Hill' after Tim Henman. When Henman plays, the agony and ecstasy of the huge crowd watching him play is reverberated around the grounds. There is a picnic area by the screen, which fills up very quickly. The practice courts are nearby at Aorangi Park and worth a look to see players warming up. And if you want to get your favourite player's signature, go to Autograph Island, between the practice courts and the giant screen, where spectators queue to get mementos of their visit.

The food
The championship is famous for its traditional strawberries and cream, and prices for strawberries and salmon can rise across the UK because of the demand at Wimbledon. Last year, attendees consumed:

  • 28,000 kgs strawberries
  • 7,000 litres cream
  • 135,000 ice-creams
  • 150,000 glasses of Pimms
  • 17,000 bottles of Champagne

The queues
Be prepared to queue. For everything. You have to queue to get in, to get onto a court, for food, to go to the loo, to leave at the end of the day and even at the tube. Whatever you do, do not queue barge, as the people who have been waiting patiently will unleash a torrent of abuse. That aside, queuing is an event in itself. Dress appropriately, and that doesn't mean wearing high heels, as you will suffer before the day has even begun. To queue for tickets, take warm clothes, a sleeping bag, a book, a pack of cards and a flask of tea. You can check bags in at a left luggage kiosk outside Wimbledon.

Play starts on the outside courts at 12pm and on the show courts (Centre and No1) at 1pm. The gates open to the public at 10.30am and everyone rushes to a court to grab a seat and camp out. Unfortunately, if you're like me, by the time play starts, you need the loo and have to vacate your seat. As these courts are free-for-all, you then lose your seat and the whole process has been wasted. If you have queued all night, or from the early hours of the morning, watch interesting matches so you don't fall asleep. Don't be afraid to go to another court if a match is dull.

The celebrities and minor royals
The Royal Box seats 75 people and is used for royalty and celebrities being wined and dined by the Chairman of the Club. While the amusing spectacle of players attempting to bow and curtsey to the Royal Box on Centre Court has been stopped this year, you can still celeb-watch. Big-name tennis fans here have included Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Jack Nicholson and of course Cliff Richard, who is a member of the club.

The player perks
Not only do players earn prize money for the tournament, but in 2003, they also received £165 a day to help with accommodation and travel, plus £20 per diem meal vouchers. Players also get a goody bag, which includes tickets for a West End show, Wimbledon tickets for friends and a chauffeur-driven car for the tournament. It's a hard-knock life.

Apres-tennis
Even after the last match of the day, the fun is not over. Walk up the hill to Wimbledon Village for a drink at the Dog and Fox, or a meal at one of the many restaurants. Most of the players rent houses in the vicinity, which means you can spot athletes, soak up your surroundings and finish the day in style.

What can I watch at Wimbledon?

  • Gentlemen's Singles (128 players)
  • Gentlemen's Doubles (64 pairs)
  • Ladies' Singles (128 players)
  • Ladies' Doubles (64 pairs)
  • Mixed Doubles (48 pairs)
  • Junior Boys and Girls Singles (64 players)
  • Junior Boys and Girls Doubles (32 pairs)
  • 35 & over Gentlemen's Invitation Doubles (16 pairs)
  • 45 & over Gentlemen's Invitation Doubles (16 pairs)
  • 35 & over Ladies' Doubles Invitation (8 pairs)
  • Gentlemen's Wheelchair Doubles (4 pairs)

The links and facts

  • Official Wimbledon website: www.wimbledon.org
  • More information on Wimbledon on iVillage
  • Radio Wimbledon, 87.7FM, runs round-ups of the action and reaches a four-mile radius
  • Expotel Hotel Reservations. Telephone: 020 7372 2001