This article is part of FT Globetrotter’s guide to Wimbledon
Wimbledon is a tournament of tradition, much of which is inseparably tied to its south-west London home. For two weeks a year, the centre of the tennis world shifts to this quiet, affluent pocket of the UK capital. As tennis legend and BBC commentator John McEnroe told the FT: “It’s so beautiful . . . there’s an energy just walking around.”
If you don’t have tickets and are willing to try your luck with the queue, McEnroe suggests aiming to go early in the tournament. “For a fan, to me . . . it would be cool to see players that you don’t know,” he said. “Seeing how much it would mean to some player you’ve never heard of, as opposed to going into Centre Court and watching Carlos Alcaraz or Novak Djokovic, which is also great in a different way.”
For the rest of us, while the Championships’ DNA lies in SW19, they are also celebrated and showcased across London via the many big and small screens that are erected in squares, floated on docks and set up in secret courtyards. This newfangled tradition unites Londoners and visitors in the timeworn act of rhythmic head-rotation to the soundtrack of thwumping balls, broadcast live from the All England Lawn Tennis Club.
Whether you’re after a long, mellow session of sunlit viewing or seeking the nearest venue to catch a tooth-grinding tie-break, the below are some of the best places to take in the greatest Grand Slam.
Bishops Square, Spitalfields
BISHOPS SQUARE, LONDON E1 6AD
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Good for: A post-work crowd with much-needed beers in hand
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Not so good for: Escaping the city
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FYI: Weekday screenings of big matches tend to fill up early — you may have to jostle. Screenings are daily from 11am to 9pm during the tournament
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Price: Free
To the west of historic Spitalfields Market lies Bishops Square, a public space by Foster + Partners. Within this glass-walled locale, Wimbledon fortnight erupts in a buzzy shower of beer, relief and solidarity after office folk log off for the day. The magical appearance of deck chairs during the tournament facilitates many a moment of after-work peace in front of the 188-inch screen.
Even if you only have time for a set or two, this is a sensible place to catch some tennis after a meeting or before a train out of Liverpool Street. Food and drink options are abundant (such as the nearby Lamb Street food kiosks, which offer Wimbledon promotions) and, for those who tire of the tennis, Italian restaurant Alfi has bocce (Italian boules) lanes on its terrace.
Eccleston Yards, Belgravia
21 ECCLESTON PLACE, LONDON SW1W 9AZ
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Good for: A sense of luxury and Wimbledon-inspired clean living
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Not so good for: Yelling
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FYI: The place is replete with boutique shops, wellness-centric venues and cafés
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Price: Free
Despite the streaks of bunting and abundant sense of finery, Ecclestone Yards remains a fairly well-kept secret in central London. And this serene courtyard, ensconced on the nicer side of Victoria station, is once again hosting a very genteel set of Wimbledon screenings.
Rattan chairs, tables and deck chairs sit elegantly amid the historic buildings of the courtyard — all directed towards the inviting presence of the big screen. A Malin+Goetz pop-up sells sun cream and deodorant, which, if nothing else will make you smell nice while you sweat out a tie break. Trüfrü, too, is hawking its phenomenal frozen chocolate-covered strawberries from 3pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Good luck keeping to one bag.
Hackney Bridge, Stratford
UNITS 1-28, Echo Building, East Bay Lane, London E15 2SJ
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Good for: Families, east Londoners, craft-beer drinkers, street-food lovers and a laid-back atmosphere
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Not so good for: Strawberries, cream, chinos, tradition, Ralph Lauren
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FYI: The site also hosts markets, DJ sets and record-label parties
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Prices: Free entry
Hackney Wick: east London’s little slice of Miami? Maybe not, but no one can dispute the relaxed aura that has emerged in this post-industrial oasis. For Wimbledon watchers, the screen at Hackney Bridge offers a community-focused, laid-back option, many miles from leafy SW19.
Amid the warehouses at the Hackney Wick canalside, the big screen is pulled up and chill vibes abound. Seating is a mixture of wooden chairs and benches — and there’s a decent amount of shade for hot days. The options for craft beer, street food and snacks are more or less innumerable. Hangar Bar has a reasonable selection of beers, but Howling Hops just over the canal is always a good choice for a more interesting range of APAs and sours brewed on site.
Northcote Road Summer Festival, Clapham
NORTHCOTE ROAD, LONDON SW11
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Good for: Canine lovers; there is also a dog show with categories including “Sassiest Strut”, “Little Legend” and “Waggiest Tail”
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Not so good for: Full focus on the tennis
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FYI: Only showing the men’s final on July 13. If you wish to enlist your hound for the show, go to the registration desk on the day
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Prices: Free
The Northcote Road Summer Festival has become a beloved summer feature for south Londoners close to this buzzing part of the borough of Wandsworth. Sponsored by The Junction BID, which supports businesses in the area, the event coincides with the Wimbledon men’s singles final, taking place on July 13.
An ample big screen provides the viewing facility; however, seats are not hugely plentiful, so you should be prepared to stand or bring a folding chair or mat for sitting on the floor.
Businesses from the immediate area will be out in force, with more than 50 food stalls and plenty of other treats on offer. The festival also includes a bout of canine entertainment, with a dog show allowing four-legged attendees to show their mettle on the same day as the world’s tennis greats.
The Refinery Bankside
110 Southwark Street, London SE1 9AN
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Good for: Big groups, staying central
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Not so good for: A quiet viewing experience
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FYI: Bring sunglasses and cream — if it’s sunny it can be hot as hell
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Prices: Cocktails from £12.95, mains from £17.95
This part of London is always buzzing — and has been for about 1,000 years. Behind the Tate Modern, The Refinery Bankside offers an immense Wimbledon-viewing set-up with a touch of seclusion and comfort. Cocktails, beers and reasonably priced food make this a good option for visitors exploring the river, and the after-work crowd who want to watch a set or two with colleagues before heading off to London Bridge station.
St Katharine Docks, near Tower Bridge
50 St Katharine’s Way, London E1W 1LA
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Good for: The intersection of seafarers and tennis lovers
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Not so good for: Landlubbers
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FYI: The British tennis champion Virginia Wade, who won Wimbledon in 1977, was the model for the nearby ‘Girl and Dolphin’ sculpture (1973) by David Wynne
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Price: Free
Still hands down the most original tennis-viewing experience in London — it should be made a permanent fixture, in my view, and named HMS Tennis. Here, amid the masts and cobbles of 19th-century St Katharine Docks, a big screen on a pontoon provides all the Wimbledon stimulus you need to while away an afternoon in this atmospheric spot.
If you don’t like tennis, you can do some boat-spotting, pick your favourite yachts or, later in the day, gaze over at Tower Bridge to catch the evening light. The pontoon is open daily from noon to 8pm during the tournament, and its bar has you covered for all your grog-related needs.
Everyman on the Canal, King’s Cross
Granary Square, London N1C 4PW
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Good for: Whiling away a train delay; art-school kids
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Not so good for: Rainy days
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FYI: Possible threat of ducks, swans, moorhens and other canal-dwellers
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Price: Free
Every summer, the wide steps on Granary Square become an amphitheatre for canalside-tennis watching and Central Saint Martins students smoking cigarettes. The Everyman Cinema outdoor screen is showing Wimbledon matches every day of the tournament — it’s a perfect spot for those passing through the north London transport hub or who have a dinner plan in the area.
As in recent years, Everyman is also screening more than 100 films, running until 17 August, with plenty of blockbusters, classics and art-house cuts lined up. This year’s outdoor cinema has been designed by Yinka Ilori, drawing on the strong line-up of animated films to bring a cartoonish flair to Granary Square.
Snacks and drinks are available from tents; afterwards, you could head to Spiritland for cocktails and rarefied sounds or, about a 15-minute walk away, Asakusa for top-quality sushi.
Portman Square Garden, Marylebone
Portman Square, London W1H 6LT
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Good for: Grandeur
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Not so good for: Watching with your dog; they are not allowed in the garden
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FYI: The garden will be open from noon to 8pm, July 8–13
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Price: Free
Portman Square is a beautiful example of garden-square Georgian architecture, with townhouses that date from 1760 to the early 1800s. Usually reserved for residents, its garden is open to the public during Wimbledon, as deckchairs and a large screen are put out for your viewing pleasure. Nearby restaurants include Fischer’s for excellent Austrian fare or the Marylebone outpost of St John. Culture lovers might want to pair some tennis with a visit to The Wallace Collection, which also has a beautiful conservatory café.
Merchant Square, Paddington
Paddington Basin, London W2 1JS
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Good for: Lovers of a huge screen; no cars; transport connections to the west
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Not so good for: Escaping the corporate crowd
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FYI: No swimming
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Price: Free
For those around Paddington or waiting for trains, Merchant Square is the obvious option. It’s one of the real big-hitters of the Wimbledon-viewing game in London. The screen is monumental, there’s grass to lounge on if you can’t secure a deckchair — and it’s easy to get back to anywhere from Paddington station. (The algae of Paddington Basin also adds a touch of green tranquillity, if you’ll allow me.) Entry is free and there is a good provision of street-food stands, cocktails and strawberries and cream. Tennis is screened daily from 11am-7pm, and no booking is required. One particular advantage of pedestrianised Merchant Square is the quiet, with no cars in earshot.
Ham Yard Hotel, Soho
1 Ham Yard, London W1D 7DT
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Good for: Media types, Soho glamourpusses
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Not so good for: Cheap booze
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FYI: Screenings are on the terrace, weather permitting, starting daily from 11am
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Price: Free with bar access
Tucked away behind Piccadilly Circus, the Ham Yard Hotel is a quietly stylish venue with an enticing Wimbledon-dedicated courtyard space during the anointed season. Lush planters and café tables abound, bringing a Cotswold feel to this pocket of Soho.
Tennis is screened every day from 11am. For drinks only, tables are first come, first served — but you ought to book if you’d like afternoon tea there, or for the finals (July 12 and 13).
Ham Yard supplies wireless headphones if you want to really tune into the SW19 action and block out your friends. Otherwise, hang out and chat — sip a cocktail developed with Ham Yard’s mixology partner London Essence. A picnic-hamper-borne afternoon tea is £53 a head, or £65 with a glass of Rathfinny Classic Cuvée 2019, a sparkling Sussex wine.
Bluebird, Chelsea
350 King’s Road, London SW3 5UU
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Good for: Champagne
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Not so good for: Bargain hunters
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FYI: Tickets include a glass of Lanson champagne and reserved seating
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Price: £90
For a suitably swish end to your Wimbledon-watching arc, why not join the west London set in the art deco Bluebird on King’s Road for the finals? With its manicured blooms and tufts of green sprouting from all corners, the terrace is a deliciously summery option for tennis watching — and also a pre-eminent site for celebrity spotting. For both the men’s and women’s finals, your £90 ticket guarantees you a seat, a glass of Lanson champagne and a serving of strawberries and cream.
Islington Square, Islington
116 Upper Street, London N1 1AB
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Good for: Dining and shopping, if you are not committed to the tennis
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Not so good for: It’s likely to be busy, particularly on weekends
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FYI: On Saturdays and Sundays, the Urban Food Fest Bar offers complimentary cocktails with every purchase from the market
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Price: Free
From the early 20th century, Islington Square was home to a 170,000-square-foot-postal sorting office, hidden behind a grand Baroque-revival façade. In recent years it has been reinvented as a thriving network of commercial and residential spaces, and during Wimbledon this summer, in partnership with Urban Food Fest, it is hosting free screenings of the Championships from 11am each day. The food options are respectable, especially on weekends, when Urban Food Fest offers a weekly market of street food, desserts and artisanal products. Otherwise, The Great Chase, Omnom and many other restaurants have you covered, and for libations there’s The Bottle Cocktail Shop.
If you are bringing kids, an arts and crafts area provides free entertainment and tennis-ball decorating for young fans of the game. For a more grown-up evening, you might head on to the theatre: the Almeida and the Kings Head are both just minutes away.
Where are you watching Wimbledon this summer in London? Tell us in the comments below. And follow FT Globetrotter on Instagram at @FTGlobetrotter to find out about our latest stories first
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