The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club organise the world famous International Wimbledon Tennis Championship Tournament during the last week of June and first week of July in the British Summer. (Bring an umbrella as it normally rains)

The tennis complex is in Church Road, Wimbledon, London SW19. It is NOT near Wimbledon town Centre. It is about a 30 minute walk up a very steep hill. So what is the best way to get there?

Travel Tip One - Use Public Transport

The nearest tube station is NOT Wimbledon. It is Southfields Underground Station. Take the London underground metro tube train to Southfields Station. It is on the District Line, the green line in the bottom left of the Underground Tube Map. It is two stops before Wimbledon Station. The Wimbledon Tennis Complex is a ten minute walk which is mainly down hill. Southfields Underground Station is on a cross roads junction. When you come out of station cross over Augustus Road and walk south down Wimbledon Park Road.

At the bottom of the hill there is a small roundabout in the middle of the road and in front of you is the famous Number 1 Court at Wimbledon Tennis. There are special tennis buses run by London General and a shared taxi scheme available at a price but just follow the crowds and walk down the hill. It is only a short distance. Do not buy tickets from the ticket touts. You will get ripped off.

Travel Tip Two - The excellent 493 Bus route

Special Tennis Buses and Taxi cabs can be expensive, crowded and you may have to wait in line a long time. To avoid this take the regular 493 red bus that goes past the International Wimbledon Tennis Championship Tournament complex. The 493 bus also goes past Wimbledon Railway Station. As you come out of the main entrance of the Station turn right. Ignore all the taxi drivers and special Wimbledon Tennis bus operators.

At the first junction with the store called Argos on one corner and the big department store called Elys on the other corner cross the road towards Argos and then turn right again. You are now walking down Alexander Road. About 50 yards down this road from the crossroad junction there is a Bus Stop on the otherside of the road opposite from Barclays Bank. Do not take the bus from outside the bank, that goes the wrong way.

Ccatch the Richmond bound 493 bus that will take you to the Wimbledon Tennis Championship complex. If you do not have an Oyster travel card then you can use a bank debit or credit card that has a chip on it that can make wireless payments. The buses no longer accept cash.

If your London hotel is near the Underground Northern Line (the north south route shown in black) take a tube train to Tooting Broadway Underground Station in South London. It is three stops before the end of the Northern Line. As you come out of Tooting Broadway Station turn left and you will see a bus stop. Catch the next 493 bus going towards Richmond via St Georges hospital. They come every 15 minutes.

You could also catch the 493 bus in the beautiful town of Richmond. Catch the 'overground' South Western Train from Waterloo Railway Station in Central London to Richmond. You can also get to Richmond by Underground train on the green District Line from Earls Court Station. Richmond is the end of the line for the 493 bus so you want to catch the bus going to St Georges Hospital, Tooting.

The normal 493 bus stops immediately outside Wimbledon Tennis Championship grounds are closed during the event because of traffic congestion. Temporary bus stops are used further down the road. Just ask the bus driver to let you off at the Tennis grounds.

Travel Tip Three - Wimbledon Railway Station

Special Tennis Buses and Taxi cabs are available from the main Entrance of Wimbledon Railway Station. You will see signs leading you to special bus services run by London General. Marshals representing licensed taxi drivers (mornings only) are on hand to direct you to shared taxis, should you choose this option. You can get to Wimbledon Railway Station by overground South Western Trains from Waterloo Railway Station. Trams from the Croydon area and by Underground Trains on the green District Line.

Wimbledon Railway station is wheelchair friendly. There are lifts on each platform and there are no steps outside the station as you board the buses or join the taxi queue.

Travel Tip Four - Travelling by foot from Wimbledon Railway Station

Total distance 1.2 miles. As you come out of the main entrance of the Railway station turn right past Coffee Republic. At the next cross road go straight up Wimbledon Hill Road passing Argos store, The Hand and Racquet Pub, The Alexandra Pub, Wimbledon Library and The All Bar One Pub. Walk up the very steep hill. At the top there is a mini roundabout.

You are now in Wimbledon Village. Go straight down the High Street passing numerous coffee shops, wine bars and restaurants, until you come to another mini roundabout. Take the right hand turning, which is Church Road, an attractive residential street.

At the end of the road you will find yet another mini roundabout at the junction with Burghley Road. Go straight across the roundabout and start walking down hill, continuing along Church Road. You will soon see the large buildings of the International Wimbledon Tennis Championship Tournament complex.

Travel Tip Five - Travelling by car

DON'T travel by car. Use public transport instead. Parking in the streets around the championships is not allowed and offending vehicles will be towed away. The few car parks near the complex are very expensive. There are huge traffic queues to get in and even large traffic jams to get out when play is finished.

There is a 'Park and Ride' service at the BBC Sports Club, Motspur Park, New Malden, Surrey. This car park is clearly signposted from the A3 and is just 10 minutes drive from the A3 in light traffic conditions. Parking charges are £15 for cars. This includes a free bus shuttle to the Wimbledon tennis championships, which takes about 20 - 40 minutes depending on the traffic which is normally bad. There is another 'Park and Ride' car park in Morden Park, London Road, Morden, along the A24.

Wimbledon tennis books