Wimbledon Accessibility

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Wimbledon Accessibility

RJA · Hall of fame

Bob in Spain wrote:
OK. So Bob in Spain is thinking of becoming Bob in Britain for a few days over the summer and attending both Wimbledon qualies and also the main event. So my question is, what is the best means of getting to each venue. My prefered choice would always be by car, for the convenience so if anyone could let me know what parking is like for Roehampton and Wimbledon, I would appreciate it.
However, if parking is a nightmare, I have the option of public transport, perhaps coming in by train on the Guildford - Waterloo line.

If you go to Roehampton I would strongly advise you to drive into Richmond Park, the entrance is at the bottom of Priory Lane, where there is a free car park a couple hundred yards inside the gates. That leaves you with a 5-10 minute walk to the venue. The alternative involves parking in the streets which requires turning up very early unless you are very lucky.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

RJA wrote:
Bob in Spain wrote:
OK. So Bob in Spain is thinking of becoming Bob in Britain for a few days over the summer and attending both Wimbledon qualies and also the main event. So my question is, what is the best means of getting to each venue. My prefered choice would always be by car, for the convenience so if anyone could let me know what parking is like for Roehampton and Wimbledon, I would appreciate it.
However, if parking is a nightmare, I have the option of public transport, perhaps coming in by train on the Guildford - Waterloo line.
If you go to Roehampton I would strongly advise you to drive into Richmond Park, the entrance is at the bottom of Priory Lane, where there is a free car park a couple hundred yards inside the gates. That leaves you with a 5-10 minute walk to the venue. The alternative involves parking in the streets which requires turning up very early unless you are very lucky.

Thanks RJA. Sounds like a plan.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Don't know anything about driving to the Bank of England for qualis but I DO know that public transport is pretty time-consuming, to say the leats (no criticism - it's pretty out in the sticks).

But it means I'd definitely favour driving if I could (and RJA's suggestion seems perfect).

Spectator · All-time great

On the other hand, for Wimbledon itself, Guildford to Wimbledon is (or so National Rail website says) 43 to 55 minutes on a direct route. And then there's a bus to the tournament. The Wimbledon website strongly recommends the public transport option, and I'd doubt it would be possible to do it more rapidly by car.

Sim · County player

I once parked next to Kempton Race Course which is just off the end of the M3 and caught the train from Kempton Park to Wimbledon.

Just check it is not race-day!

BradMarx90 · County player

Bob in Britain - another addition to Bob's spawn of seemingly harmless AIs that will one day conquer the tennis world...

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

BradMarx90 wrote:
Bob in Britain - another addition to Bob's spawn of seemingly harmless AIs that will one day conquer the tennis world...

World domination by stealth is our ultimate objective wink

Thanks to ALL for advice. Hoping I may get to meet up with a few forumites while I am there.

goldfish · Futures qualifying

We always drive to Wimbledon during the main tournament and park in the car park where the queue is - I think it's car park 10. If I remember correctly it costs about £25 for the day. You can book in advance but certainly if you plan to get there early and queue, you would not have a problem just turning up. I'm not sure that it is ever full even if you arrive later because you don't need to queue. We stay till the end of play but that has never been as late as the night it went beyond 10pm (or was it 11?).

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

goldfish wrote:
We always drive to Wimbledon during the main tournament and park in the car park where the queue is - I think it's car park 10. If I remember correctly it costs about £25 for the day. You can book in advance but certainly if you plan to get there early and queue, you would not have a problem just turning up. I'm not sure that it is ever full even if you arrive later because you don't need to queue. We stay till the end of play but that has never been as late as the night it went beyond 10pm (or was it 11?).

Thanks for that. I will need to have a look at train times and costs before making a final decision. For me, £25 per day just to park a car is obscene, but I guess I have been living overseas too long.

goldfish · Futures qualifying

£25 for me is not too bad as there would be at least 2 of us travelling from East Herts so the saving on train fares compensates more or less.

Kenneth · Lower Club Player

£25 to park is horrific I agree, supply and demand I suppose. Wimbledon is strange as some things it does are really reasonable, like that you can take food/drink in, including booze, where other events won't let you take a thing in. Tickets are not that expensive really for a full day too. Yet then they charge silly prices for parking!

However maybe try "park at my house" type sites online. Lots of houses nearby offer parking on their drives for a fee, easier to get in/out too.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Kenneth wrote:
£25 to park is horrific I agree, supply and demand I suppose. Wimbledon is strange as some things it does are really reasonable, like that you can take food/drink in, including booze, where other events won't let you take a thing in. Tickets are not that expensive really for a full day too. Yet then they charge silly prices for parking!

However maybe try "park at my house" type sites online. Lots of houses nearby offer parking on their drives for a fee, easier to get in/out too.

Thanks. That sounds like a good idea.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Bob for qualies catch the train, fast train to Waterloo, 19 minutes to Barnes (Hounslow circulars go often, download the UK train times ap) and it's a pleasant 10 minute walk across Barnes common and down prior lane. Action doesn't really get going until 11 so you can probably catch an off peak train from Guildford after 09:30 and still get there in time to get your deckchair and blanket out in a prime location before the action starts.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

09:34=>10:13, 10:15=> 11:16 so if you want to be miserly you might miss half an hours play