How to Visit Wimbledon on a Budget
The oldest tennis tournament in the world, Wimbledon, is about the bring heaps of excitement to the tennis court yet again this year. Opening on 27th June and running through to 10th July 2022, the tournament will see both male and female players compete for the title.
Wimbledon always promises a series of spectacular tennis battles imbued with astute sports flair. Nothing can compare to seeing it all live, especially during these hot summer days. Wimbledon calls for your best attire, such as a pretty sundress, chic high heel sandals, and trendy sunglasses.
But as we all know, a visit to the iconic tournament can be quite costly. Today, we track down what a day out in Wimbledon will cost you and how you can have a budget-friendly visit while still having lots of fun.
The starting prices for the tickets
As you would imagine, the most expensive part of your visit to Wimbledon is the tickets. The cheapest way to see the tennis, and perhaps the most fun,is by purchasing Ground Passes, which cost £27 for the first eight days. After that, General Passes start getting cheaper as they only give you access to the outside courts: courts 3–19, as well as access to the famous ‘Henman Hill’ where you can watch all of the key matches on the big screen.
Although you won’t actually be able to see matches like the finals and semi-finals court-side, a Ground Pass gives you access to a great atmosphere sitting on the hill, where you can have a picnic whilst enjoying the matches, as well as access to all outside courts. Bear in mind that queues for daily Ground Passes start very early on the day, so make sure you get there well in advance.
If you wish to see the matches at the actual courts, then you need to upgrade your pass. Prices for Show Courts range from £46 to £240, depending on the day and the Show Court.
Of course, you don’t have to visit the tournament every day! You can save yourself for the best – the finals – which will cost you only £8 for the last day for a Ground Pass and £230 for Centre Court (Price Band B) tickets.
Although the tickets might be quite costly when you’re on a budget, they’re definitely worth it, as Wimbledon is the most prestigious and coveted tennis tournament in the world.
How much will you spend on drinks?
The best thing about Wimbledon is that you are allowed to bring your own food and drink, meaning you can have a fun picnic, surrounded by friends, family, fans, and an exciting atmosphere. It’s also a great way to save some money!
In terms of alcohol, you can bring one bottle of wine or Champagne (750ml), or two cans of beer (500ml), or two cans of premixed aperitifs per person, and Bottles of spirits or fortified wines aren’t allowed into the Grounds. Here is a full list of what’s allowed and what’s prohibited.If you wish to buy drinks from the bar, you will pay a different price depending on what you like to drink and how much,. One thing is for sure, it won’t be on the cheap side, as events like this tend to have high prices on the booze. But if you like to mix your fun with alcohol, you probably already know that.
The cheapest alcoholic drink you can get is a pint of Stella Artois for £5.80. a glass of Pimm’s would cost you £8.50, and a glass of wine is priced at £8.00. Nevertheless, if you are a fervent fan of the ladies’ G&T, prepare to pay £9.50 for it. For those who believe that sharing is caring, a bottle of wine will cost you £24.50, while half a bottle of champagne is £42. Sometimes, sharing a bottle might turn out to be cheaper.
For those who like to stay on the sober side of things, a 500ml bottle of Evian water costs £2.10, the same as a bottle of Pepsi Max. And if you want to satisfy your sweet tooth, an indulgent bowl of strawberries and cream will cost you £2.50. That’s a true Wimbledon classic.
Bring the memories home
It’s likely that you would love the tournament so much that you would want to bring the memories home with you. That’s where Wimbledon memorabilia comes into play.
The cheapest one you can get is a Wimbledon strawberry keyring for £5, and the most expensive one is a Wimbledon tie for £59. Alongside that, you can treat yourself to a Wimbledon teddy bear (£18) to cuddle, a fashionable Wimbledon cap (£16), a ceramic mug with either Wimbledon lettering or a racket design (£14) for your morning coffee, a Wimbledon towel for the beach (£35), or a giant souvenir tennis ball (£18).
Any of those exciting items will commemorate a tennis experience you will never forget and the joy you felt watching it!
Whether you are an avid tennis fan or would just like to support home players, spending at least a day at Wimbledon is a great opportunity to see some of the most iconic tennis players in the world, especially now that you know how to do it without breaking the bank.
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