EXPERIENCES

Tennis : Game, Set, Match…

Wimbledon fortnight is the pinnacle of the British summer season – attracting visitors from all over the world. Dream Escape goes behind the scenes at this most magical of English traditions…

Perhaps one of the most enduring sights of the English summer is footage from Wimbledon: of impeccably dressed men and women seated on green chairs, their heads turning side to side in a steady rhythm, as they watch two figures on a grass court battle for the most hallowed trophy in tennis. 

Why is it that Wimbledon, more than any other event, attracts so much attention and remains a favourite pastime for everyone from Tom Cruise and David Beckham to Princess Beatrice and the Duchess of Cambridge? 

History and drama

For a start, The Wimbledon Tennis Championships is the world’s oldest tennis tournament, established in 1877. The first ever version of The Championships was watched by just 200 spectators, and it has run every year since, apart from during the two World Wars and in 2020 due to Covid.

Wimbledon is renowned not only for having some of the strictest rules in tennis – clothing and accessories must be almost entirely white – but also for some of the most enduring traditions. 

Its ballboys and ballgirls are a collection of 250 schoolchildren who start fortnightly training for the event in February, while a hawk called Rufus visits the club throughout the year to deter local pigeons and, during The Championship, flies around the site for one hour at 9am. 

The Royal Box has been used to entertain friends and guests of Wimbledon – including British and overseas royal families, heads of government, British armed forces, and supporters of British tennis – since 1922. Invitations to attend must come from the Chairman of the All England Club. It has 74 seats, all dark green Lloyd Loom wicker chairs, and guests are invited to the Clubhouse for lunch, tea and drinks at the end of the day. The dress code is smart, but ladies are asked not to wear hats so as not to obscure the view of others. 

Dream Escape’s team can organise highly sought-after Debenture seats for Centre Court, which all include access to the beautiful Debenture Lounge, so you can have lunch in the exclusive Renshaw Restaurant before the tennis commences. 

Widely regarded as the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world, Wimbledon is one of four grand slams in the tennis calendar, and guarantees the best tennis that the world can offer. 

Over 14 days, and 679 matches, the world’s best tennis players battle it out on a grass court that itself is steeped in tradition and heritage. One hundred per cent rye grass, it is overseen by head of courts and horticulture, Neil Stubley and requires 15 permanent ground staff to keep all 18 match courts and 20 practice courts in tip-top condition. Court grass is cut to a precise height of eight millimetres, considered the optimum for present-day play and survival in the dry weather. During the winter, courts are rolled and covered to keep the soil dry and firm, while from early June watering is restricted. Then, during The Championships, it is mown and rolled daily, and a small amount of water is sprinkled on the courts at night to help the grass survive the intensive play of the event.

Exclusive and Decadent

And as if the grass wasn’t getting enough consideration, the attention to detail in the entertainment and refreshments at Wimbledon is second to none. Throughout the grounds, you’ll find Pimms and strawberries-and-cream stands, which provide the perfect quick refreshment on a hot summer’s day, while Dream Escape can arrange access to the most exclusive dining options, including a decadent lunch of local produce at The Wingfield, and several of the private restaurants in the Debentures lounge, many with impressive views over Centre Court. 

Picnicking, which has to be one of the great British pastimes, is also an important tradition at Wimbledon and Dream Escape can arrange a luxurious picnic from hotels such as Claridges, complete with chilled bottles of wine and Champagne to enjoy in the sunshine, before the main tennis commences at 2pm. 

Before lunch, why not start your morning at Wimbledon with a private tour of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum, which offers a unique look at the history of the event – from experiencing the atmosphere in the 1980s Gentleman’s Dressing Room to watching John McEnroe guide you through off-limits areas and reminiscing about his Wimbledon experiences. And, after seeing The Championships Trophies and tennis fashions from the past up close, finish your tour with a chance to step out onto the famed Centre Court for yourself – part of a behind-the-scenes experience most spectators will never get. 

And if you find that tennis has captured your heart, discovering the magic of real tennis on the Royal Tennis Court at Hampton Court Palace is a special experience enjoyed by only a lucky few. The Royal Tennis Court was built for Cardinal Wolsey, between 1526 and 1529, and was enjoyed by Henry VIII and Charles I. You can also soak up the Wimbledon atmosphere across London, with an indulgent tennis-themed afternoon tea at one of the beautiful Firmdale hotels or Red Carnation Hotel Collection. 

THE NUMBERS

290 MILLION

TENNIS BALLS COULD FIT 

INTO CENTRE COURT WITH 

THE ROOF CLOSED

39,000

SPECTATORS PER DAY

303,277

GLASSES OF PIMM’S CONSUMED EACH YEAR

21,917 

BOTTLES OF CHAMPAGNE ARE POPPED

33,000KG 

OF STRAWBERRIES CONSUMED

307,277 

CUPS OF TEA AND COFFEE SERVED 

IMAGE CREDITS: ©AELTC / Ben Solomon  / Thomas Lovelock / Chris Rafael / Ben Queenborough

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