How to Buy Court No.1 Tickets for Wimbledon: All Your Options Explained
Written by Aviran Zazon
Buying No.1 Court tickets for Wimbledon is possible through several routes, but there is no single effortless way to do it.
The cheapest options usually involve luck, patience or same-day commitment, while the most reliable ways tend to cost considerably more.
The main routes are the Wimbledon Public Ballot, LTA Advantage Ballots, The Queue, the Ticket Resale Kiosk inside the Grounds, official hospitality, travel packages, and debenture tickets or debenture resale.
Not long before The Championships, some American Express cardholders may also find a backdoor via a small allocation of reserved seats.
This guide explains how each route works, what level of certainty it gives you, and which option makes most sense depending on whether you care most about price, date choice, flexibility, premium access or simply getting into No.1 Court.
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In Brief: The Eight Ways To Buy No.1 Court Tickets
| How to Buy No.1 Court Wimbledon Tickets | Best For | Date Or Court Choice? | Certainty | Cost Level |
| Wimbledon Public Ballot | Face-value advance tickets | No | Low | Lowest advance route |
| LTA Advantage Ballots | Eligible LTA members | Limited | Low to medium | Face-value route |
| The Queue | Flexible same-day fans | Same-day only | Uncertain | Lower cost |
| Ticket Resale Kiosk | Fans already inside Wimbledon | No | Uncertain | Very low |
| Hospitality | Chosen-date premium access | Yes, subject to availability | High | High |
| Travel packages | Travel and hotel buyers | Package dependent | Medium to high | Package price |
| Debenture resale | Premium legal resale and late buyers | Often yes | Medium to high | High |
| American Express access | Eligible cardmembers seeking priority access | Sometimes | Low to medium | Varies |
For most fans, the sensible approach is layered: enter the ballot, use any LTA route you qualify for, keep The Queue in mind if you can be flexible, and consider hospitality or debenture resale when a specific day or higher certainty matters more than price.
Ticket-Compare.com fits naturally at the debenture resale stage. It is a ticket comparison platform, not a seller, and it lists tickets from pre-vetted resale sites and official ticketing partners, often including hospitality, so fans can compare availability and prices in one place before clicking through to the relevant provider.
What Does A No.1 Court Ticket Include?
A No.1 Court ticket gives you a reserved seat on No.1 Court for that day’s scheduled play. It is different from a Wimbledon Grounds Pass, which gets you into the Grounds and unreserved outside courts but not into the main Show Courts such as Centre Court, No.1 Court or No.2 Court.
No.1 Court is also distinct from Centre Court. Centre Court carries the biggest finals and headline moments, while No.1 Court remains a major reserved Show Court with elite singles, doubles and later-round play depending on the day’s order of play. A No.1 Court ticket is often a strong balance for fans who want a reserved Show Court seat at Wimbledon without necessarily chasing Centre Court.
Route 1: Wimbledon Public Ballot
The Wimbledon Public Ballot is the classic advance route for face-value tickets. It is not a normal online sale where you choose No.1 Court and select your preferred day. Successful applicants receive a ticket offer, usually for up to two tickets, and the day and court are allocated rather than chosen.
That makes it attractive and frustrating at the same time. It is usually one of the cheapest advance routes into a reserved Show Court, yet it gives you very little control. You might receive No.1 Court, Centre Court, No.2 Court or another available offer, depending on the ballot outcome.
Use the ballot if you are open-minded about your Wimbledon day. Do not use it as your only plan if No.1 Court on a specific day is essential.
Route 2: LTA Advantage Ballots
The LTA Advantage Ballots give eligible members of the British tennis community another chance to access Wimbledon tickets. For 2026, that opt-in was available to Fan+, Play+ and Compete Advantage members, Accredited+ coaches, venue volunteers and LTA licensed officials.
This route is useful because it adds another face-value opportunity alongside the Public Ballot. It still remains a ballot, so the same practical warning applies: you cannot treat it as a guaranteed No.1 Court purchase route.
For club players, regular tennis fans and people already connected to the LTA system, it is one of the most sensible extra chances to take.
Route 3: The Queue
The Queue is Wimbledon’s same-day route for fans willing to commit time and accept uncertainty. Show Court tickets are sold daily, with 500 tickets for Centre Court, No.1 Court and No.2 Court available for the days those courts are in play, subject to the usual limits and availability.
The important phrase is limited allocation. Joining The Queue does not mean you will get No.1 Court, and demand can be intense, especially during the first week when more singles matches are spread across the main courts.
No.1 Court can be a smart Queue target because it offers high-level tennis and reserved seating without always attracting the same pressure as Centre Court. It suits flexible fans, locals, students, solo visitors and anyone prepared for an early start.
Route 4: Ticket Resale Kiosk Inside The Grounds
The Ticket Resale Kiosk is one of Wimbledon’s best low-cost upgrades, but it only works if you are already inside the Grounds. Ticket holders with a Grounds Pass may buy returned Show Court tickets from the kiosk, which is in Parkside beside No.1 Court.
This is not a way to buy No.1 Court tickets before travelling. It is a matchday opportunity. Spectators who leave early can return their Show Court tickets, which are then resold for later play.
A first-time visitor asking what to see at Wimbledon is a useful reminder that many fans build their day around movement through the Grounds, outside courts, food, shops and possible Wimbledon on-the-day upgrades rather than one fixed seat from morning to evening.
First time at Wimbledon… what should I see? by u/stookmoney in wimbledon
For No.1 Court buyers, the practical point is simple: a Grounds Pass can leave the door open to a late Show Court upgrade, but the kiosk depends entirely on returned tickets.
Route 5: Official Hospitality
Using Wimbledon’s official hospitality partner, this is a route for fans who want more certainty over date and court. Its Wimbledon hospitality pages describe access to Centre Court or No.1 Court seats on selected dates, with hospitality included.
This route suits corporate hosts, special occasions, overseas visitors and anyone with fixed travel dates. It is usually far more expensive than ballot or Queue options, and popular days can sell out well ahead of the tournament.
The key distinction is that hospitality is not just a seat. You are paying for a broader day experience, usually including food, drink, service and reserved Show Court access. Check exactly which court, day, seat type and hospitality area are included before booking.
Route 6: Travel Packages
Authorised travel agents offer Wimbledon travel packages that can include reserved No.1 Court seats, hotel accommodation and, in some packages, transfers.
These experiences involve two- or three-day breaks with reserved No.1 Court seats.
This route is not the same as buying a single ticket. It is a travel package, so it suits visitors who want logistics handled as part of a wider trip. It can be especially appealing around Finals Weekend, when ordinary ticket routes are more difficult and package certainty has extra value.
Check the exact itinerary, hotel standard, transport arrangements and which tournament day your No.1 Court seat covers.
Route 7: Debenture Tickets And Debenture Resale
Debenture tickets are central to Wimbledon resale because they are different from ordinary tickets. Each debenture gives a premium seat on Centre Court or No.1 Court for The Championships across a five-year period, along with use of exclusive restaurants and bars.
Most importantly, debenture tickets are freely transferable, meaning holders may give them away or sell them.
That makes debenture resale the key lawful secondary-market route for No.1 Court. It is usually expensive, especially for popular days, but it can offer a specific court, a specific day and a premium seat in a way that the Public Ballot and The Queue cannot.
Before buying, check that the ticket is genuinely marked as a debenture ticket. Ordinary Wimbledon tickets should not be treated as freely resaleable.
Route 8: American Express Cardmember Access
American Express occasionally offers Wimbledon ticket access to eligible cardmembers, including limited availability for reserved seats at The Championships. This can include Show Court tickets such as No.1 Court, depending on the release.
This route works very differently from the main seven. It is not a standing ticketing system like the Public Ballot or The Queue. Instead, it operates as a partner allocation with small, time-sensitive releases, usually announced directly to cardholders.
That makes it unpredictable. There is no guarantee of:
- No.1 Court availability
- specific dates
- advance notice of when tickets will be released
For buyers who happen to hold an eligible American Express card, it can be a useful extra opportunity, especially if you are quick to act when tickets appear. For everyone else, it is not something you can rely on as part of a structured plan.
In practical terms, it works best as a bonus route rather than a primary strategy. If your goal is to secure No.1 Court tickets with any level of certainty, you are still better off building around ballots, The Queue, hospitality, or debenture resale, and treating American Express as an additional chance rather than a core pathway.
Using Ticket-Compare.com To Buy No.1 Court Tickets
Debenture resale prices and availability can vary by day, provider, seat location, fees and delivery process.
That is where comparison becomes useful, especially if you are looking for No.1 Court tickets for a specific day rather than simply hoping for any Wimbledon ticket.
Ticket-Compare.com is a ticket comparison platform rather than a seller. It brings together listings from pre-vetted resale sites and official ticketing partners, often including hospitality, so fans can see multiple Wimbledon ticket options in one place instead of opening several tabs to compare price and availability. Once they find an option, they click through to buy from the respective site.
For No.1 Court specifically, that is most relevant when comparing debenture-based listings or premium routes where date choice and certainty matter.
How to Buy Court No.1 Tickets for Wimbledon | FAQ
How do you buy No.1 Court tickets for Wimbledon?
You can try the Public Ballot, LTA Advantage Ballots, The Queue, the Ticket Resale Kiosk once inside the Grounds, official hospitality, travel packages, or debenture resale.
Each route involves a trade-off between price, certainty, effort and choice.
Can you choose No.1 Court in the Wimbledon Public Ballot?
No. The Public Ballot is not a choose-your-seat ticket shop. Successful applicants receive an offer, but they do not choose the day, court or match. It is a strong value route, but not a reliable way to target No.1 Court specifically.
Can you get No.1 Court tickets through The Queue?
Limited Show Court tickets are sold through The Queue, including No.1 Court, on a same-day basis. Availability is limited, and tickets are sold one per person queuing.
Can you buy No.1 Court tickets on the day at Wimbledon?
Yes, through The Queue if same-day No.1 Court tickets remain available. You may also try the Ticket Resale Kiosk after entering the Grounds, where returned Show Court tickets can be resold later in the day.
Are No.1 Court debenture tickets legal to resell?
Debenture tickets are freely transferable, which is why they are the main resale route for No.1 Court tickets. Ordinary Wimbledon tickets should not be treated the same way.
What is the most reliable way to get No.1 Court tickets?
For a specific day, official hospitality or debenture resale via Ticket-Compare.com is usually more reliable than ballots or The Queue.
Is a No.1 Court ticket better than a Grounds Pass?
It depends on the day you want. A No.1 Court ticket gives you a reserved Show Court seat, while a Grounds Pass gives access to the Grounds and outside courts but not the main Show Courts. For guaranteed No.1 Court tennis, you need the No.1 Court ticket.
So, What Is The Best Way To Buy No.1 Court Tickets?
The best route depends on your priorities. If planning ahead, enter the Public Ballot and any LTA Advantage Ballot you qualify for if you want the lowest-cost advance chance.
Use The Queue if you can be flexible and do not mind uncertainty. Try the Ticket Resale Kiosk only once you are already inside Wimbledon.
For more certainty, look at hospitality, travel packages or debenture resale. If you are comparing debenture-based No.1 Court listings for a specific day, Ticket-Compare.com can help you see multiple options in one place before clicking through to the relevant seller or partner.
As you read this there are 5,338 Wimbledon tickets available via Ticket-Compare.com.
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