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What Should You Pack For Wimbledon? background image

What Should You Pack For Wimbledon?

Written by Aviran Zazon

The best Wimbledon packing list is compact but prepared for several versions of the same day.

Bring comfortable shoes, a light waterproof, an extra layer, sun cream, sunglasses or a hat, a refillable water bottle, a charged phone, a small power bank and any permitted food or personal essentials you genuinely expect to use.

Everything must fit inside a bag no larger than 40cm × 30cm × 30cm. That makes restraint almost as important as preparation. You may encounter strong sunshine, rain, a cool evening, long walks and several hours of tennis, yet carrying an enormous bag around crowded courts will quickly become tiring.

Your exact list should reflect how you are attending. Someone roaming the outside courts with a Grounds Pass needs more food, weather protection and portable comfort than a debenture guest with a reserved seat, restaurant access and a cloakroom.

 

Wimbledon Tickets

Centre Court and No.1 Court

What To Pack For Wimbledon: The Fast Answer

Most spectators should bring:

  • A phone with the Wimbledon App, downloaded ticket and myWimbledon login
  • Photo identification
  • A physical payment card
  • A charged power bank and the correct cable
  • A transparent refillable water bottle
  • Comfortable, well-tested shoes
  • A lightweight hooded waterproof
  • A thin jumper, cardigan or overshirt
  • SPF 30 or higher sun cream with strong UVA protection
  • Sunglasses and a compact hat
  • A small picnic or two useful snacks
  • Personal medication and a few basic care items
  • A compact umbrella when rain is possible

Leave hard picnic hampers, cool boxes, camping chairs, large insulated flasks, golf umbrellas, selfie sticks, tripods and excessive camera equipment at home. Tents and Queue equipment must be deposited before entering the Grounds.

The Essential Wimbledon Packing List

Photo of Order Of Play

Begin with the items that could prevent you from entering or enjoying the day. Your ticket should be accessible in the Wimbledon App, and you should carry the associated photo ID. Wimbledon is cashless, so bring a payment card even when you normally use a phone wallet.

A small power bank is close to essential. Phones are used for tickets, the Order of Play, maps, scores, messages, photographs and the virtual queue for returned Show Court tickets.

Charging facilities may be available, but carrying your own power means you do not have to leave the tennis to find one. The returned-ticket system sends an SMS when your turn arrives, making a depleted battery particularly inconvenient for Grounds Pass holders.

Add a refillable bottle, light waterproof, sun protection and one warm layer. Personal medication, blister plasters, tissues and lip balm occupy little room and can prevent minor discomfort from dominating a long visit.

Packing Priorities By Ticket And Visitor Type

Visitor typeHighest prioritiesUsually unnecessary
Daytime Queue visitorBreakfast, water, waterproof, warm early-morning layer, sitting mat, power bankLarge camping kit
Overnight Queue visitorTwo-person tent, sleeping bag, insulated mat, night layers, food, separate day bagGazebo, stove or bulky furniture
Grounds Pass holderWalking shoes, picnic, bottle, waterproof, sun protection, blanket, phone powerHeavy seat cushion or large camera kit
Centre Court or No.1 Court ticket holderTicket, ID, layers, water, charger, one snack, comfortable shoesFull-day hamper or camping equipment
Hospitality or debenture guestTicket, ID, weather-adaptable clothing, charger, medicationLarge picnic or Queue equipment
FamilyFamiliar snacks, water, sun protection, spare child’s layer, wipes, quiet activitiesLarge noisy toys and excessive entertainment
Short-stay visitorTicket, bottle, compact weather layer, phone and chargerFull picnic, blanket and spare outfit

Wimbledon Bag Restrictions

Each visitor’s bag must fit within 40cm × 30cm × 30cm. Choose a soft-sided daypack or tote that sits comfortably below the maximum rather than relying on a flexible oversized bag being accepted. Every bag may be searched, and multiple pockets give security staff more compartments to inspect.

Hard-sided containers are prohibited regardless of size, including traditional picnic hampers and cool boxes. A soft insulated lunch bag can go inside the main bag, provided everything remains within the limit.

A transparent refillable bottle is the most straightforward choice. Wimbledon’s conditions state that opaque bottles or non-transparent liquids may have to be left outside when security cannot inspect them adequately. Vacuum and dual-skin containers larger than 500ml are specifically prohibited.

Left luggage is outside the Grounds and should be treated as a contingency, not permission to arrive with airport luggage. General deposited items are also subject to size limits and searches.

Pack For Sunshine, Rain And A Cool Evening

Wimbledon clothing works best as a light layering system:

  1. A breathable outfit for exposed courts and walking
  2. A thin jumper, cardigan or overshirt
  3. A packable hooded waterproof

This is more adaptable than one heavy coat. A hooded waterproof is also easier to use in court seating than an open umbrella, which may block somebody else’s view.

Sun cream remains important on cloudy or mixed days. Current public-health advice recommends at least SPF 30 with four- or five-star UVA protection, supported by clothing, a hat, sunglasses and periods in the shade.

The varied advice shared by previous spectators illustrates why packing for only one forecast can go wrong:

What to take to Wimbledon? by u/hyperstarter in wimbledon

The useful lesson is not to pack for every imaginable emergency. Take one rain layer, one evening layer and a compact sun-protection kit, then check the hourly forecast before leaving.

What Shoes Should You Wear To Wimbledon?

Wear supportive shoes that you have already broken in. Clean trainers, comfortable loafers or dependable flat shoes are generally more useful than heels, rigid formal footwear or new sandals.

Even with a reserved seat, the day can include the walk from public transport, security queues, stadium stairs, shopping, outside-court tennis and a visit to The Hill or practice courts. Grounds Pass holders may spend much of the day standing or moving between courts.

Pack two blister plasters and perhaps spare socks in a resealable bag. They require almost no room and are more useful than carrying a second pair of shoes.

Technology And Digital Ticket Essentials

Install and update the Wimbledon App before travelling, log in to the correct myWimbledon account and download the ticket while you have a reliable connection. Ticket holders need the app to display mobile tickets at the Grounds and courts, together with photo ID. People joining The Queue also need a myWimbledon account when purchasing a ticket.

The app carries the Order of Play, schedule, results and player alerts. Grounds Pass holders can also use it for the virtual Ticket Resale queue, subject to availability.

International visitors should arrange mobile roaming or an eSIM in advance and carry a UK plug adaptor. Save offline copies of the travel route and accommodation address, and avoid placing every ticket, payment method and travel detail on one phone without backup power.

Set the phone to silent and disable the flash before entering court seating.

Food And Drink: What Should You Bring?

Visitors may bring their own food, provided it fits within the bag rules. Sandwiches, wraps, fruit, cereal bars, nuts and other compact snacks are easier to carry than an elaborate picnic. Bringing some food can reduce both spending and the risk of missing tennis while waiting at an outlet.

Hot or strong-smelling food cannot be taken onto Show Courts. Choose resealable, low-odour packaging and avoid heavy rigid containers or anything requiring substantial cutlery.

Each eligible ticket holder may bring one of the following:

  • One bottle of wine or Champagne, up to 750ml
  • Two cans of beer or lager, up to 500ml each
  • Two cans of premixed aperitif, up to 500ml each

Spirits, fortified wines and other high-alcohol drinks are prohibited. Glass drinking vessels cannot be used on Show Courts, and corked bottles must be opened before entering court seating.

Do not allow alcohol to displace water, particularly on a hot day. Refill facilities are available around the Grounds and in the Queue area.

If you prefer to grab something at the venue, we have a guide to what food and drink is available at Wimbledon.

What Should You Pack For The Queue?

Photo of Queue Card on a grass

For a same-day Queue visit, bring:

  • A light waterproof and compact umbrella
  • A warm early-morning layer
  • A thin waterproof-backed sitting mat or blanket
  • Breakfast, snacks and a refillable bottle
  • Sun cream, sunglasses and a hat
  • A power bank and cable
  • Quiet entertainment or earphones
  • Comfortable shoes and blister plasters
  • The Wimbledon App and a working myWimbledon login

A folding chair may make a long wait more comfortable, but camping chairs cannot enter the Grounds. It will have to be deposited or removed before entry.

You will receive a numbered and dated Queue Card after joining. It is personal, cannot be transferred and does not itself guarantee entry once capacity has been reached. Temporary absences for toilets or refreshments should not exceed 30 minutes.

Packing For An Overnight Queue Stay

Overnight visitors need camping equipment as well as a separate tournament day bag. A realistic kit includes a compact two-person tent, sleeping bag, insulated mat, compressible pillow, earplugs, eye mask, warm socks, waterproof layers, toiletries, food, water and a power bank capable of more than one phone charge.

Only tents designed for a maximum of two people are permitted. Gazebos, barbecues, camping stoves and fires are not allowed, while takeaway deliveries must arrive before the nightly cut-off. One person should remain with the pitch, and stewards require camping equipment to be packed early in the morning.

Overnight equipment placed in Queue left luggage must fit within 60cm × 45cm × 25cm. The bag you carry into Wimbledon must still meet the smaller 40cm × 30cm × 30cm Grounds limit. Packing the day bag separately inside the camping luggage makes the early-morning changeover considerably easier.

Grounds Pass Packing Priorities

A Grounds Pass involves the greatest combination of walking, outdoor exposure and uncertain seating. Prioritise lightweight footwear, sun and rain protection, a refillable bottle, picnic, power bank and a compact waterproof-backed blanket for The Hill.

Keep the bag well below its maximum weight. Moving efficiently between outside courts is more valuable than carrying every possible comfort item.

Phone power matters because the app helps with schedules and the virtual queue for returned tickets for Centre Court, No.1 Court and No.2 Court. Registration and availability are not guaranteed, so treat this as an extra opportunity rather than the foundation of the day.

Centre Court, No.1 Court And Debenture Priorities

A reserved Show Court ticket gives you a reliable seat, but it does not turn Wimbledon into an indoor event. You may still spend the morning outside, walk around the Grounds and encounter heat or rain before reaching your seat.

Bring your ticket, photo ID, charger, bottle, light waterproof, evening layer and one compact snack. A thin cushion may help during a long schedule, while small binoculars can be enjoyable from a high row, although neither is essential.

Debenture ticket holders have access to dedicated restaurants, bars and cloakrooms, so they can usually carry less food. Wimbledon does not require men to wear a jacket or tie in its debenture restaurants and recommends dressing comfortably for rain or warm sunshine.

Large bags and repeated rummaging are awkward in narrow rows. Keep anything required during play in an easy-access pocket and wait for a change of ends before moving.

Packing For Families And International Visitors

Families should add familiar snacks, child-safe sun cream, water, a sun hat, wipes, necessary feeding or changing items, medication, a spare lightweight layer and one or two quiet activities. Avoid filling the bag with large toys that create noise or require floor space.

Children under five can enter the Grounds without a ticket but cannot enter the six Show Courts. Children aged five to 15 require a full-price ticket and their own seat for court access. Baby-changing facilities are available and breastfeeding is welcome around the site.

A buggy may be helpful for a young child, although crowded routes, gradients and court-access arrangements make it sensible to check the current visitor guidance before travelling.

International visitors should bring a UK plug adaptor, mobile-data access, suitable photo ID, an internationally enabled payment card and essential medication in recognisable packaging. Do not bring a full sightseeing backpack or airport case and assume that it can be stored easily.

Full-Day Visit Versus Short Afternoon Visit

A full-day visitor needs more water capacity, food, phone power and clothing flexibility. The same person may experience a warm walk to the Grounds, exposed afternoon seating and a cool journey home.

A short afternoon visitor can usually carry less food and may not need a blanket, spare socks or a large power bank. They should still bring the ticket, ID, water, sun protection and a compact weather layer.

Expected departure time matters as much as arrival time. A bright afternoon forecast does not rule out a cold or wet evening after the final match.

Useful But Optional Items

Pack these only when they have a clear purpose:

  • A compact folding umbrella for queues and walking
  • A thin seat cushion for a long reserved session
  • A small waterproof-backed blanket for The Hill or The Queue
  • Small binoculars already owned by the visitor
  • A hand fan or cooling cloth during hot weather
  • A non-glass cup when bringing wine
  • Hand sanitiser and wet wipes
  • Ear defenders, headphones or familiar sensory aids
  • A small autograph card and ordinary pen when autograph hunting is part of the plan
  • A fold-flat tote for later purchases

A microfibre cloth can serve as a seat cover, small picnic mat, cooling cloth or way to dry a wet umbrella, making it more versatile than several separate items.

What Not To Bring To Wimbledon

Leave behind:

  • Bags larger than 40cm × 30cm × 30cm
  • Hard picnic hampers and cool boxes
  • Vacuum or dual-skin flasks larger than 500ml
  • Camping chairs, tents and other erectable equipment
  • Parasols, although personal umbrellas are allowed
  • Selfie sticks, tripods, monopods and gimbals
  • Professional camera equipment or lenses exceeding 300mm when extended
  • Large flags, banners or view-blocking hats
  • Sharp or hazardous objects
  • Spirits, fortified wine or alcohol above the permitted allowance
  • Scooters, skateboards and other unauthorised wheeled equipment

Wimbledon can amend its prohibited list, so check the current Conditions of Entry shortly before attending.

Common Packing Mistakes

The most common error is packing for the photograph rather than the day. Smart clothing is perfectly suitable, but uncomfortable shoes, rigid outfits and no warm layer can become difficult after several hours.

Other avoidable mistakes include bringing no waterproof because the morning looks dry, forgetting sun cream on a cloudy day, relying on a nearly empty phone, carrying an oversized insulated bottle and packing enough food for several people.

Do not arrive with the bag completely full. Leaving spare room makes it easier to store a damp waterproof or carry something bought inside.

Wimbledon Packing Checklist

Essential documents and technology

  • Wimbledon App and downloaded ticket
  • Photo ID
  • Payment card
  • Charged phone
  • Power bank and cable
  • Mobile data or roaming access where needed

Clothing and weather

  • Comfortable shoes
  • Packable waterproof
  • Light evening layer
  • Sun cream
  • Hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Compact umbrella
  • Spare socks when useful

Food and hydration

  • Transparent refillable bottle
  • Light picnic or compact lunch
  • One or two later snacks
  • Non-glass drinking cup when needed

Comfort items

  • Medication
  • Blister plasters
  • Tissues or wipes
  • Small blanket or seat cushion when justified
  • Sensory aids
  • Hand fan or cooling cloth in hot weather

Queue-only items

  • Sitting mat
  • Warm early-morning layer
  • Breakfast
  • Quiet entertainment
  • Tent, sleeping bag and insulated mat for an overnight stay
  • Separate Grounds-compliant day bag

Items to leave at home

  • Hard hamper or cool box
  • Oversized flask
  • Golf umbrella
  • Camping chair intended for use inside
  • Selfie stick or tripod
  • Large camera kit
  • Multiple outfits
  • Laptop or tablet
  • Bulky picnic equipment

Wimbledon Packing | Frequently Asked Questions

What should you bring to Wimbledon?

Bring your phone with the Wimbledon App and ticket, photo ID, a payment card, power bank, refillable water bottle, comfortable shoes, light waterproof, evening layer, sun cream, hat or sunglasses, medication and a small amount of food. Add Queue, family or accessibility items only when they serve a specific purpose.

What size bag can you take into Wimbledon?

Bags entering the Grounds must not exceed 40cm × 30cm × 30cm. Hard-sided bags, picnic hampers and cool boxes are prohibited even when they appear small enough. A soft-sided backpack or tote that sits comfortably below the maximum is easier to carry, search and store beneath a seat.

Can you take food and drink into Wimbledon?

You may bring your own food and permitted drinks within the bag restrictions. Hot or strong-smelling food cannot be taken onto Show Courts. Alcohol is subject to strict quantity and drink-type limits, while spirits and fortified wines are prohibited. Glass drinking vessels cannot be used in Show Court seating.

Can you bring a reusable water bottle to Wimbledon?

Yes, and free refill facilities make a reusable bottle particularly useful. A transparent bottle is the least complicated choice at security because opaque containers may be rejected when their contents cannot be inspected. Vacuum or dual-skin containers must not exceed 500ml.

Can you take an umbrella into Wimbledon?

Personal umbrellas are permitted, while parasols and other erectable equipment are prohibited. A compact folding umbrella is much easier to carry and store than a golf umbrella. Use it while walking or queueing; inside court seating, a hooded waterproof is generally less disruptive to spectators behind you.

What should you wear to Wimbledon?

Wear breathable clothing with comfortable shoes, a light waterproof and an extra layer for shade or the evening. Ordinary spectators are not generally expected to dress formally. Debenture restaurants do not require men to wear a jacket or tie, although individual hospitality areas may issue their own guidance. This topic is covered in our guide to the Wimbledon dress code.

What should you take for The Queue at Wimbledon?

For a daytime wait, bring breakfast, water, snacks, waterproofs, sun protection, a warm early layer, sitting mat, charger and quiet entertainment. Overnight visitors also need a compliant two-person tent, sleeping bag and insulated mat. Camping equipment must be deposited before entering the Grounds.

Do you need a portable charger at Wimbledon?

It is highly recommended. Your phone may hold your ticket, payment wallet, travel details, schedule and returned-ticket notifications. Although some charging facilities may be available, a small power bank prevents you from having to leave a match or wait for access to a shared charging point.

How To Pack For Wimbledon Without Overpacking

Pack for three conditions rather than three separate days: exposed sunshine, sudden rain and a cooler finish. Comfortable shoes, a transparent water bottle, light layers, sun protection and reliable phone power will cover most situations.

The deciding factor should then be your ticket. Queue visitors need waiting equipment, Grounds Pass holders need mobility and outdoor comfort, while Centre Court, No.1 Court and hospitality guests can travel more lightly.

Ticket-Compare.com can help readers comparing confirmed reserved-ticket options across providers, but whatever route you use, one compact and thoughtfully packed bag is the most practical way to enjoy Wimbledon.

At present there are 1,353 Wimbledon tickets on sale via Ticket-Compare.com.

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Aviran Zazon
Written by Aviran Zazon

Co-founder of Ticket-Compare.com, Aviran Zazon is a web developer, marketer and lifelong sports fan, inspired by the magic of Ronaldinho’s Barcelona.

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