I joined ‘the queue’ at Wimbledon, where fans can get in for £30 – here’s how to do the same

“Wake up, it’s time to wake up,” came the shout, “15 minutes to pack up your tents.”

I looked at my watch, it was just after 5:30 am. Of course, I was already awake, as a few minutes earlier a pair of ducks had decided to fly low over my tent.

I wasn’t sleeping very well, though. The noise of hundreds of tennis fans arriving within metres of my tent in the wee hours of the morning was not going to be my favourite soundtrack for eight uninterrupted hours.

Still, I made my bed – literally – by choosing to set up shop in Wimbledon Park on a Sunday afternoon to join the famous Wimbledon queue, following in the footsteps of millions of tennis fans since the queue began in 1926.

As most tickets are allocated by public lottery, queuing is the only option for those unlucky enough to get one, unless they have £1,000 or more to spend on hospitality tickets.

We had arrived just after 1pm, ready to join the evening queue for the first day of Wimbledon on Monday. As the queuing process was scheduled to begin at 2pm, we were surprised to find that two rows of tents had already been set up by enthusiastic fans.

As we joined the end of the line and set up our tents, the first hurdle was complete.

Once settled in, the queue begins in true British style: campers wait patiently for attendants to make their way through the queue and hand out queue cards that consolidate their place before the first day.

With an extensive code of conduct for those waiting in line, including absences from their tent not exceeding 30 minutes, two-person tents maximum and a ban on camping stoves, Championship organisers have left no stone unturned – even takeaway food deliveries must be made to a specific gate.

These rules may not have been followed to the letter. Indeed, there were several tents that exceeded the two-person limit and my visit to the nearest pub to watch the second half of the England-Slovenia match possibly exceeded half an hour thanks to Jude Bellingham’s late goal.

The queue remained in place, however, although it is unclear whether this was because the system prevented intruders from cutting in line or because of the country’s respect for the sanctity of long queues.

With an England win in the bag, the campers settled down with cans of beer and Pimm’s, hoping to catch some sleep before a rude awakening on Monday.

Despite the rigors of camping, waking up to find hundreds of people lined up behind me on picnic blankets, probably having joined before dawn, was enough to reaffirm my motivations for a poor night’s sleep.

While latecomers would probably still be able to get into the Wimbledon grounds, our queue, numbering around 750 people, ensured we would get some good seats.

With only 1000 tickets allocated to those queuing for Centre Court and Court One, the earlier you arrive the better. Some campers even choose to camp two days in advance to get their tickets. If you can put up with the lack of showers, then this will almost certainly get you access to Centre Court.

Once we had finished camping, we began the second stage of the queue. And oh, there were queues, and queues within queues.

Our group decided to split up to face the coffee and baggage claim queues, hoping to avoid the worst of the crowds, while some stayed behind in the all-important entrance queue.

Even with our forward thinking, queues are inevitable, so be prepared to face a half-hour wait for either, even before you get back to your actual place in the Wimbledon queue.

While joining the queue is free, it’s worth noting that luggage storage is charged per item – smaller bags cost £1, while larger bags and tents cost £5 each.

Energized by the pastries and coffee, but still a little shaken, we headed straight for, as you might have guessed, more queues.

But this time we were in the big leagues, as the stewards gave us the go-ahead to join the back of the queue heading into the venue and, of course, into Wimbledon’s new ‘queue village’.

After inching our way forward for what seemed like an eternity, we were eventually greeted by an honorary commissioner who has no doubt seen his fair share of championships and who kindly assured us that, despite the fact that we had only missed Centre Court by a dozen spaces, the tennis on Court One would be better anyway.

The Court One band grips our wrists tightly and we finally reach the Wimbledon waiting area, where Amex cardholders can get a £20 discount if they spend over £140.

By paying for two tickets to Court One, I got my discount, which brought the total for the two tickets from £80 to just £140.

Tickets for courts two and three were also offered for £50, although prices are expected to rise as the tournament progresses.

You can also buy a ground pass for just £30 which allows you to enjoy the atmosphere and sit on the famous Henman Hill.

Once inside, you can also try your luck and get a resale ticket for one of the courts for between £10 and £15.

The financial product collaborations continued in the village, where we each received an affogato (at 8am) courtesy of my brother’s Barclaycard. We also treated ourselves to a free Lavazza coffee, but opted not to have a non-alcoholic Stella Artois for £6.60.

When the clock struck 11, we passed through the sacred gates and entered the championship.

Within the venue, it is still possible to attend Wimbledon on a budget. While a Pimm’s can cost up to £11.95, strawberries and cream are priced at a maximum of £2.50. Alternatively, you can choose to bring food with you, avoiding even more queues and expensive meals.

Fans are also allowed to bring two cans of beer (or Pimm’s, of course) into the grounds, or a bottle of wine, which should be enough to get them through even the dullest tennis match.

Fortunately, with tickets to Court One we were able to see top seed Jannik Sinner easily win the first round, despite the effects of a slight lack of sleep.

It’s worth it?

Taking part in the Wimbledon voting is by far the most effort-free method of obtaining tickets, as the majority of tickets for the three biggest courts are allocated to the public vote.

However, there is no guarantee that you will be among the lucky winners.

Meanwhile, shelling out money to buy a credit card or a hospitality ticket is not an option if you are looking to go to Wimbledon on a budget.

The cheapest hospitality tickets will probably still cost around £1,000, while getting a voucher will set you back tens of thousands.

The vouchers offer a premium seat on Centre Court and Court One for a period of five years, giving access to exclusive reception areas. Unsurprisingly, they come with a hefty price tag.

Joining the queue, on the other hand, provides a way to obtain tickets at face value if you lose the public vote.

If you arrive early enough, even early in the morning rather than camping out overnight, you’ll likely be able to get tickets to the stadium and have a good chance of getting to the larger fields.

Choosing to queue also allows you to soak up the atmosphere of the championship and make the most of the sunshine – if you’re lucky enough to see it.