'''Wimbledon''' is a well-known and affluent suburb in the south-west of London, England and is part of the London borough of Merton [http://www.merton.gov.uk/]. Wimbledon offers a good choice of shops, theatres, restaurants and other leisure activities. It is best known as the location, every June, of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships [http://www.wimbledon.org/], part of the "Grand Slam" circuit of tennis tournaments. Wimbeldon Lawn Tennis Club has been chosen to host the tennis for 2012 Olympic Games in London from Sunday 29 July ? Sunday 5 August, 2012. 174 Athletes will compete for 4 gold medals in tennis. [http://www.london2012.com/sports/olympic/tennis.php]

Get in

'''Wimbledon''' is very well served by public transport.

Wimbledon Station is the most important transport hub in the area. Located in central Wimbledon, it is well served by South West Trains [http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk] and First Capital Connect [http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk] train companies. It also serves as a terminus for the Croydon tramlink and the London Underground District Line. Wimbledon Station has two entrances, one at the front of the station serving as a drop off point for cars and a taxi stop and one to the side that leads to buses and a shopping mall. Disabled access to the 10 platforms are by lifts. Public toilets can be found near the District Line platforms. There are food and drink shops within the station complex.

'''Plane''' Wimbledon is almost equidistant between the two major London Airports, Gatwick Airport and Heathrow Airport.

The quickest way from Gatwick is to catch a fast [http://www.southernrailway.com] Southern train for Victoria and get off at Clapham Junction. Here, change onto a South West Trains service south bound to Wimbledon (weekdays: 15 an hour).

From Heathrow, you can either catch the London Underground Picadilly Line from Heathrow to Earls Court and change onto the District Line to Wimbledon, or you can catch the Heathrow Express (or Heathrow Connect) service to London Paddington Station and then catch a Wimbledon bound District line train from there. Both of these require luggage movement through underground stations.

'''London Underground''' Wimbledon is served by the London Underground with the District Line at Wimbledon Station or the Northern Line at South Wimbledon station. [http://www.tfl.gov.uk/]

'''Tram''' Wimbledon is served by the Wimbledon to Croydon tramlink which terminates at Wimbledon Station (route 3), other tram stops in the area include Dundonald Road and Merton Park. A route map can be found here (PDF) [http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/Tram-system-map.pdf]

'''Train''' Wimbledon is served with mainline rail services running from London Waterloo via Clapham Junction to Wimbledon Station (about 20 minutes). Trains from Wimbledon go to Guildford, Hampton Court, Dorking, Shepperton and Woking. Change at Clapham Junction to get to Brighton, Epsom, Gatwick, Reading, Portsmouth or further afield.

'''Bus''' Wimbledon is served by local bus routes including routes 57 Kingston/Streatham Hill), 93 (Putney Bridge/North Cheam), 131 (Kingston), 155 (Elephant and Castle), 163 (Morden), 164 (Sutton), 200 (Raynes Park/Mitcham), 219 (Clapham Junction), 493 (Richmond/Tooting) and N22 Night Bus (Aldwich/Tolworth). A bus map of Wimbledon (PDF) can be found here. [http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/gettingaround/maps/buses/pdf/wimbledon-2302.pdf]

Note that the most convenient underground station for the tennis club is Southfields station on the District line. During the tennis championships, direct buses run from outside Wimbledon Station front entrance to the tennis championships for a small fee.

'''Car''' The A219 runs through Wimbledon Hill Road, Wimbledon Bridge to the Broadway and beyond. The A3 is the main route to Wimbledon when coming in from the M25 Motorway or Heathrow Airport. From Gatwick Airport follow the M23/M25/A217. The nearest petrol station is an Esso Garage with a Tesco Metro (Open 24 hours) found along the Broadway towards South Wimbledon underground station.

'''Parking'''

[http://en.parkopedia.com/parking/carpark/centre_court_shopping_centre/sw19/merton/ Centre Court Shopping Mall]. 760 parking spaces. Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 06.00-00.00, Sat 8.00 - 00.00, Sun 10.00-00.00. Entrance on Queens Road. Pay as you leave. Charges: __2.20 up to 2 hours, Up to 3 hrs: __3.30, Up to 4 hrs: __4.50, Up to 5 hrs: __6, Up to 6 hrs: __10, Up to 7 hrs: __12, Up to 8 hrs: __14, Up to 10 hrs: __16, Up to 12 hrs: __20, Over 12 hrs: __25, Wimbledon Theatre or Odeon cinema visitors can park after 4pm for a flat fee of __2.00 all evening. A valet service is available from 10 bays on each level from 9am ? 5pm. An external wash costs __6.95 and a full valet costs __14.95.

[http://en.parkopedia.com/parking/carpark/hartfield_road/wimbledon/ Hartfield Road]. 126 places. Open 24 hours. Charges: Mon - Sat 8.00- 23.00 and Sun 08.00-18.00, CCTV security, Disabled Bays, Entrance on Hartfield Crescent. Pay and Display. Charges: 50p for each 20 mins up to 4 hrs, __9 up to 5 hrs (__2 flat rate Sundays and Bank Holidays). No Charges on December 25 and 26.

[http://en.parkopedia.com/parking/carpark/st_georges_rd/sw19/wimbledon/ St George_fs Road]. Multistorey. 113 places. Open and Charges: Mon-Sat 8.00 am-23.00 and Sun 08.00-18.00, Entrance on St George's Road. Pay and Display. Charges: 50p for each 20 mins up to 4 hrs, __9 up to 5 hrs (__2 flat rate Sundays and Bank Holidays). No Charges on December 25 and 26.

[http://en.parkopedia.com/parking/carpark/the_broadway/wimbledon/ Broadway]. 70 places. Open 24 hours. Charges: Mon-Sat 8.00 -23.00 Sun:08.00-18.00, CCTV security, Disabled Bays, Entrance on Russell Road near the Wimbledon Theatre. Charges: 50p for each 20 mins up to 4 hrs, __9 up to 5 hrs (__2 flat rate Sundays and Bank Holidays). No Charges on December 25 and 26.

[http://en.parkopedia.com/parking/carpark/queens_road/merton/ Queens Road]. 159 Places. Open 24 hours. Charges: Mon - Sat 8.00 - 23.00 and Sun 08.00-18.00, CCTV security, Disabled Bays, Entrance on Queens Road. Pay and Display. Charges: 50p for each 20 mins up to 4 hrs, __9 up to 5 hrs (__2 flat rate Sundays and Bank Holidays). No Charges on December 25 and 26.

Off street parking is normally made available by home owners looking to make some additional income from the rental of their driveways and garages. Prices are normally in the region of __30 - __50. Alternatively, you can try renting one of these private parking spaces online through a service like [http://uk.parkatmyhouse.com/search/parking/stadium/wimbledon-london/ ParkatmyHouse.com] which has a number of [http://uk.parkatmyhouse.com/search/parking/stadium/wimbledon-london/ private parking spaces in Wimbledon].

Get around

Wimbledon is mostly pedestrian friendly and most places can be easily reached on foot.

'''Taxi''' There is a taxi stand outside the main entrance to Wimbledon Station.

'''Buses''' leave outside the Centre Court Shopping Mall next to Wimbledon station. The main bus station is near Hartfield Road on Sir Cyril Black Way (behind Morrisons supermarket and the car park on Hartfield Road).

See

  • '''Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum''', Centre Court, All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Church Road, [http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/about/museum/index.html]. Open daily 10:30am-5:00pm except 24-26 December, 1 January, middle Sunday and first Monday after the Championship. Adults __6, concessions __5, children under 16 __3.75, children under 5 free, tours available with additional fee.
  • '''Wimbledon Common''', [http://www.wpcc.org.uk]. A large area (460 hectares) of woodlands, open grass areas and healthland with a windmill, nature trails and ponds. Open 24 hours, all year round.
  • '''Wimbledon Society Museum of Local History'''. 22 Ridgway, Wimbledon SW19 4QN. ? +44 (0)20 8296 9914. Showing local history in Wimbledon from the Stone Age to the present day. Open every Saturday and Sunday from 2:30PM to 5PM or by appointment at other times. Admission is free.
  • '''Wimbledon Windmill Museum''', [http://www.wimbledonwindmillmuseum.org.uk/]. A museum that depicts the history of windmills. Located on Wimbledon Common. Open from the end of March until the end of October, Saturdays 2PM-5PM and Sundays 11AM-5PM. Admission: Adults __1, Children 50p, Concessions 50p.
  • '''Buddhapadipa Temple''' The first Buddhist temple in the United Kingdom. 14 Calonne Road, [http://www.buddhapadipa.org]. Open 9am-6pm weekdays for the temple grounds and the weekend for the main temple.
  • '''Cannizaro Park''', [http://www.cannizaropark.org.uk]. 34 acres of parkland, located of the west side of Wimbledon Common next to the Cannizaro House Hotel.
  • Do

    '''New Wimbledon Theatre''', The Broadway, Box Office: ? +44 (0)870 060 6646 [http://www.theambassadors.com/newwimbledon/info/index.html]. The theatre is a Grade II Listed Edwardian theatre showing West End plays and musicals.

    '''Polka Theatre''', Childrens Theatre, 240 The Broadway, [http://www.polkatheatre.com]. ? +44 (0)20 8543 4888. Telephone bookings: M 9:30am-4:30pm Tu-F 9:30am-6pm, Sa 10am-5pm. Box office opening hours: Tu-F 9:30am-4:30pm Sa 11am-5:30pm.

    '''Odeon Cinema''', A large modern multiplex in Central Wimbledon with 12 screens and IMAX screen. Odeon Wimbledon, The Piazza, The Broadway, ? +44 (0)871 22 44 007 [http://www.odeon.co.uk].

    '''Ridgway Stables''', Lessons and Horse Riding on Wimbledon Common. Ridgway Stables, 93 Ridgway, Wimbledon Village. Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 5.30pm. ? +44 (0)20 8946 7400 [http://www.ridgwaystables.co.uk]

    '''Wimbledon Village Stables''', Lessons and Horse Riding on Wimbledon Common. Wimbledon Village Stables, 24 a/b High Street, Wimbledon Village. ? +44 (0)20 8946 8579 [http://www.wvstables.com]

    Buy

    '''Centre Court Shopping''', [http://www.wimbledontowncentre.co.uk]. Shopping mall in Central Wimbledon next to the station with 2 floors of shops. Includes shops such as River Island, Monsoon, Body Shop, Warehouse, Gap, H&M, The Pier, La Senza and Kew. There are food outlets on the third floor and a cafe on the ground floor. Open Monday to Saturday 9AM to 7PM daily, 8PM on Thursday and Sunday 11AM-5.00PM.

    '''Supermarkets''' include Morrisons (The Broadway), M&S (Centre Court), Sainsburys (Worple Road) and Tesco Metro (Centre Court, South Wimbledon & Wimbledon Village).

    More shops are to be found along the ''Broadway'' towards South Wimbledon and along ''Wimbledon Hill'' towards ''Wimbledon Village'' and and in ''Wimbledon Village'' itself.

    Eat

  • '''Ahmed''' Indian. 2 The Broadway, ? +44 (0)20 8946 6214.
  • '''Alforno Restaurant''' Italian. 2a Kings Road, ? +44 (0)20 8540 5710.
  • '''Aphrodite''' 195-197 Merton Road, ? +44 (0)20 8417 0606.
  • '''Broadway Tandoori''' Indian. 250 The Broadway, ? +44 (0)20 8542 7697
  • '''Cafe Rouge''' French. 26 High Street, ? +44 (0)20 8944 5131.
  • '''Coal''' Bar and grill serving international food. Seating Outside. Piazza, 31-37 The Broadway, ? +44 (0)20 8947 8225. [http://www.coalgrillandbar.co.uk/]
  • '''Chutneys''' Indian. 31a Hartfield Road, ? +44 (0)20 8540 9788.
  • '''Confucious''' Chinese. 271-273 The Broadway, ? +44 (0)20 8542 5272.
  • '''Dolce Vita''' Italian. 44 The Broadway, ? +44 (0)20 8543 7643.
  • '''Est Est Est''' Italian. 38 High Street, ? +44 (0)20 8947 7700.
  • '''Gourmet Burger Kitchen''' Great Burger Restaurant. 88 The Broadway, ? +44 (0)20 8540 3300. [http://www.gbkinfo.com/GBK_Locations.htm]
  • '''Jo Shmos''' 33 High Street, ? +44 (0)20 8879 3845.
  • '''La Nonna''' Italian. 213-217 The Broadway, ? +44 (0)20 8542 3060.
  • Lambourne Bar and Grill. 63 The Broadway. 44 (0)20 8545 8661. ttp://www.lambournebarandgrill.com. edium. Part of the Antoinette Hotel. Sky sports, Happy Hour.

  • '''Lighthouse''' 75-77 Ridgway, ? +44 (0)20 8944 6338.
  • '''Makiyaki''' Good Japanese Food. 149 Merton Road, ? +44 (0)20 8540 3113.
  • '''Mai Thai''' Thai. 75 The Broadway, ? +44 (0)20 8542 8834.
  • '''Nandos''' Peri-Peri Chicken. 1-1a Russell Road, ? +44 (0)20 8545 0909, [http://www.nandos.co.uk/].
  • '''Paprika''' Indian Food. 1 Kingston Road, ? +44 (0)20 8540 9229.
  • '''Pizza Express''' Italian. 84 High Street, Wimbledon Village. ? +44 (0)20 8946 6027, [http://www.pizzaexpress.com/find-a-restaurant/restaurant/2551/?lat=51.41955&lon=-0.20080].
  • '''Pizza Express''' Italian. 104 The Broadway, ? +44 (0)20 8543 1010, [http://www.pizzaexpress.com/find-a-restaurant/restaurant/311/?lat=51.42499&lon=-0.21643].
  • '''Pizza Hut''' Chain restaurant. 79 The Broadway, ? +44 (0)20 8540 0903, [http://www.pizzahut.co.uk/restaurant/huts/WIMBLEDON-pizza-hut.html].
  • '''Reds Bar & Grill''' International Food. 86 The Broadway, ? +44 (0)20 8540 8308. [http://www.redsbarandgrill.co.uk].
  • '''Slurp''' Good Chinese and Japanese Noodle Bar, great value. Try the bento box. 138 Merton Road, ? +44 (0)20 8540 7918.
  • '''Thai Tho Restaurant''' Thai. 20 High Street, ? +44 (0)20 8946 1542.
  • '''Tapanco''' Mexican, Italian and American. 20 Hartfield Road, ? +44 (0)20 8947 4737, [http://www.tapanco.com].
  • '''The Common Room''' Italian. 18 High Street, ? +44 (0)20 8944 1909.
  • '''The Stage Door''' 90-92 The Broadway, ? +44 (0)20 8543 8128 [http://www.stagedoorsteakhouse.com]
  • Wagamama. apanese. 6-48 Wimbledon Hill Road. 20 8879 7280. ttp://www.wagamama.com. See detailed review in Chains reviews section of