Matt Thacker
If you needed proof that Wimbledon is more than two weeks of summer glory and strawberries doing their best work in public, the All England Lawn Tennis Club served it up on 7 and 8 February. The club hosted its fifth annual Community Open Weekend, inviting neighbours living near the SW19 Grounds to wander in, look around, and enjoy the place without a ticket tout in sight.
This free, balloted event has quietly become one of the area’s most popular dates in the diary. Since 2021, more than 4,500 guests have attended the Community Open Weekends, and this year more than 1,200 visitors came through across the two days—suggesting the appetite for a behind-the-scenes Wimbledon wander is as healthy as ever.
A winter pass to Centre Court (no queue, no rain delay)
For many, the headline act was the simple thrill of stepping onto the famous site itself—Grounds tours and visits to Centre Court included—minus the usual soundtrack of gasps, commentary, and British people apologising for bumping into their own knees.
And while Centre Court might be synonymous with elite tennis theatre, the weekend leaned into something more local and more human: an open invitation to explore, ask questions, and see how the place ticks when the world’s best aren’t trying to hit felt off a string.
Mini tennis, story time and a museum exhibition with real bite
The activities roster read like a community festival hosted by people who know their audience. Guests enjoyed mini tennis, afternoon tea-themed story time, and food-and-drink-themed arts and crafts inspired by the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum’s newest exhibition.
That exhibition, A Slice of History: Food and Drink at Wimbledon, is on display until autumn 2026—an appropriately long run for a subject that has always been part of the Wimbledon mythology. Tennis has its traditions; Wimbledon has its menu.
“We are always pleased to welcome the local community…”
Deborah Jevans CBE, Chair of the All England Club, underlined the bigger point of the weekend—community access, local ties, and an anniversary worth marking.
“We are always pleased to welcome the local community to our Grounds so they can explore and enjoy all that Wimbledon has to offer. This year’s Community Open Weekend was particularly special as we are celebrating both the Wimbledon Junior Tennis Initiative and the Wimbledon Learning Programme reaching 25 years of working in schools in Merton and Wandsworth.”
That 25-year milestone matters. It places Wimbledon not just as an international sporting brand, but as a long-term local presence—one investing time and resources in the same streets, schools and community networks that surround the Grounds.
Civic guests, local pride, and a famous bird on duty
Alongside residents, the weekend welcomed a few familiar faces from public life: Mayor of Merton Martin Whelton, Mayor of Wandsworth Jeremy Ambache, Paul Kohler, MP for Wimbledon, and Merton Councillor Edith Macauley MBE.
But if you’re measuring crowd-pleasers by decibel level, Rufus the Hawk likely topped the bill. Famous for helping keep pigeons at bay during The Championships, Rufus proved a popular attraction for guests of all ages—because nothing says “iconic Wimbledon experience” quite like meeting the bird who keeps Centre Court’s airspace under control.
Turf talk with the people who pamper the grass
There’s a particular kind of fan who doesn’t just love tennis—they love the setting. For them, the Wimbledon groundstaff and gardeners being on hand to answer questions was its own sort of masterclass. Turf care, planting, and the quiet, year-round work that makes those lawns look like they’ve been ironed.
It’s a reminder that Wimbledon’s excellence isn’t only about forehands and nerve; it’s also about horticulture, precision, and people who can make grass behave.
A library rarely seen – and a heartfelt Andy Murray chapter
The Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum added its own magic, especially for those who prefer their sport with footnotes. Museum guests enjoyed a rare chance to explore the library, home to what the club describes as the world’s finest collection of tennis books, publications and newspaper articles.
And there was a poignant new addition: scrapbooks about Andy Murray’s tennis career, donated by his late grandparents, Mr and Mrs Erskine. In a place that trades heavily in history, it’s the personal stories—family, care, time spent clipping and saving—that can hit the hardest.
What’s next for Wimbledon community events?
The All England Club says more information about free community events can be found on its Community and Neighbours Page, and tickets for the Museum and Tour are also available online.
For locals, it’s a chance to see Wimbledon as a neighbour, not just a tournament. For everyone else, it’s a useful reminder that the most famous tennis Grounds in the world don’t only come alive in July—they’re there all year, occasionally opening the gates and letting SW19 have the run of the place.
