Wimbledon is an affluent residential suburb in South West London. Originally a small village until the coming of the railway in the nineteenth century, the area has been inhabited since at least the Iron Age. In fact, the remains of an Iron Age hill fort are still visible on the parkland of Wimbledon Common. Nowadays, although the area is part of London’s commuter belt, Wimbledon has a relaxed and sophisticated vibe and the quarter around Wimbledon station and the Broadway, in particular, offers the visitor a range of exciting restaurants and cool bars. This brief guide will give the first-time visitor some ideas about things to do and in Wimbledon, London.

Getting there

Wimbledon Station is an important travel hub and has connections for train, underground (known to Londoners as ‘the tube’) and tram services. Train and tube services run regularly from central London with journey times of just over 15 minutes via the District Line (tube) or the main line rail services. Both Heathrow and Gatwick airports are accessible within an hour’s travelling of Wimbledon.

Things to Do

Wimbledon Common – 1,100 acres of open grassland and woods. Do as the locals do: walk and relax in the fresh air, perhaps with a picnic. Don’t miss the picturesque windmill with its museum at the northern end of the Common, there is a wonderful village fair in June or maybe rent a bicycle from Smith Brothers on Church Street.

Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum, Church Road – a must-see museum dedicated to the game that is forever synonymous with Wimbledon and an opportunity to have a guided tour of the home of British tennis, including the world famous Centre Court.

Wimbledon Theatre, The Broadway – a stunning Edwardian theatre with regular top quality productions.

Wimbledon Market, Plough Lane – shop where the locals shop and get bargains in clothing, fruit and vegetables. Open every Sunday.

Wimbledon Village – centred on the High Street, this is the heart of old Wimbledon and still retains some of its semi-rural charm. Wimbledon Village is a fantastic and quaint part of Wimbledon that is often overlooked in favour of the much busier high street. It’s the perfect place to browse boutique fashion and antique shops and enjoy a coffee at one of its many cafes or bars.

Cannizaro Park, a Grade II listed garden covering just under 34 acres is another delight should you wish to make a visit to another of Wimbledon’s more secret destinations. A labyrinth of paths and beautifully cared gardens make it a popular place for picnicking and enjoying a performance or two at it’s open stage venue. If you would like to stay the night, the Cannizaro House Hotel next door is wonderful, highly recommended!

Places to eat

If you’re looking to try typical British food, a good pub is the place for you (we recommend the Rose & Crown) and several recommended examples are listed in the next section. Of course there are other types of food – just follow the locals to Broadway Tandoori and Ahmed on Wimbledon Broadway where reliable Indian food (popular British pastime) is on offer. Also try Chutneys on Hartfield Road – the place to be for curries. If you like your food fiery, I recommend the Ganina Xacutti at Chutneys – a magnificent chicken curry. For Italian food try Alforno on Kings Road or Dolce Vita on The Broadway. The pizza at Alforno is particularly good. My favourite Wimbledon restaurant at the moment is Aya, a Lebanese restaurant on Merton Road with delicious, delicately spiced food and a lovely courtyard garden. Try their charcoal grilled meats and I guarantee you will go there again. The usual chain restaurants are represented too, with Est Est Est and Cafe Rouge on the High Street, The Gourmet Burger Kitchen on The Broadway and Nando’s on Russell Road being the best pick of the bunch.

Where to drink

Visit a traditional British pub and tuck into such hearty delights as sausages and mash and fish and chips, washed down with a pint glass of foaming ale. Try the Crooked Billet on Wimbledon Common; excellent food and beer from the local brewery. Dog & Fox in the High Street, Fox & Grapes on the Common and Rose & Crown in Wimbledon Village are all highly recommended for some good tipple. Of course if you are looking for a slightly more restrained affair then perhaps look into one of the many excellent bars. Bars in Britain are not quite the same as pubs; beer will be ever present, often imported bottle varieties, but you will also find cocktails, wine and tapas or bistro type food. Henry J Bean’s in The Broadway, Hemingway’s in the Village and All Bar One on Wimbledon Hill Road are all good. However, they don’t have the same athmosphere as a pub.

Tennis Championships

Without doubt the jewel in Wimbledon’s crown is the annual Championships at the All England Club, known simply as Wimbledon fortnight. This is the oldest tennis tournament in the world and one of the four grand slam events. The Championships take place each June/July and the best seats are snapped up well in advance. However, there are often last minute seats to be had so, if you’re in London at this time, check with local agents and on the internet to see what’s available. Wimbledon tours are also available from The Wimbledon Experience. Even if you can’t get into the tennis, it’s worth visiting Wimbledon at this time of year just to enjoy the buzz that the event creates. And, did I mention the obligatory Wimbledon strawberries and cream with champagne?

I was born just a mile or so from the center of Wimbledon, and as the years past I appreciate it more and more, I visit regularly and recommend you to do the same at any time of year. The dream is to spend summers in Wimbledon and winters in Phoenix….but still working on that one!

London is a wonderful city to visit any time of year. After reading about it on websites — especially TheBritishTravler.com — guide books and travel magazines, you think you are ready to embark on your visit to one of the most exciting cities in the world. There are definitely some aspects of London that will surprise you. So I decided to put together a list of the biggest surprises you may encounter as an American in London:

Surprise #1 — The vast range of languages and ethnicities you will encounter.
You will undoubtedly meet people from around the globe who are working and living in London, some from places you would never expect!

Surprise #2 — The vast number of people.
London is a very busy city, especially in popular locations like shopping on Oxford Street or walking across Westminster Bridge. Try to avoid using the underground (the “tube”) during the rush hours, it’s crazy.

Surprise #3 — The immense size of the city.
Greater London consists of 32 boroughs and the City of London, the same number of capsules on the London Eye (not a coincidence!). It covers over 600 square miles; however, the part visitors are most interested in are within walking distance or within short “tube rides.

Surprise #4 — The Cost.
It is expensive. You will see items that cost twice as much as you can get them at home from familiar brand-name shops. But there are also some wonderful unique items worth taking home as reminders of a great trip to London. If you are on a budget, eat at pubs or cafes rather than restaurants; they have fast food too!

Surprise #5 — Incredible history.
You are surrounded by history almost everywhere you go. There are three must see places: Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament (guided tour, limited schedule) and the Tower of London

Surprise #6– The wonderful transport system.
It’s so easy to get around. I suggest buying an Oyster card or Travel card; both will give you reduced rates on the bus and tube and are easy to use.

Surprise #7 — The pubs.
They are not like American bars! The pubs are wonderfully social places, where you can relax, have a well-priced, very filling meal, great beer and the opportunity to chat with the locals.

Surprise #8 — The food is much better than advertised
For a long time Britain has had the reputation of having very bland and uninteresting food, but lots of things have changes and some of the top chefs in the world are British. Check out a Gordon Ramsey or Jamie Oliver restaurant as examples. There are lots more.

Surprise #9 — The number of things to see and do.
As Samuel Johnson said, “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.” There are hundreds of places to see and things to do in London, you will never be bored.

Surprise #10 — The amazing countryside.
It’s so close. In much less than an hour, you can be exploring idyllic villages with thatched cottages and beamed country pubs. You don’t have to rent a car, there are day tours that will take you there for lunch.

There are many more, like snow in London, which I just encountered during my two week visit this month.

It the greatest city in the world, so get over there and be surprised.

Cheers,

Steve