From One Aldwych, the simplest and quickest thing to do is walk over the bridge to Waterloo and take the suburban train, not the tube.

Got it, Patrick. Thanks.

I've read all of the posts and am still confused. Arriving July 2 in the AM and departing July 7 in the AM. 2 adults going to Wimbledon 2X and traveling around London the other days. Patrick, Julia, Robespierre or anyone else with knowledge what are your suggestions for oyster/travel cards?

Hi Lynn

I will also be at Wimbledon on Friday
6th. I have Center Court seats. I am hoping it will be the mens semi's but it looks like there is going to be a lot of rain this coming week.

Ray

Ah.... my life long dream (the other being watching a test match at Lords')! May I ask how expensive are the center court tickets?

I have no idea of the cost. We received one those amazing phone calls-do you want to go Wimbledon we have tickets for you if you do. But Comfy I'm glad you asked. I've been meaning to write. We're spending 3 weeks in Spain Sept-Oct. and your trip report has been so helpful. I may write your email for some specifics. We're staying in 4 different places-Madrid, Sevilla, San Sebastian and Barcelona with day trips tp Toledo, Segovia, Cordoba and Granada and Bilbao. It's our first time and neither of us speak Spanish. It should be fabulous and interesting. We've planned it all on our own. I've posted lots of questions here. Thanks for your report. Also No Car-all public transportation.

Lynne,

Thank you for your compliments. Yes, absolutely happy to help. Email to [email protected]. If I can't answer, I will direct you back here.

Gosh, I wish I was so lucky so far as the tickets!!

hi again, comfy,

if you use google and access the official wimbledon site, you'll find the official ticket prices - for Centre, No 1 and no 2 courts, they range from £32 at the beginning of the first week, to £87 for men's finals day.

They run a ballot for tickets which anyone can enter; lots of tickets also go to members of LTA affiliated tennis clubs, and there are also people called "debenture holders" who bought a seat years ago, and can use it in perpetuity.

Despite the fact that there are supposedly big penalties for ordinary tennis club members who sell on their tickets to touts, they get them somehow. The last time I went, 20 years ago, with my tickets for men' semi-finals day, I was offered £500 for the pair! what they didn't know was that I had tickets for the finals day too. As that was the year Pat Cash won and climbed up on the seating afterwards to get to his Dad, I was so glad I ddin't succumb to tmeptation. I know it was 20 years ago because I was 6 months pregnant with DD at the time and she's 20 this year. One lot of tickets came through the ballot our tennis club ran; the others by winning the raffle! so glad I went because I've never been since.

If you wanted tickets, you'd need to hit the web-site in about January i think, to get into the ballot.

regards, ann

Thank you, Ann. As always a good thoughtful response.

I must say the tickets are pretty cheap (I would have expected $250+ a pop!) but I guess the lottery system is the wild card. Hmm.... Might as well try my luck in January.

Yes, in 1987, Pat Cash beat Jimmy Connors in the semi-finals and then Ivan Lendl to jump to the box seats, apparently thus starting the tradition of hugging after a win. It is too bad his career largely fizzled out afterwards. Interesting trip down the momory lane. I am event-dating my age with this post :)

For future readers of this thread, your question on Oyster and other transport tickets to Wimbledon is answered on

http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...p;tid=35018873

comfy - "momery lane?" still could be worse.

:S-

my reminiscences date me too!

regards, ann

"If you wanted tickets, you'd need to hit the web-site in about January i think, to get into the ballot."

No, don't leave it until January - you'll be way too late! If you want tickets through the public ballot, you must first obtain an application form between 1st August to 15th December of the previous year. You cannot do this on line, you must send a stamped addressed envelope (or international reply coupon) to the club.

...and I meant to add, yes the public ballot and the restrictions on re-sale are deliberately designed to keep the prices reasonably affordable. If they were allowed to reach their "market price", they probably would be about £200 each which is beyond what most ordinary tennis fans can afford.

Thanks, Gordon. I will put in my PDA.

sorry, comfy, to mislead you.

My info was obviously rather out of date! [and thinking about it, pre-internet!]

hope you're successful,

regards, ann

Hullo, Ann,

Don't even think about it! It is NO problem. Thanks.