Wimbledon 2014 - where and how to get tickets
Pic: Shutterstock / Dmitry Elagin
The world's oldest tennis tournament is back in just a few days, and whether you're a semi-pro player or a once-a-year watcher, Wimbledon is undoubtedly one of the year's sporting highlights.
This year's tournament begins on 23 June, with the ladies' singles final on Saturday 5 July, and the men's final on Sunday 6 July. The tennis world's best and brightest will be donning their whites in the hopes of holding that famous trophy aloft - not least last year's champion, our very own Andy Murray.
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As you might imagine, tickets for the final don't come cheap, costing upwards of £120, but for courts two and three during the earlier stages of the competition, you can still see some amazing tennis for reasonable prices. And if you just want to get in on the action, admission to the grounds can be bought from as little as £5. So how can you get your hands on some sought-after tickets?
Online
Each day the All England Lawn Tennis Club allocates several hundred tickets for Centre Court and Courts 1 to 3, which are sold online on the day, and if you are really keen, it's wise to register with the Wimbledon site as you will be among the first to receive details. These tickets are only available via Ticketmaster, so don't be tempted by other sites, and you'll need to be quick off the mark as tickets often sell out almost immediately.
The queue
Wimbledon is still one of very few major sporting events where you can chance your luck and queue for a ticket on the day. But if you are planning on taking the risk, it is advisable to get there early. Though the turnstiles open at around 9.30am, many will have camped out over night in order to get their desired seats so if you are keen to get a good spot, an early start is necessary.
Tickets are sold on a one per person basis and you'll need cash to pay, but with 500 tickets for Centre Court (barring the final four days), Court 1 and Court 2, it is well worth the effort.
If the show court tickets pass you by, general admission is the way to go. Passes to the Wimbledon grounds (open from 10.30am each day) are available at the turnstiles, and range from £20 right down to £5 for post 5pm viewing. These allow access to unreserved seating and standing on Courts 3 to 19, but entry is subject to Grounds capacity. And once you are inside the Grounds, you might even be able to bag an upgrade at the Ticket Resale Kiosk, where unwanted or unused tickets go on resale to ensure those seats are available to others.
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Big screen viewing
For those that can't make it to the event itself, or who just can't face the early morning queues, there are thankfully BBC big screens around the country where you can kick back and watch all the action, still with a glass of Pimm's if you so wish, completely free. Visit the Wimbledon website to find your nearest screen.
So keep your fingers crossed for some sunshine to go with your strawberries, and take your seat for what promises to be yet another exciting tournament.
Will you be queuing for Wimbledon tickets this year? Leave your comments below...
