Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum

About the museum

Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum was inaugurated in 1977 at the centenary of The Championships. It is run by the All England Lawn Tennis Club, the private members' club that stages the tournament, and stands within the Club's grounds on Church Road in south-west London. In April 2006 the Duke of Kent declared a new, enlarged museum open to the public.

The museum describes itself as the largest tennis museum in the world. Its collection holds more than 50,000 objects that tell the story of lawn tennis, from its beginnings as a fashionable Victorian pastime to the modern tournament, which has been played since 1877. Displays include the Championships trophies, tennis fashions from the Victorian period onwards, rackets and clothing given by leading players, and a library of tennis books and periodicals.

Visitors can explore interactive galleries, including a permanent gallery on the Open era that features the bench used by Roger Federer in the Gentlemen's Dressing Room, pages from Arthur Ashe's diary and material on Martina Navratilova. A Batak wall tests reaction speed, and an audio guide in several languages is included. The museum can also be combined with a 90-minute guided tour of the grounds, although the club is a private members' club and some areas may not be available.

Highlights

• The Championships trophies, seen up close
• Permanent interactive gallery on the Open era
• Tennis fashion from the Victorian period to today
• Batak wall reaction game
• Optional 90-minute tour of the grounds with a guide

Permanent exhibition

• The Open era gallery – A permanent interactive gallery on the Open era of tennis, with objects such as Roger Federer's bench from the Gentlemen's Dressing Room and pages from Arthur Ashe's diary.

Founded

1977

Operated by

All England Lawn Tennis Club

Admission & discounts

Prices shown are those listed on the booking site for the date of research and apply to timed tickets; the museum ticket includes a brief visit to Centre Court with a visitor assistant. Prices can change by date.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum entrance via Gate 4 has step-free access, automatic doors and a low-level counter for wheelchair users. Accessible toilets and baby changing are reached by lift, and an accessible toilet is in the Wingfield Café, which is reached by external steps or a lift for wheelchairs and buggies. An induction loop is at the ticket desk and in the café, and portable T loops for the audio guides can be borrowed. British Sign Language tours of the grounds run on scheduled dates. Certified assistance dogs are welcome, and the museum should be told in advance. Blue Badge parking is limited and offered first come, first served. Visual stories for the museum and the tour and ear defenders are available. The grounds tour takes about 90 minutes and has level-access routes, but the ground is hilly and the route includes many steps.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities

The museum has a family multimedia guide, a family activity trail and interactive displays such as a Batak reaction wall. An Early Years programme for children under five, with storytelling, singing and handling objects, runs about monthly at the club's community tennis centre in Raynes Park for families living in Merton or Wandsworth; a family ticket costs £5 and includes museum entry. Baby changing is available in the museum and the café, and breastfeeding is welcome anywhere on site.

Getting there & parking

Visitors enter via Gate 4 on Church Road. Use postcode SW19 5AG in satnav. Bike racks are outside the museum.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The Wingfield Café is separate from the museum building. The Wimbledon Shop is at the museum entrance and is open daily. The grounds are cashless, so visitors should bring a contactless payment method.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit