The pristine whites, the draw-dropping drop shots and the thrilling rallies: Wimbledon will soon be back in all its glory. And while the main action will, of course, be taking place at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, for those of us not lucky enough to secure tickets in the ballot (and who aren’t hardcore enough to camp overnight to be first in the queue), there are plenty of ways to get involved beyond Centre Court.

From catching all the matches on one of the capital’s many open-air screens to themed afternoon teas and more strawberries-and-cream flavoured concoctions than you can shake a tiny paper umbrella at, here are the best Wimbledon screenings, events and celebrations taking place in London this year. 

All England special menu at The Ivy Café, Wimbledon

To celebrate the action on Centre Court just a stone’s throw away, The Ivy’s outpost in Wimbledon has partnered with Pimm’s to create an array of cocktails for the tournament, as well as serving a new set menu exclusive to the restaurant. Post-match, head to the café to kick off proceedings with a Strawberries and Cream cocktail, featuring Pimm’s, strawberry, apple and white chocolate cream alongside the classic, fruity Pimm’s Cup before indulging in the limited-edition All England Special menu, available from 24 June to 14 July. With two courses for £39 or three for £45, star dishes include pan-roasted salmon with pink peppercorn hollandaise sauce and charred broccoli and The Ivy’s signature shepherd’s pie with rich rosemary and red wine sauce. Finish on a sweet note with the The Centre Court Melting Bombe dessert: white chocolate shell and shortbread created to look like a tennis ball, topped with strawberry puree. The perfect end to a day on the courts.

75 High Street, SW19 5EG, visit ivycollection.com

Summer of Sport at Eccleston Yards, Belgravia

Giant al fresco screenings of the championships are returning to Eccleston Yards for a summer of sport. From 1-14 July, more than 100 seats will be available across the central London courtyard, where visitors can pull up a comfy beanbag, deck chair or picnic bench and soak up the atmosphere in style with on-court action live from 11am until 9pm throughout the tournament. There’ll also be a host of treats to choose from, including an Amie Wine pop-up bar serving delicious drinks to enjoy in the sun. Between games, visitors can refuel at a range of eateries, including refreshing vegan salad bowls from Atis, scrumptious dishes from Morena and treats from Biscuiteers. 

Inside Biscuiteers’ Belgravia boutique, spectators can enjoy a prosecco and traditional strawberries and cream combo, offered exclusively for the two weeks of Wimbledon. Also don’t miss the Biscuiteers’ tennis-themed iced biscuit collection, including a strawberries and cream letterbox biscuits and tennis jolly ginger. 

21 Eccleston Place SW1W 9NF, visit belgravialdn.com

Wimbledon at Canada Square Park, Canary Wharf

Canary Wharf’s summer screens will be serving up all the action from Wimbledon for free at Canada Square Park from 1-14 July. Tennis fans can beat the long Wimbledon queues and watch the matches in high resolution surrounded by the skyscrapers of London’s banking district. Settle in front of a screen with a picnic blanket and a selection of snacks picked from nearby restaurants, or opt for a refreshing drink from the Oasis Bar and Terrace to quench your thirst at match-point. You won’t be short on more formal dining options either, with Canada Square Park’s Wahaca, The Ivy and The Parlour overlooking the screens.

Visit canarywharf.com

Strawberries and Screen at Duke of York Square, Chelsea

Exclusively for the Wimbledon Men’s Semi-Finals and Men and Women’s Finals from 12-14 July, Chelsea’s Duke of York Square will be the place to catch every hit, swing, and serve on its giant screen opposite the Saatchi Gallery. With quintessential tennis accompaniments – including strawberries and cream, Pimms and fizz – available throughout the day from Partridge’s pop-up bar, as well as deckchair-dining with an exclusive menu from Vardo, pre-book a complimentary VIP seat to enjoy an exclusive front-row view, or opt for a picnic blanket on the green to witness all the action. 

80 King’s Road, SW3 4LY, visit dukeofyorksquare.com

Wimbledon Afternoon Tea at Lavazza, Fitzrovia

As the official coffee partner of Wimbledon, Lavazza’s flagship store has been transformed with tennis-themed colours in time for the tournament. Go inside to sample a number of delectable treats such as the Tennis Ball Cake – a crunchy almond praline base with soft almond sponge, citrus compote and vanilla mousse, topped with a hazelnut crumble – to accompany your Wimbledon signature cappuccino, featuring a mint-infused base paired white chocolate and crowned with vibrant purple potato powder. Linger a little longer at Lavazza to enjoy the Wimbledon afternoon tea, where delightful sweet and savoury morsels include the strawberry and basil macaron, raspberry and cream choux, and courgettes, cheese, and salmon toast with raspberry dressing. 

23-24 Great Marlborough Street, W1F 7HU, visit lavazza.co.uk

Ham Yard’s centre court-yard, Soho

Bringing Wimbledon to Soho, catch every nail-biting rally and breathtaking drop shot from five-star hotel Ham Yard’s Centre Court-Yard from 1-14 July. Streaming matches from 11am every day on a big outdoor screen, with wireless headphones available, you can be transported to the heart of the action with strawberries and cream in one hand and playful serves from Sipsmith – such as the Grand Slam Spritz and Ham Yard Ace Cup – in the other. 

Also during the two week tournament, don’t miss the Wimbledon afternoon tea. Packed in a picnic hamper, you'll find a quintessentially British array including a finger sandwich selection, Ham Yard sausage roll and fluffy scones with clotted cream and jams, as well as Centre Court-inspired classics such as a Pimm's Swiss roll and a strawberry tart.

1 Ham Yard, W1D 7DT, visit firmdalehotels.com

Wimbledon specials at Francatelli, St James’s

As the excitement of Wimbledon grips the capital, Francatelli – the modern British restaurant by William Drabble at Althoff St. James’s Hotel – will be celebrating the historic tennis tournament with a special takeover. From the inaugural championship in 1877 to the present day, the hotel has housed many a Wimbledon player and spectator and, in celebration of its favourite sporting event of the year, the bar has created the Grand Slam cocktail, crafted with strawberry-infused vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice and homemade white chocolate cream, as well as serving classic punch bowls of Pimm’s. And, before you go, it would be rude not to try acclaimed chef William Drabble’s Wimbledon Mess, made with British strawberries from Thornicofts and featuring layers of vanilla-flavoured Jersey cream and meringue moulded to resemble a tennis ball filled with strawberry and vanilla sorbet.

Althoff St. James’s Hotel & Club, 7-8 Park Place, SW1A 1LS, visit stjameshotelandclub.com

Screen on the Water at St Katharine Docks, Tower Hill

Ideal for anyone who couldn't get their hands on those elusive tennis tickets, the floating pontoon at St Katharine Docks provides the perfect backdrop to catch the finest rallies, aces, and drop shots from the world's greatest players at Wimbledon. Set to become the go-to destination for all tennis enthusiasts, the screen on the water will show every game with a licensed bar serving up refreshing cocktails, beer, prosecco, and of course, strawberries and cream. 

50 St Katharine's Way, E1W 1LA, visit skdocks.co.uk

Wimbledon screenings at Spitalfields, Shoreditch

Spitalfields is kicking off its summer of sport by streaming Wimbledon on an 188-inch screen located on Bishops Square, inviting all spectators to lounge on deck chairs and enjoy the market’s food vendors while cheering on their favourite players. Offering promotions throughout the season, Italian restaurant Alfi has set up two ‘bocce’ lanes and dartboards on its terrace and will be offering 50 per cent off the first drink, while Brother Marcus has introduced a new summer menu featuring fried chicken rosti and harissa eggs.  

65 Brushfield Street, E1 6AA, visit spitalfields.co.uk 

Courtside Menu at Saison by Mauro Colagreco, Whitehall

Saison by Mauro Colagreco is celebrating this year's tournament with its new Courtside Menu: a selection of dishes inspired by the championships, while also giving British summertime ingredients a French Riviera twist. Available from 1-14 July, the à la carte menu will begin with starters such as Isle of Wight tomato salad or Sturia caviar, served with organic crème fraiche, shallots and Cacklebean egg atop chive 'grass'. Mains include goat cheese ravioli in green and purple Wimbledon colours, with Slipcote cheese, lemon and tarragon butter. Strawberries will naturally take centre stage in two desserts: an indulgent mille feuille with Myatt Farm strawberries, caramelised puff pastry and lime, and pavlova with strawberry sorbet, meringue and verbena. To pair, the restaurant will offer a selection of wines exclusively from English vineyards, and summer cocktails including the Raffles Cup, made with Sipsmith London Cup, aker rose, aperitif, rhubarb bitters and lemonade. Chin chin!

Raffles London at The OWO, 57 Whitehall, SW1A 2BX, visit raffles.com

Summer in the Square, Marylebone

Marylebone’s Summer in the Square will return for its tenth year as it screens Wimbledon from 9-14 July. Transforming Portman Square Gardens into the ultimate games pit stop in the heart of the capital, watch the tournament in style on a deck chair with a drink in hand. This year will see the return of the much-loved Guest Kitchen, a rotating pop-up food space featuring local favourite restaurants plus streetfood stalls, and the Wellness Den, while private members’ club Home House will provide a refreshing bar and drinks station for all to enjoy. 

Portman Square, W1, visit makeitmarylebone.co.uk

Wimbledon specials at The Ned, Bank

Indulge in exclusive Wimbledon-inspired treats at The Ned’s Electric Diner and Millie’s Lounge 1-14 July. The American-inspired Electric Diner will serve smash burgers with a side of its signature ice cream, Electric’s Eton Mess – a blend of Madagascan vanilla ice cream, berry compote, and meringue – while Millie’s Lounge will channel a quintessential British vibe at Ned's Sunday Feast, with its timeless Eton Mess served tableside from the elegant restaurant trolley. 

27 Poultry, EC2R 8AJ, visit thened.com

The Carousel of British Summer at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, Knightsbridge

In celebration of the British summer, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park has transformed its hotel lounge into a chic carousel bar. Following on from the Christmas bar that took centre stage last season, the custom-made carousel has been totally reimagined, changing throughout the season to reflect three of the social calendar’s major events: Chelsea Flower Show, Royal Ascot and the Wimbledon Championships.

During the tennis tournament, TVs will be displayed from the carousel so guests can take in all the action from the comfort of the bar, serving Whispering Angel, Nyetimber and Moet & Chandon from 12-8pm everyday. Plus, lucky guests will also be in with the chance to receive an array of surprises throughout the summer, ranging from a spa treatment for two, to lunch at two Michelin-starred Dinner by Heston Blumenthal. 

66 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7LA, visit mandarinoriental.com

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