The pristine whites, the draw-dropping drop shots and the thrilling rallies: Wimbledon is 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 cocktails than you can shake a tiny paper umbrella at, here are the best Wimbledon screenings, events and celebrations taking place in London this year. 

Wimbledon at Vinegar Yard, London Bridge

From 3 July, Vinegar Yard – one of the best outdoor terraces in London Bridge – will be showing all Wimbledon games on its huge screen. Dedicated tennis fans can immerse themselves in the Wimbledon spirit whilst sipping on pints with a slice from resident pizza specialists, Bad Boy Pizza Society, in hand.

72-82 St Thomas Street, SE1 3QX, visit vinegaryard.london

Wimbledon at Hackney Bridge, Hackney Wick

For East London tennis fans, Hackney Wick’s newest outdoor venue, Hackney Bridge, will be showing all games from 3-16 July on its massive screen in the landscaped garden overlooking the canal. As one of the biggest beer gardens in the capital, this is a great spot to watch all the tennis drama unfold with long tables for alfresco drinking, as well as street food from a selection of independent traders.

Units 1-28, Echo Building, E15 2SJ, visit hackneybridge.org

Wimbledon Sundae at The Beaumont, Mayfair

Luckily for those with a sweet tooth, The Beaumont hotel has taken Wimbledon’s strawberries-and-cream theme quite seriously. Guests at the five-star Mayfair establishment can get into the tennis spirit by enjoying a Wimbledon-inspired ice cream sundae made using Tahitian vanilla chantilly, English strawberry ice cream, and strawberry sauce topped with miniature chocolate tennis rackets. The sundae is available to order at Le Magritte Bar and Terrace, overlooking Mayfair’s Brown Hart Gardens, and is the perfect end to a meal of classics such as the NY shrimp cocktail, caesar salad or The Beaumont cheeseburger alongside a glass of Pimms.

8 Balderton Street, Brown Hart Gardens, W1K 6TF, visit thebeaumont.com

Wimbledon at Canada Square Park and Cabot Square, Canary Wharf

Canary Wharf’s summer screens will be serving up all the action from Wimbledon for free at both Canada Square Park and Cabot Square from 3-16 July. Tennis fans can beat the long Wimbledon queues and instead 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 the nearby Waitrose, M&S or Tesco, or opt for a refreshing drink from The Grandstand Bar to quench your thirst at match-point. You won’t be short of more formal dining options either, with alfresco spots Iberica La Terraza and Electric Shuffle’s Summer Terrace in Cabot Square, in addition to Canada Square Park’s Wahaca, The Ivy and The Parlour overlooking the screens.

Visit canarywharf.com

Wimbledon at The Alexandra, Wimbledon

A firm favourite for tennis fans, soak up the great British summer at classic London pub The Alexandra, located within walking distance of the famed club. The pub will be getting into the swing of things with broadcasts of all the matches on its terrace, with Wimbledon sponsor Sipsmith taking over with floral archways and banners. Head up to the loft for a rooftop celebration, while for food, look no further than the Burger Shack. Thursday to Saturday will play host to live music and entertainment, plus there will be a Fever Tree pop-up bar for gin and tonic fans. 

33 Wimbledon Hill, SW19 7NE, visit alexandrawimbledon.com

Wimbledon at Eccleston Yards, Belgravia

Giant al fresco screenings of the championships are returning to Eccleston Yards for a summer of sport. From 3-16 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 8pm 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 and grab a bite from a range of eateries, including treats from Biscuiteers, refreshing vegan salad bowls from Atis and scrumptious dishes from Morena.

21 Eccleston Place SW1W 9NF, visit belgravialdn.com

Champagne Lanson x Wimbledon

Images: Stephanie Pollak Photography

As Champagne Lanson celebrates its 46-year association with Wimbledon, it has released a limited-edition gift box inspired by the iconic flowers – including hydrangea, agapanthus, rose and petunia – seen throughout the SW19 grounds of The All England Club. Available to buy now, the Le Black Label Brut, noted for its finessed expression and longevity, is newly housed in a blue floral gift pack whereas Le Rosé – boasting a pale salmon colour and characteristic freshness – is showcased in pink. Those not attending The Championships in person this year will be able to enjoy screenings of the tournament at one of Champagne Lanson’s summer terraces at Hotel du Vin in Wimbledon and Bluebird in Chelsea. 

To celebrate the season further, Champagne Lanson has partnered with Your London Florist to create bespoke tonal bouquets inspired by each cuvée. The Le Rosé bouquet will include pink hydrangeas, soft pink stocks, peach and pink garden roses and wild grasses while the blue-toned Le Black Label bouquet will feature blue delphinium and agapanthus, as well as lilac clematis and green bell.  

Visit lanson.co.uk

Wimbledon Afternoon Tea at The Dorchester, Mayfair

Park Lane’s Dorchester hotel has devised a special afternoon tea inspired by all things Wimbledon. Served in the stunning surrounds of the newly-renovated, pink-hued Promenade restaurant, menu highlights include Quicke’s cheddar, dill and mustard tart, and roast chicken, French sorrel and lemon mayonnaise sandwiches, before sweet treats of strawberry and cream roulade, pistachio choux and the signature Dorchester chocolate patisserie. With an optional pairing of Veuve Clicquot champagne, Rathfinny Estate sparkling wine or Wild Idol alcohol-free wine also available, it’s the perfect way to toast the championships.

53 Park Lane, W1K 1QA, visit dorchestercollection.com

Wimbledon at Merchant Square, Paddington

West Londoners can catch all the latest tennis action for free on the open-air screen at Merchant Square. All the matches from London’s grand slam will be shown live from 11am from 3-16 July by the picturesque canal at Paddington Basin. Simply turn up and grab a perfectly-positioned deck chair to watch the games in comfort on the large outdoor screen, or bring a picnic blanket and grab a spot on the lawn to enjoy the championships in the sun. 

No tennis spectating is complete without a refreshing beverage in hand, so from Thursday to Sunday on both weeks, The Thirsty Farrier will be serving up an array of traditional cocktails from its signature horse box bar. Expect all the favourites including Pimm's, Aperol Spritz and espresso martinis to sip while you watch the action of the world’s oldest tennis tournament. Tennis enthusiasts can also get involved in a variety of sport-themed competitions on the mini pop-up tennis court from 4-6 and 16 July to be in with a chance of winning tennis-related prizes. 

Big Screen on the Lawn, Merchant Square, Paddington Basin, W2 1JX, visit merchantsquare.co.uk

Wimbledon at Clays, Moorgate

Clays – London's indoor virtual clay target shooting experience and bar, located in Canary Wharf and Moorgate – is celebrating Wimbledon with a quintessentially British offering to complement the tennis tournament. For the whole duration of Wimbledon, guests can enjoy two of Clays' signature cocktails and a trio of desserts for an additional £25 when booking a game, in celebration of the much-loved championships. 

55 Moorgate, EC2R 6LL, visit clays.bar

Sipsmith x The Ivy Wimbledon

To celebrate the tennis championships, The Ivy Cafe in Wimbledon will be creating a few knock-out serves of its own. Having partnered with Sipsmith Gin, the official gin sponsor of Wimbledon, pick from a range of bold cocktails, including Serve it and Smash Strawberry and Mint Martini, Centre Court Negroni, Lemon Deuce Drizzle and Match Point Zesty Cup, featuring orange gin, angostura bitters and ginger ale.

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

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