neighbourhood guide:

Wimbledon

Host to the annual Tennis championships which command the world-stage every summer, Wimbledon is a suburb awash with greenery – from grass courts to it’s leafy common. During the tournament, the area is awash with sporting stars, their supporters queuing to watch the excitement from Murray Mount with lashings of strawberries and cream. The rest of the year, Wimbledon offers a more relaxed pace compared to most areas of London, perhaps due to its quaint ‘village’, adorned with inviting restaurants, delis and shops.
ARTS & CULTURE
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AFTER HOURS
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Restaurants & Caffeine Fix

LIGHT ON THE COMMON // lightwimbledon.co.uk
A beautifully light and airy restaurant, it’s the perfect location for a spot of brunch, a luxuriously long lunch, or a casual dinner. As a visitor, you’re sure to find yourself amongst locals – this is a popular neighbourhood restaurant in a pleasantly suburban part of London. The menu, however, is not at all suburban. In fact, it’s really quite adventurous – try their smoked rare tuna with shaved fennel, orange & rocket or a gorgeous taleggio and spinach tart. The wine list here too is something of a delight; inexpensive, but judiciously and well chosen.

THE IVY // theivycafewimbledon.com
You’ll have to be well-organised if you want a seat at this prestigious off-shoot of the world-famous restaurant The Ivy (found in Piccadilly, and regularly filled with the rich and famous) – bookings for breakfast, lunch and dinner are often filled weeks in advance. But if it’s a special occasion, you can’t go far wrong here – it’s the full luxe service: glamorous art-deco interiors, impeccable service and of course, gorgeous food.

SAUCER & CUP // saucerandcup.com
Lauded by locals as the best coffee shop in Wimbledon, and perhaps in London (we’ll let you be the judge of that), one thing is certain – the baristas here really know their stuff. Their mantra here is “just good is not enough” (really), and you’ll taste that in the quality of the coffee served here. Partnering with world class roasteries, they serve some of the most delicious, interesting and highest quality coffees available in the world. Choose from their carefully curated menu and experience coffee that shouldn’t just be chucked back, but appreciated, savoured and remembered for the rest of the week.

KALDI COFFEE // kaldicoffee.org
A gorgeous independent coffee-shop which describes itself an “oasis to rest and watch the world waft through” (who could resist that?) the coffee served here is the real authentic Italian stuff – and absolutely fantastic. The staff here are charming, and the service speedy – perfect for a pit-stop as you make your way to the tennis

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Outdoor Spaces

ALL ENGLAND LAWN TENNIS CLUB MUSEUM // wimbledon.com
If you’re not able to go for the actual Wimbledon tournament (tickets can be extremely tricky to get your hands on), or you’re simply visiting outside of the famous “Fortnight”, then you’ll still be able to experience some of the glories of the All England Lawn Tennis Club by joining one of their extensive tours. You’ll be taken to see the player’s main entrance, the press interview room, and even the holy-ground of Centre Court itself. Award-winning and run by a team of enthusiastic and knowledgeable experts, it's a fascinating insight into Wimbledon behind-the-scenes. The club is also home to a well-curated museum, where you’ll be able to view the Championship trophies up close. A must for all tennis fans!

WIMBLEDON COMMON // wpcc.org
An incredible 1,140 acres of parkland can be found in Wimbledon in the form of Wimbledon and Putney Common and there’s a plethora of activities to get involved in. For keen but experienced horse riders, the nearby riding stables often organise hacks through the parklands. For sportsmen and women who are after something slightly less demanding, there’s an ever popular golf course – and there’s ample provisions for strollers who are just after a scenic countryside (well, almost) walk on a Sunday afternoon. As an unfenced Common, the grounds are open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Our Wimbledon Favourites

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Arts & Culture

NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE // newwimbledontheatre.co.uk
This Grade II listed building has stood in Wimbledon and served the community of this quiet but respectable suburb for well over 100 years – but don’t be fooled, it’s no minor theatrical establishment. It holds well over 1,500 people, and hit classic musicals such as Oliver! and Half a Sixpence premiered here. More recently, it has hosted celebrations for Prince Charles’ 60th birthday.

SOUTHSIDE HOUSE // southsidehouse.com
Built in the Dutch Baroque Restoration style, this 17th century manor house is still a family home to this day, providing a gloriously luxurious backdrop to generations of the Pennington Mellor Munthe families for generations. It’s never undergone any major regeneration, and as such remains fairly untouched by time — and of course, is stuffed with the eccentric and fascinating possessions of family members from the last 200 years. The grounds too, are marvellous, carefully tended to but left to grow in a kind of semi-wild glory.

WAT BUDDHAPADIPA // watbuddahapida.org
The first Thai Buddhist temple to be built in London – and the only ever to be built in Europe – this uniquely beautiful place of worship was built in 1976. Home to Buddhist monks and nuns, there are free meditation and Dharma classes on selected days. As a functioning place of worship, the temple is not a tourist attraction; but visitors are free to enjoy the tranquil beauty of the surrounding monastic area of four acres, complete with an ornamental lake.

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After Hours

THE LOFT // alexandrawimbledon.com
One of Wimbledon’s best kept secret, The Loft bar can be found on the roof-top terrace of The Alexandra Pub. In the summer (when of course, the greatest tennis tournament in the world is just around the corner) the atmosphere on this roof terrace is simply unbeatable. Modern, bright and with a pleasing list of cocktails, while away long summer evenings here with a glass of Pimms (when in Wimbledon, what else?).

HAND IN HAND // thehandinhandwimbledon.co.uk
A glorious local pub which has existed since the 19th-century, ask any Wimbledon resident to point you towards their favourite pub and you’ll end up here. Its inviting fireplace and wood panelling make it a delightfully cosy spot during the winter, but come the summer its patrons spill out onto its inviting terrace. The friendly bar-staff and well-beloved landlord, Andrew Ford, will have you feeling like a local in no time.

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