Wimbledon, on the hill and in the town

Should you fly from Heathrow or Gatwick?

From Wimbledon, the two airports are within a few minutes of each other. Heathrow is about 44 minutes off-peak and 57 in the rush, usually via the A3 and the M25 to the M4 spur, or across Richmond Park’s edge and the A316. Gatwick is about 47 minutes off-peak and 61 in the rush, south through Morden and Sutton to the M25 and the M23.

So choose the flight rather than the airport. For long-haul, Heathrow usually has more options; for European holidays, Gatwick often has the better fares and times. For the same destination from both, pick whichever terminal you find easier.

How does the Championships fortnight affect journeys?

For two weeks from late June, Wimbledon hosts the world’s most famous tennis tournament. Church Road, Somerset Road and the roads around the grounds are closed or restricted, parking is suspended across a wide area, and queues of spectators stretch through Wimbledon Park from early morning.

If your pickup falls during the Championships, we will plan the route around the closures. From the Village, chauffeurs may head west across the Common towards the A3 rather than down the hill. From the town, they avoid Wimbledon Park Road and the approaches to Southfields. We suggest allowing an extra 15 to 20 minutes during the tournament, especially around the start and end of play.

Can you move players, teams and tennis visitors?

Yes. Before and during the Championships, players, coaches, officials and media arrive at Heathrow and Gatwick and need to reach rented houses in the Village or hotels nearby. We can meet flights, carry racket bags and equipment, and keep the same chauffeur for a group throughout their stay if that suits them.

For visitors flying in to watch the tennis, we can collect from the airport and drop you at your accommodation, and take you back to the airport after your final day, timed around the end of play.

How do pickups from the Village work?

Wimbledon Village has many large houses set back behind gates and driveways, and some on private roads around the Common. Give us the gate code or tell us whether someone will open it, and the chauffeur can pull in to load away from the road. The High Street itself is busy with shoppers and restaurant-goers, and stopping there is limited, so for a pickup from a café or a shop, the chauffeur will wait on a side street.

How do pickups in the town work?

Wimbledon town centre, around the station and the Broadway, has one-way streets, bus lanes and pedestrianised areas. For flats in the new developments near the station, give us the building name and the entrance with a drop-off point. For offices and hotels on the Broadway, the chauffeur will wait at the nearest legal stopping point and message you.

Wimbledon station has trams, trains and the District line; if your home is hard to reach by car, we can meet you at an agreed station exit.

How do school-holiday departures to Gatwick work?

The first Saturday of the summer holidays and the Friday before half-term are among the busiest days of the year at Gatwick, and the M25 and the M23 fill with holiday traffic from mid-morning. From Wimbledon, the route south is short, but queues at the airport’s drop-off zones can add time.

For a family departure on one of those days, we suggest a pickup about half an hour earlier than usual. Tell us the children’s ages so we can fit the right seats, and mention pushchairs, car seats you are taking with you and any sports kit. For a family of four with holiday luggage, the V-Class is the usual choice.

What about Farnborough and Biggin Hill for private flights?

Farnborough is about 36 miles west and takes around 54 minutes via the A3 and the M25 or the M3, and London Biggin Hill is about 45 minutes east. For either, tell us the handling agent and the flight details, and the chauffeur will go directly to the right building, following the flight if it lands early or late.

Is Wimbledon inside the Congestion Charge zone?

No. Wimbledon is in outer London, far from the zone, and journeys to Heathrow and Gatwick do not go near it. London City, the only airport whose route might pass close to central London, is about 57 minutes away across the river.