Wimbledon Afternoon Tea
To celebrate a quintessentially English sporting event, our Wimbledon Afternoon Tea is just the ticket.
Wimbledon 2026
The Championships at Wimbledon is the oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament in the world. Each July, a glorious corner of south-west London comes alive with tennis players and sporting fans, who travel from across the world to be part of Wimbledon. The tennis tournament has taken place here since 1877. The only major Grand Slam played on grass tennis courts, the tournament has a particularly green and verdant feeling. With matches taking place across 18 tennis courts – as well as a green space currently known as ‘Murray Mound’, where spectators watch the big screens together – the atmosphere at Wimbledon is like nowhere else in the world.
The Wimbledon tennis championships are home to several very particular traditions. One of these is the consumption of strawberries and cream at the event. The combination of strawberries and cream was started by the Tudors, as this was a way of serving a delicious but easy-to-make dessert at lavish feasts. Strawberries and cream were served at the very first Wimbledon tournament in 1877, and it’s a tradition that has certainly stood the test of time. Indeed, an estimated 34,000 kg and 10,000 litres of cream are eaten at the two-week event at Wimbledon each year!
How do I get tickets for Wimbledon?
The Wimbledon ballot is one of the best ways to secure tickets to Wimbledon. The ballot intends to be one of the fairest ways for visitors to attain tickets. Entries are typically open well in advance. With that said, successful applicants are generally notified by November before the tournament whether they have won a ticket.
For potential visitors still looking for a ticket closer to the first day of Wimbledon, you have two options:
- The Queue: Arrive at Wimbledon early in the morning (or even the night before) to join The Queue. There are, however, a limited number of tickets available
- Ticketmaster / other ticketing websites: Wimbledon releases a limited number of tickets via Ticketmaster closer to the tournament:
- Returned and Resale Tickets: During the tournament, returned tickets are sold at the Ticket Resale Kiosk inside the grounds
- Secondary Market: If all else fails, you can try the secondary market for tickets with resellers like StubHub or Viagogo.
For more explicit information on the above, please refer to the Wimbledon site
Celebrate Wimbledon with a themed Afternoon Tea?
Here at The Athenaeum Hotel, we offer a classic, elegant afternoon tea experience with traditional sandwiches, pastries, and scones, often with garden themes for summer, and we have options for different dietary needs. Inspired by Wimbledon tennis, our themed afternoon tea shares a summer British vibe and serves iconic strawberries and cream.
When is Wimbledon 2026?
Wimbledon 2026 takes place June 29th to July 12th. The tournament spans two weeks, starting on a Monday and concluding on a Sunday.
For an enriching stay in London, join us at The Athenaeum for all your home-from-home needs. We’re now proud to offer a Wimbledon-affiliated afternoon tea special. Enjoy aromatic tea and scrumptious scones and cream before/after the match.
How do I get to Wimbledon?
Whilst Wimbledon is outside of Central London, visitors of The Athenaeum can get to the tournament by:
- Car (45 minutes). Please let our reservations team know if you would like us to book a car for you
- London Underground (54 minutes). Please make a right when leaving the hotel and walk towards Hyde Park Corner Station. From there, please get the Piccadilly line to South Kensington, then change platforms and get the District line to Southfields. From Southfields to the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club please walk 19 minutes.
What is the dress code for Wimbledon?
While there is no strict dress code for general spectators, smart casual attire is recommended. For those attending the Royal Box or exclusive hospitality areas, a stricter dress code applies, including jackets and ties for men.
Celebrities of note have worn the following:
- Duchess of Cambridge: Kate Middleton has often been seen at Wimbledon wearing chic dresses or tailored outfits, accessorised with statement jewellery and stylish hats.
- Brad Pitt: In 2023, The Bullet Train Star appeared in casual attire with a polo top, sporting aviators and a white gold Vacheron watch.
- Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz: In 2023, the former Bond actor and his wife both sported a pair of power suits. Craig was dressed in a Prince of Wales-esque grey suit, whilst Weisz adopted a summery ivory 2 piece suit.
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