Wimbledon 2022: The finest places across the capital to watch the tennis tournament
The sun’s out, strawberries are in season and the Pimm’s is in full flow, which can only mean one thing: Wimbledon 2022. Running from 27 June to 10 July, the quintessentially British tennis tournament is one of the highlights of the summer calendar and is a must-watch. But if you can’t manage to get your hands on tickets for Centre Court, don’t panic – there are plenty of other places to watch the action unfold across the capital. From sun-drenched terraces in Chelsea to deckchairs in Mayfair, these are the best venues to catch some outdoor screenings this summer.
Brown Hart Gardens, Mayfair
27 June – 10 July
Combine your next shopping trip with a dose of sporting prowess by paying a visit to Brown Hart Gardens next time you’re round the corner at Selfridges, where they’ll be showing outdoor screenings of all the on-court action from 11am – 8pm every day of the tournament. Pull up a deckchair and get comfortable on their Stripes Amalfi Terrace, which will be serving a menu of authentic Italian Pinsa alongside gourmet southern Italian street food designed by chef Enzo Oliveri. There’ll also be fresh spritz cocktails available – including a special Wimbledon-inspired Aperitivo cocktail menu in partnership with Lavazza – as well as plenty of gelato.
The Bluebird, Chelsea
27 June – 10 July
You know Wimbledon is just around the corner when the giant tennis balls come out at this King’s Road haunt. The restaurant’s sun-filled terrace has long been one of the capital’s most popular spots to watch the tournament, with locals glugging champagne in front of the giant screen. This summer they’ll be serving up a limited-edition dessert to mark the occasion – a strawberry cake with pistachio, dacquoise biscuit, vanilla pistachio cream and fresh strawberry – as well as a Wimbledon cocktail made with Tanqueray gin, yellow chartreuse, white port, basil, mint, elderflower cordial and lemon juice. Chin-chin!
St Katharine Docks, Tower Bridge
27 June – 10 July (closed 28 July)
For something a little different, why not try watching Emma Raducanu and Rafael Nadal show off their skills from a floating pontoon in a picturesque marina? St Katherine’s Docks will have one set up for the entire tournament, complete with deckchairs, picnic tables and benches. On Thursday 30 June they’ll also be hosting a special event with the London Restaurant Festival, where the outdoor screening will be accompanied by a delicious spread from Natural Kitchen paired with ice-cold ciders from the award-winning restaurant Orchard Pig.
Eccleston Yards, Belgravia
27 June – 10 July
Pretty Eccleston Yards in Belgravia has quickly cemented itself as one of London’s most charming al fresco spots, and this summer it’s set to get a whole lot busier thanks to the arrival of their Amie Wine Studio pop-up wine bar and gallery. Set up in time for Wimbledon and lasting for the entire tournament, there’ll be deckchairs and a giant screen in a charming white picket-fenced enclosure, with plenty of wine on tap and free ice cream from Oppo to keep spectator spirits up. And when the tennis is over, the Yards will also be screening the UEFA Women’s Football later in the summer.
Design District Canteen, Greenwich Peninsula
9 - 10 July
The Greenwich Peninsula has had a major revamp of late, and with it comes plenty of places to take part in creative and celebratory knees-ups. Case in point, the Wimbledon screenings they’re holding at their cool new street food hub, the Design District Canteen, a futuristic bubble-shaped space that houses six exciting food vendors. They’ve erected a giant screen to show the final two days of the tennis tournament, where guests can try some of the brilliant food on offer – from Venezuelan Arepas at Guasa to Kolkatan street food from Raastawala – all washed down with pitchers of Pimm’s. There’ll also be free arts and crafts sessions for little ones run by The Kids’ Table, which means parents can focus on the important stuff taking place on court.
Summer in the Square at Portman Square Gardens, Marylebone
5 July – 10 July
London is filled with beautiful secret green spaces like Portman Square Gardens, which is usually only open to local residents. In honour of Wimbledon, however, they’ll be flinging their doors open for five days as part of their Summer in the Square series, which sees them host everything from yoga classes to mental health workshops in the tranquil surroundings. Watch the tournament for free from one of their smart yellow deckchairs, where you can also pick up a glass of wine or two from their Philglas & Swiggot-stocked bar or a snack from stalls by Chotto Matte and Wulf & Lamb.
