By now the food vendors open for business. Do not expect haute cuisine – it is more like coffee, rolls and some fried egg dish etc. If you have any sort of diet issues, bringing a protein bar is probably the better way to go.
This part of the queue is probably the easiest. You can sit, go to the restrooms or wander about. About this time, vendors walk along the queues selling newspapers (which most buy to get the schedule of play and court assignments), candy and other assorted stuff. It is now about 7AM and things start happening so do not wander too far or for too long. The people who have camped overnight have stored their stuff and the line tightens and condenses with row after row of fans waiting in line to see the current day’s tennis. You will likely be closer to the front than you originally thought. The stewards begin leading the queue down a rural path in the Wimbledon Park golf course toward the security checkpoint. There they will hand out the wristbands for the show courts (most likely these will be all given out to people that have camped overnight but you may be lucky and end up with a chance at Court 2 tickets like I was). Once the front of the queue has reached security and wristbands are given out they have a chance to sit on the ground and wait for 9:15am when the security checkpoint opens. However, by not camping out you will have it a bit tougher. This is why I would say if you can camp overnight, do it. Read here for my experience camping and my advice to anyone trying it.
The part of the queue that you’re in will begin moving. The stewards once again check your number to make sure you are roughly in order and then start snaking along a path towards the entrance gate. You really cannot sit for too long or at all as you slowly inch along. You may stop for 5 minutes and then inch closer and closer. This goes on for several hours and it is very tiring and tedious. There is really no opportunity to sit or read and it can be physically and mentally demanding.
Finally you reach the security checkpoint where all your belongings are carefully checked, like airport security. This could get a bit chaotic but finally you get through and walk quickly over a bridge and you are trapped in a fenced-in pen right in front of the ticket counter separating the post-security queuers from the rest of Church Road. It can get a little claustrophobic but you are almost there.
Unless you have gotten lucky with a show court wristband, the only option will be to get a groundspass. Make sure you have cash since that is all that is accepted.
You buy your ticket and you ARE AT WIMBLEDON…well part of it. There is a very limited section open before 10:30. Based on what time you arrived in the queue, you will very likely not be there much before that time. So basically you are in line from 4-5am to about 10:30am!
If there is time, you can make it to the gift shop, cafeteria and rest rooms but get ready for the next event! The 100 yard dash! Just kidding (almost)! At 10:30 AM an announcement is made direction the security officers to open the rest of the grounds. Most people have been lined up at the entry points so it becomes a mad dash to get a good seat. This can be a bit overwhelming, thousands of people rushing to get the best seats on the outer courts or Henman Hill. Try to keep up with the flow of human traffic as best you can!
