If you live in Wimbledon do you dislike living there when Wimbledon is on?

[Americam]

Just wondering.

I’m guessing it must be significantly busier. Are driveways constantly parked across? Is there litter everywhere? Queues in the Co-op?

I used to live in Southfields where most tube users get off to walk down. I love tennis always tried to go at least one evening session to make up for the inconvenience. There are times you just can’t use the tube, but thankfully for commuting we were always going against the flow. As I say I love tennis so found it quite exciting. I was there about six years. Maybe after 20 or so the shine would wear off.

The queues, crowds, parking etc are UNBELIEVABLY well organised.

I guess if you love tennis (I do) it would be great to live there during that fortnight. I’m envious of you wandering down of an evening!

People I know who lived there used to rent out their flats for just that fortnight - often to players - and decamp on holiday for the duration - nicely paid for with rent income.

My grandparents lived in Wimbledon up till the late 80s..they got really p**d off.. They lived in a block of flats with allocated parking and you'd never believe how many people tried parking there.. In the days before clamping...

It’s a pain, lots of traffic, tons of people wandering around vaguely, all the parking anywhere within a couple of miles is cordoned off, have to leave a lot more time to get anywhere even on foot or by public transport.

On the other hand, it’s only a couple of weeks a year, and tennis fans don’t generally have fights or piss in front gardens or drop litter. So it could be a lot worse.

@Marylou62

My grandparents lived in Wimbledon up till the late 80s..they got really p**d off.. They lived in a block of flats with allocated parking and you'd never believe how many people tried parking there.. In the days before clamping...

I would believe it @Marylou62, I’ve read the parking threads on here!

I live in Wimbledon and it's my favourite couple of weeks of the year. The atmosphere and buzz is amazing! And you can wander up to the village and celeb spot in the evenings . It helps that I love tennis!

I lived there for 5 years and I loved it when Wimbledon was on. There was a real buzz around our normally very quiet suburb. I didn't have a car, mind...

I used to live in Southfields and it never bothered me. It was only a couple of weeks per year and didn't impact on my life in anyway.

I don’t live that far from Wimbledon. I love having the incredibly detailed local weather forecasts for a couple of weeks.

I imagine living in Church road at this time of year, it’s a nice daydream!

The atmosphere is lovely

I lived there for six years and loved it! Nice buzz. Used to see tennis players occasionally around in the village - busier but lovely buzz, and green/purple decorations around etc. Never resented it!

I would so love to spot the players wandering around. I’ve just remembered I applied one year to be a driver, I can’t remember why I didn’t do it now!

Born and bred there. Didn’t bother me, learnt but the time I was a teen that it was quicker to walk than to catch the 93 bus for that fortnight.

no its great, we celeb spot and all the shop windows are dressed up. we've rented the house out a few times too. in previous years u can just get cheap tix or me and friends have managed to swap in for free tickets as people leave for the day.

I think you only notice it more in actually Wimbledon village although transport & traffic is worse. I liked it as often saw famous tennis players in a pub, restaurant. Very exciting for a teen 😆

This was yrs ago though so may have changed.

Do they still do the cheap entry if you turn up late afternoon?

No players wandering around the village this year, though.

They are all in a bubble staying in a hotel in town for the duration. I think it’s the Park Plaza.

Surely this is like living in the Lake District or Cornwall in the summer, next to a church on a Sunday, in South Shields on the day of the Great North Run? Bloody annoying but the benefits outweigh the negatives?

I remember being told off by a Wimbledon official as I stopped for three nanoseconds to pick up a child on Wimbledon Park Road for the school run. "Well I'm awfully sorry, but life doesn't stop for tennis, and if you would care to stop telling me off, I shall be on my way more quickly". Other friends on Wimbledon Park Road had people peeing in their garden.

It got better once the queue was diverted into the park. Also the Wimbledon branch of the district line was very reliable for that fortnight.

Do the locals pretend not to recognise the players and leave them alone if they see them in the pub?

I asked for Steffi Graffs signature, she was very kind.