Sport & Fitness

The MCC and the All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club are bastions of sporting conservatism. Yet both, in recent years, have moved to counter their stolid image by commissioning architecture of uncompromising modernity. At Lord’s, the Victorian brick-and-terracotta pavilion still stands sentry, but it’s the Mound Stand, the Grandstand and, most famous of all, the pod-shaped Media Centre that contribute to what the Independent has claimed is the most distinguished ensemble of modern architecture anywhere in Britain. Meanwhile, down in SW19, the major challenge of a three-year project to build a concertina roof over Wimbledon’s Centre Court is to employ state-of-the-art technology that enhances the 1920s stadium.
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The museums and tours at these venerable venues also confound expectations. Very little is stuffy and desiccated; both acknowledge the past but appreciate that, for most visitors, faded photos of stars from years gone by have far less impact than ‘Matrix’-style 3D effects capturing the explosive power and speed of modern sport. Indeed, the degree of high-tech interactivity helped the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum win 2006’s Visit London Large Visitor Attraction of the Year Award.

This is not the place to kill a few minutes when rain stops play. It repays a far longer tour, and is best avoided during the Championships fortnight from June 25 (in any case, during those two weeks the museum is open to ticket holders only). The cinema is spectacular, featuring a huge, curved screen that immerses you in the science and technology of tennis. Filming took place on Centre Court two years ago, when Maria Sharapova (a bit of eye candy never did any harm) played Spain’s Nuria Llagostera Vives. Using a special panoramic rig employing five simultaneous cameras, the result is a film that can be frozen and rotated around the field of action at any time. It focuses on twenty different aspects of the match, revealing the extreme demands made on elite players’ physique and equipment.

A combination of an old illusionist trick known as ‘Pepper’s ghost’ and contemporary projection techniques enable a spectral image of John McEnroe to appear in a recreation of the 1980 men’s locker room and reminisce about his epic battles with Connors and Borg. Johnny Mac may have been the scourge of umpires, but the Polo Ralph Lauren outfits worn by those in the chair and on the line are on show as part of an extensive display of Wimbledon fashion. You can feel the difference in weight between men’s and women’s clothing in 1884, and compare these incredibly cumbersome dresses, bonnets and flannels with Rafael Nadal’s Nike Dri-FIT ‘pirate’ trousers.

Roger Federer could have played in a more stylish age, and he has donated the elegant cream jacket that he sported when walking on and off court last year, as well as the outfit worn while winning his fourth consecutive singles title. Andre Agassi’s kit from his emotional farewell appearance on Centre Court is surprisingly lacking tear stains.

The tour is well worth paying extra for. The behind-the-scenes route includes No 1 Court, the water gardens and picnic terrace forever to be known as Henman Hill, the Millennium Building for players, officials and the media, and the press interview room. Centre Court is included on days when building work permits, otherwise it’s the BBC Television Studio.

Take a look also at the statue of Fred Perry opposite the main gate, unveiled in 1984 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the first of his three men’s singles victories. One senses that if Andy Murray even gets close to emulating Perry’s achievements, they’ll be casting him in bronze quicker than he hits a forehand cross-court smash.

Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum, All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Church Rd, SW19 (020 8946 6131/ www.wimbledon.org/museum) Southfields tube. Open daily 10.30am-5pm. Admission £8.50 (£4.75-£7.50 concs) museum only, £14.50 (£11-£13 concs) museum and tour. No tours during the Championships.


MCC Museum
Evocative paintings, photos and artefacts cover 400 years of cricket, including the tiny Ashes urn and, currently, a special Brian Lara exhibition. The tour of Lord’s takes in the pavilion, Long Room and dressing rooms.
Lord’s, St John’s Wood Rd, NW8 (020 7616 8595/www.lords.org) St John’s Wood tube. Adm £10 (£6 concs) museum and tour.

Arsenal Museum
Interactive sections explore themes such as ‘The Arsenal Spirit’, ‘The Invincibles’ and the old stadium at Highbury. Exhibits include Charlie George’s 1971 FA Cup final shirt. The tour visits the changing rooms, directors’ box and players’ tunnel.
Emirates Stadium, Drayton Park, N5 (020 7704 4504/www.arsenal.com) Arsenal tube or Drayton Park rail. Adm £6 (£3 concs) museum, £12 (£6 concs) museum and tour.

Museum of Rugby
You can almost smell the embrocation in the air as you wander round this splendid collection of memorabilia showing how the sport has spread around the world. The tour of Twickenham Stadium includes a visit to the England changing room.
Twickenham Stadium, Rugby Rd, Twickenham (0870 405 2001/www.rfu.com/microsites/museum) Twickenham rail. Adm £10 (£7 concs) museum and tour.

White Hart Lane Tour
Spurs fans will enjoy this peek into the boardroom, dressing room, directors’ box and trophy room, plus a trot down the players’ tunnel.
White Hart Lane, High Rd, N17 (0870 420 5000/www.tottenhamhotspur.com) White Hart Lane rail. Adm £8 (£5 concs).

Stamford Bridge Tour
The tour of Roman Abramovich’s empire includes the Centenary Museum with its collection of Chelsea memorabilia.
Stamford Bridge, Fulham Rd, SW6 (0870 603 0005/www.chelseafc.com) Fulham Broadway tube. Adm £14 (£8 concs).

Wembley Stadium
Tours are scheduled to start this summer. You can register to receive information via the website.
Wembley Stadium, Stadium Way, Wembley (0844 980 8001/www.wembleystadium.com) Wembley Park tube or Wembley Stadium rail.