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Yes, we know there’s a huge football tournament on at the moment, but some people prefer to keep their eyes on smaller, yellower balls. The Wimbledon Tennis Championships are back after being cancelled last year. Getting tickets, however, requires such a feat of organisation, determination and serendipity that, unless you are a super steely individual, we advise parking the idea of seeing matches IRL and strolling along to an alfresco screening instead.
Many London pubs and bars will be showing the games, but the below venues have huge outdoor screens, offer many nearby food and drink options and don’t cost anything to attend. Fingers crossed for proper summer weather.
Wimbledon Brewery
This brewery and tap room down the road from the All England Club will be showing the Wimbledon finals on outdoor and indoor big screens. Tickets are £5 but include a drinks token, which you could use to try a Wimbledon Bloom cocktail that features the brewery’s Wimbledon Garden Gin.
Unit 8, 19 Prince Georges Rd, SW19 2PT. Jul 10-11. Noon-6pm. £5.
Regent’s Canal, King’s Cross
Everyman Cinema is putting on a free film festival in July on the faux-grass canalside steps by Granary Square. There’ll be movies in the evening, but you’ll be able to catch all the Wimbledon action until 5pm each day.
Granary Square, N1C 4BH. Jul 1-11. Noon-5pm. Free.
The Piazza, Wimbledon
If you want to watch Wimbledon in actual Wimbledon, head to The Piazza where you’ll find a socially distanced set-up of deckchairs in front of a screen, although the finals won’t be shown here.
The Broadway, SW19 1QB. Until Jul 9. 9am-7pm. Free.
Various venues, Mayfair and Belgravia
Several grand squares and courtyards in central London, including Brown Hart Gardens and Eccleston Yards, will be screening the tennis. Pick up sustenance from local restaurants and bars, many of which will have special offers running.
Various venues. Until Jul 11. 11am-8pm. Free.
The Happenstance, The City
The Happenstance’s Pimm’s Terrace is the place to grab a Wimbledon-inspired cocktail – Murray Smash, anyone? – and settle down to watch the tennis on one of several outdoor screens.
10 Paternoster Square, EC4M 7DX. Until Jul 11. Tue-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-6pm. Booking essential.
Canada Square Park and Cabot Square, Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf’s Summer Screens show golf, Formula One, cricket and, of course, tennis from Wimbledon (although not the Euros, weirdly). The area’s many restaurants and bars are on hand to keep you fed and watered.
Canada Square Park, E14 5LQ and Cabot Square, E14 4QJ. Until Jul 11. 11am-7pm. Free.
Cardinal Place Roof Garden, Victoria
You can order drinks to your deckchair during the Wimbledon screenings at Victoria’s spacious rooftop garden, and Cardinal Place’s Wagamama is offering a click-and-collect service, too. The garden’s website mentions ‘plenty of surprises throughout the day’. The mind boggles!
Cardinal Place, SW1E 5JD. Until Jul 11. 10.45am-9pm. Free.
Westfield London, White City
Westfield’s Bar W12 and Film Club will be showing movies outdoors all summer long, but from July 8 to 11 there will also be screen time for the Wimbledon semis and finals. Make sure you visit the hot-dog truck and ice-cream van on your way to the bar.
Westfield London, W12 7GF. Jul 8-11. Thu & Sun 1pm-7pm, Fri-Sat 1pm-9pm. Free.
Find more places to watch Wimbledon in London.
Prefer the footie? Here’s where to watch the Euros in London.