Wimbledon: tennis, theatre and the common
Wimbledon’s famous for a fortnight of tennis every summer, but there’s plenty going on the rest of the year too. The town centre’s got two great theatres on The Broadway, the Village up the hill is full of cafés, pubs and independent shops, and the common’s one of the biggest open spaces in London.
Tennis comes first, of course. The All England Club on Church Road hosts The Championships, and the next one runs from Monday 28 June to Sunday 11 July 2027. You don’t have to wait till then, though. The Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum is open all year round, with the trophies, Victorian tennis fashion and a gallery on the Open Era, and the 90-minute guided tour of the grounds adds a look at Centre Court. Museum and tour tickets are £32 for adults, and it’s best to book ahead. Southfields on the District line is the closest station.
Down in town, the New Wimbledon Theatre on The Broadway has been a local landmark since 1910. It’s got musicals, comedy, touring plays and a big annual panto, and its Studio, in the old ballroom, is the place for new writing and stand-up. This Christmas the panto’s Peter Pan, from Saturday 5 December to Sunday 3 January, and Mean Girls is in from 24 to 28 November. Along the road, Polka Theatre is an award-winning children’s theatre with free play spaces, so it’s a great shout for families.
Wimbledon Common is part of Wimbledon and Putney Commons, which stretch north to Putney Heath. It’s brilliant for long walks, and the Wimbledon Windmill Museum on Windmill Road sits right in the middle of it. For bonfire night, Merton Council’s Fireworks in the Park comes to Wimbledon Park on Thursday 5 November and Morden Park on Saturday 7 November, with street food, a funfair and, new for 2026, an observation wheel. They do sell out, so it’s worth booking early.
For football, AFC Wimbledon play at Plough Lane, their home in nearby Summerstown (SW17). It’s about a mile and a half from Wimbledon town centre, so you can walk it, and Haydons Road station is close by. Check the club’s fixtures and tickets pages for home games.
A few stops down the Northern line, the National Trust’s Morden Hall Park is a lovely green escape with the River Wandle running through it, and Putney‘s just over the commons. We’ll keep this page fresh with events nearby, so check back before you plan your trip.
Key venues
- New Wimbledon Theatre – theatre and Studio, 93 The Broadway, SW19
- Polka Theatre – children’s theatre, 240 The Broadway, SW19
- Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum and Tours – Church Road, SW19, enter by Gate 4
- The Championships, Wimbledon – next Championships Monday 28 June to Sunday 11 July 2027
- Wimbledon and Putney Commons – Wimbledon Common and Putney Heath
- Wimbledon Windmill Museum – Windmill Road, Wimbledon Common, SW19
- Merton Fireworks in the Park – Wimbledon Park and Morden Park, early November
- AFC Wimbledon, Plough Lane – nearby in Summerstown, SW17
- Morden Hall Park (National Trust) – nearby on Morden Hall Road, SM4
Upcoming events nearby
- Fireworks in the Park – Wimbledon Park – Thu 5 Nov, Wimbledon Park, Merton Council
- Morden Park Fireworks – Sat 7 Nov, Morden Park, family display 6.45pm, main display 8.30pm
- Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour – Mon 16 Nov, New Wimbledon Theatre
- Prof Alice Roberts – From Cell to Civilisation – Sun 22 Nov, New Wimbledon Theatre
- Mean Girls – Tue 24 to Sat 28 Nov, New Wimbledon Theatre
- Peter Pan (pantomime) – Sat 5 Dec 2026 to Sun 3 Jan 2027, New Wimbledon Theatre
Want the full picture? Browse the London events calendar or catch up on our What’s On guides for the best of each weekend.