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What's the weather like at Wimbledon, and what should I pack?

Variable, rain likely — but the roofs mean play rarely actually stops

London weather in late June/early July swings widely — layer for a 15°C morning and a 28°C afternoon on the same day. Rain is a genuine possibility across the Fortnight, but it rarely cancels a full day's play.

Typical conditions

Temperature range15-28°C (59-82°F), day to day and hour to hour
RainVariable, genuinely likely on any given day
RoofsCentre Court and No. 1 Court close automatically; outer courts pause

When it rains

Most delays run 30-60 minutes, rarely a full cancellation — Centre Court and No. 1 Court both have retractable roofs that close automatically. Head to Henman Hill with an umbrella to watch show courts on the big screen while you wait. Rain delays are actually a good time to try the 3pm resale queue (see the Ticket Guide) — fewer people are thinking about it.

When It Rains at Wimbledon

When It Rains at Wimbledon

What actually happens when the weather closes in — roof protocol, the refund policy, and how to make a rain day work

Wimbledon's rain has produced some of the most memorable tennis in the tournament's history — not despite the weather but partly because of what it creates. The long rain delay that compresses the schedule, forcing a match to finish under lights into the evening. The crowd that was about to leave, now held together inside a sealed Centre Court. The point that should have ended the set, played three hours later in a completely different atmosphere.

Wimbledon, SW19

Worth knowing

  • —Check the AELTC's rain and curtailment policy at wimbledon.com before you attend — knowing the refund thresholds in advance avoids frustration at the gate.
  • —Less than 1 hour of play on your specific court = full refund; 1–2 hours = 50%; more than 2 hours, no refund. Ground pass holders: average play time across covered courts, purchased before 5pm only.
  • —During an outer court rain delay, move to food venues early — the covered areas fill up fast once rain is confirmed. The Museum is an underused shelter option for delays over an hour.
  • —Inside Centre Court or No. 1 Court when the roof closes: stay in your seat. The roof takes around 10 minutes to close and the match continues. Leaving to shelter is unnecessary and loses your seat.
  • —Pack a waterproof layer regardless of the morning forecast — Wimbledon weather changes fast in the afternoon and the grounds offer limited unscheduled shelter.
  • —Rain on a forecast day often means a shorter Queue the following morning — the deterrent effect keeps some regulars away. If you were planning to Queue, don't let a grim forecast change your plans.

What to pack

Clothing

Layers you can shed — a t-shirt-and-jumper combo under a packable waterproof covers the full 15–28°C swing in one bag. A wide-brimmed hat or cap; direct sun on the outer courts and The Hill has no shade for hours at a time. Genuinely comfortable, broken-in walking shoes — the grounds are hilly gravel paths, not flat pavement, and a full day covers several miles on your feet even without queueing.

Wet weather

A compact umbrella and a proper waterproof jacket, not just a showerproof one — rain delays mean standing around outdoors, not sheltering indoors. A dry bag or ziplock for your phone if you're queueing overnight; ground moisture gets into everything by morning.

On the grounds — what's allowed

One bag per person, max 40cm × 30cm × 30cm — hard-sided cases, cool-boxes, and picnic hampers aren't allowed regardless of size, so a soft rucksack is the practical choice. A small picnic is genuinely fine if it fits your bag allowance. Alcohol is allowed within real limits — one bottle of wine/Champagne (750ml) or two cans of beer/premixed aperitif per person, no spirits or fortified wine, and corked bottles must be opened before you take them into a seating area. Cameras with a standard lens are fine; anything over 300mm, plus tripods, monopods, and selfie sticks, are not.

Queue-specific, if you're camping overnight

A proper tent (small camping tents are allowed and common in the Queue), a sleeping bag rated for a genuinely cool English summer night, cash for early-morning coffee and pastries sold along the queue line, and a portable phone charger — you'll be checking your queue position and killing hours overnight.

The figures above are seasonal norms, not a forecast — check a live forecast once you're within range of your travel dates.

AccuWeather forecast for SW19 →

Sources: AccuWeather (seasonal norms), help.wimbledon.com (bag size, camera, and alcohol policy).