Centre Court
The main stadium, seating just under 15,000, and the home of the finals since 1922. A retractable roof was added in 2009, and the Royal Box sits at the south end. If you’ve watched Wimbledon on television, this is almost always the court you’ve seen.
Play starts at 1:30pm. Matches here run the whole tournament, from first-round seeded players through to both finals.
Choosing a seat. Centre Court runs roughly north to south. The east side tends to stay sunny for most of the day, while the west side picks up shade as the afternoon goes on. The south end, behind the baseline near the Royal Box, is shaded earliest. On a long afternoon match, west-side sideline seats are usually the more comfortable choice. Debenture seats sit close enough to the court that they’re not under the roof’s direct cover, so the shade pattern still applies even with the roof installed.
No.1 Court
The second show court, seating around 12,300. It got its own retractable roof in 2019, bringing it in line with Centre Court for weather protection. No.1 Court hosts quarterfinals and high-profile matches throughout the tournament, and in the first week it often carries as much star power as Centre Court itself.
Play starts at 1pm, half an hour earlier than Centre Court.
Choosing a seat. Same pattern as Centre Court: the east side stays sunnier for longer, the west side shadier later in the afternoon. Seats closest to the court on either side tend to catch the sun earliest, regardless of which side you’re on. If a full afternoon in the sun isn’t for you, ask for a west-side seat when booking.
Which one to choose
Centre Court if you want the full stadium experience and the biggest matches, including both finals. No.1 Court for a similar level of tennis at a lower price, particularly strong value in the first week.
| Centre Court | No.1 Court | |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | ~15,000 | ~12,300 |
| Roof | Yes, since 2009 | Yes, since 2019 |
| Play starts | 1:30pm | 1pm |
| Afternoon shade | West side | West side |
| Best for | Finals, marquee matches | Value, first-week tennis |
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