You want to watch Wimbledon, but you missed the ballot and are you're not willing to spend your days indoors, glued to a TV screen, when the sun’s a-shinin', birds are a-singin' and there’s Pimm’s ready for a-drinkin'.
Luckily, certain London establishments are on hand with a giant screen — and possibly a deckchair or two — to give us a front row seat from which we can fully admire all those magical Wimbledon moments between 2-15 July.
Lewis Cubitt Square, King's Cross
Strawberries & Screen is back at Lewis Cubitt Square, just a few minutes walk from King's Cross station. A large screen will be showing the action, with deckchairs available for tennis fans to sit back and watch. Nearby food and drink options include Dishoom, Caravan and Yumchaa — or if you're more the picnic type, there's a Waitrose just around the corner.
Free, just turn up, 2-15 July 2018
The Piazza, Wimbledon
Where better to watch Wimbledon than in Wimbledon? You'll almost be able to hear the thwacking and grunting live from Centre Court. Once again, a screen will be set up in The Piazza in the town, with deckchairs and fake grass laid out for you to make yourself comfy. Details of the food offerings have yet to be announced — watch this space.
Free, just turn up, 2-15 July 2018, 11am-6pm
Bluebird, Chelsea
Chelsea restaurant, bar and cafe Bluebird is screening the whole tournament in its courtyard on King's Road. For both the men's and women's finals, a special three course menu will be available (£75).
Free to customers, booking recommended, 2-15 July 2018
Skylight, Tobacco Dock
Rooftop bar and events space Skylight will be screening sports events throughout the summer, including Wimbledon and the World Cup. Entry is free, and there are plenty of food and drink options. If you get bored of watching, have a game of croquet or petanque in between sets.
Free, just turn up (booking recommended for groups of 10 or more), 2-15 July 2018
Cardinal Place, Victoria
Food and drink stalls be popping up in the roof garden at Cardinal Place, giving Wimbledon fans plenty of choice of refreshments while they watch the action on the big screen.
Free, just turn up, 2-15 July 2018
BST Hyde Park
British Summer Time festival in Hyde Park isn't just about the Michael Bubles and Eric Claptons of this world. Sure, the weekends are reserved for those huge music concerts, but the weekdays are a lot more sedate. Open House is a week of free events including food markets, outdoor cinema and, yep you guessed it, Wimbledon screenings. Sadly, there's no screening of the final here — Paul Simon is booked to be stomping his size nines all over the stage on Sunday — but why not head here for some weekday screenings?
Free, just turn up, 9-12 July, noon-end of play