A Day at the Queen’s Club: HSBC Championships
Every June, in West London, The Queen's Club, a private members' club, plays host to the HSBC Championships. This year marks a historic moment, for the first time in over 50 years, the club welcomes both the men’s and women’s legs of the tour. This tournament has been being played here since 1881, making this rich with history and one of the oldest tournaments in tennis. This is also, one of very few tournaments that is played on grass each year. ` Beyond its history, the tournament consistently draws top players from both the men’s and women’s tours. For my fellow Americans, you’ll undoubtedly have the chance to cheer on many of your favorite athletes!
Tickets
Like any most sporting experiences, attending The Queen's Club requires a touch of foresight. The tickets for the men’s and women’s weeks go on sale separately. Starting with the men’s, the tickets go on sale end of November, followed by the women’s, which are early in the new year. These tickets tend to sell out ahead of time, so if you are thinking about it, mark your calendar.
You'll have the choice of grounds passes or passes for the Andy Murray Arena, which also grant access to all other courts. If you are not able to get the main court in the general sale, fear not, around 5 pm each day the tournament does ticket resales. If you get tickets this way, once the first few matches have occurred on the main court, you will need to pay only 7.50gbp, of which everything made this way is donated to the LTA foundation. This makes a great way to see some top games without the price tag. If you only are after grounds passes, you will have access to all of the other courts: singles, doubles and practice. The venue is quite quaint, making the courts feel intimate.
Getting There
Getting there is quite simple, as Baron’s Court station is a five-minute walk from the entrance. I would suggest taking the tube to Baron’s Court, using either the District or the Piccadilly lines. Uber or other car sharing services are always an option, but depending on the time of day traffic could be an issue.
Attire
Look at the weather, as June is an unpredictable time in London (I guess anytime is really). Over multiple days there I have been in scorching heat, rain, and balmy evenings. I would make sure to pack sunblock as there really isn’t share for any spectators. In terms of dress code, unless you are in any of the members enclosures, there isn’t really a dress code. Feel free to lean into the fun that is dressing up for tennis in the summer, and bring your best, but most importantly wear whatever you will be happy to bounce around from court to court in.
Food
No British summer sporting event would be complete without Pimm’s, and The Queen's Club certainly deliver on that. There are plenty of food and drink options here, but you can feel free to also bring in your own (check the LTA website for the liquid limits). There are plenty of places around the tournament to fill up reusable water bottles as well. There are two main sections where you can get food and have a bit of a reprieve from the sun.
Extras
Make sure you have the LTA app downloaded, as this is how you will show your tickets!
Check out the practice courts to get a very close glimpse at some of your favorite players!
