In the Village itself are the smaller, fashionable boutiques, shops,
restaurants, pubs, wine bars and pavement cafes whilst Wimbledon Town, just
down the hill, offers not only equally excellent shopping facilities but also
has a number of superstores and the Centre Court Shopping Mall, situated just
beside Wimbledon Station. And neither is the inner man neglected, as there is a
bewildering choice of places to eat and drink.
 A most popular social event takes place
every summer when Wimbledon Common plays "host" each year to the Village Fair,
which raises money for local charity and the Wimbledon Guild.
The Wimbledon
Theatre has a year-round programme of live entertainment as does the Polka
Children's Theatre with the Open Air Theatre in Cannizaro Park providing a
packed summertime programme - here one can picnic on the lawn or dine at the
Cannizaro House Hotel. For the music lover Wimbledon has its own Symphony
Orchestra and Choral Society.
An apple
for the teacher
There are
numerous excellent educational facilities in the area with a wide choice of
schools, both in the State and Independent sectors - including Wimbledon High
School for girls and Kings College School for boys. Both currently occupy
positions at the top end of the league tables. International Schools include
the Norwegian School and Marymount International School.
A full list of schools
All work
& no play
 The area offers a number
of sporting facilities with several well known golf clubs including Royal
Wimbledon and Coombe Hill as well as those at Wimbledon Park and on the Common.
At the David Lloyd Centre one can choose from tennis, squash, swimming and
general physical fitness. The Wimbledon Club also offers tennis and squash with
the addition of hockey and cricket. Numerous other health establishments in the
area also provide similar facilities. Riding stables and livery are available
in the centre of the village.
Getting
there ... and back
Frequent main
line trains from Wimbledon Station to Waterloo cover the short distance quickly
and the District line tube connects to the Underground system, so that
Knightsbridge and the West End are also only minutes away. London Transport
buses provide a wide choice of routes to Central London and the A3/M3 trunk
road provides swift access to central London, the South of England and the M25
which connects with the Motorway network, so that Heathrow and Gatwick airports
are easily reached.
Today
Wimbledon is a special community within London. Wimbledon brings together the
unique blend of an English village with fast access to the cultural and
commercial benefits of a great metropolitan and cosmopolitan centre.
Strawberries & cream …. and tennis
 We
cannot talk about Wimbledon without mentioning tennis! Indeed, Wimbledon is
known the world over for this sport and The All England Lawn Tennis Club is a
national landmark. Every June the world's top players join battle for two weeks
to sort out the best from the rest. Total prize money is currently over
£7 million but of far greater importance is winning the famous Wimbledon
Trophies.
 The Club first leased ground just off
Worple Way in 1869 when they laid out 12 croquet lawns. The next few years saw
a declining interest in croquet so a single tennis court was laid down on one
of the lawns. Tennis became ever more popular and in July 1877 the first
championships were held. In 1922 the Club moved to new grounds (their old
grounds are now the sports field for Wimbledon High School). Today, with 20
courts and exciting plans for future growth, the Club goes from strength to
strength.
 Willow House, 35
Wimbledon High Street... The Headquarters of Robert Holmes & Company
This elegant
building dates from 1760 when George III was on the throne. It started life as
a baker's shop, then became a drapery and, in 1837, became a doctor's surgery
where it remained for the next 127 years - an essential part of village life.
Today it is our home and, as local residents and fervent supporters of the
local community, we like to - think that, perhaps, we too are another ,
essential part of village life.
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