Wimbledon - From Sleepy Village to Tennis Capital of the World

If you're planning on a holiday to London, it pays to remember that it's not all about the iconic attractions you've heard about. There are pockets of the city that, while less explored, hold a wealth of interesting experiences close to their chest. Once such place is Wimbledon. When most people hear the name, they are most likely to imagine the world’s best tennis players facing off against each other, but how exactly did Wimbledon change from a sleepy village into the world’s tennis arena of choice?

Wimbledon’s Roots

Wimbledon actually started out as a hilltop village called "Wimbedounyg" – old English for Wynnman’s Hill. It then transformed into Wimbleton in the 18th century before settling in as Wimbledon in the 19th century. To cut a long story short, the land around it eventually settled into the hands of English royalty, who then passed it on to wealthy families. Given enough time, other wealthy families found themselves setting up residences in the increasingly upscale neighbourhood of the area. Ownership switched hands multiple times, from queens and duchesses to parliamentarians and other wealthy families with an eye for reclusion.

When the London and South Western Railway Company laid down tracks in the area, the village saw its population boom. More transportation in the form of underground lines made it even easier for people to move into the village. Establishments like churches, schools and department stores popped up to cater to the needs of the growing population. Thus, modern Wimbledon as we know it today was born.

Tennis in Wimbledon

The game of tennis actually evolved from croquet, which was an indoor sport very similar. It was brought outdoors and given the name "sphairistrike" – which eventually settled into the simpler lawn tennis that we know today.

There was one particular tennis club, however, that settled near the Wimbledon Station – the All England Croquet Club - which became the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club in 1877. Fierce competition in this club led to shrewd innovations in the sport of lawn tennis. The sport was actually quite relaxed in its first forms, with players standing comfortably at the baseline and waiting for the ball to reach them. Things were different in this club, though. Spencer Gore stepped up near the net to lob the ball away from his opponents and Frank Hadow invented the lob shot to counter Gore - pitching the ball so that it soared over Gore’s head. Brothers William and Ernest Redshaw invented the overhead serve to smash the ball beyond the reach of an unprepared opponent.

This kind of exiting innovation in the sport drew the crowds to Wimbledon, and cemented this suburban village’s legacy as the centre of competitive tennis.

Getting to and Around Wimbledon

If you are not familiar with the area around Wimbledon and you've chosen it as your base in London, it is highly recommended that you acquire the services of Gatwick Airport transfers to get you safely and conveniently to your accommodation. You can book either shared or private Gatwick Airport transfers, depending on your requirements and budget. It is possible to use public transport, but in this case, the convenience definitely outweighs the costs – there'll be more than enough time to get to grips with the buses and Tube once you've gotten the lay of the land.

Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct. If you’re looking for Gatwick airport transfers, Shuttle Direct provide pre-booked shuttles to major destinations all over Europe. Wherever you travel, Shuttle Direct can make sure that you don’t miss your car on your holiday abroad.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.