Good morning, Wimblers.
Is Wimbledon too dirty to bear? That’s a question implicit in the reporting done by the Local Democracy Reporting Service into the state of the town centre’s pavements (more on which in our news briefing). Angry residents may have a point — but equally, familiarity breeds contempt. It’s hard to live anywhere, no matter how idyllic, without thinking about one specific way that place might change for the better. And that’s the topic of today’s Wimble — I’ve vox-popped residents about what they would change about Wimbledon if they could.
And of course, I’d be just as interested in hearing your thoughts on the topic. Would you add new restaurants, coffee shops or bars? Or would you want the opposite — more free ‘third spaces’ the community could spend time in (without damaging their bank balances)? What is our area missing? Have your say in the comments.
We’ve also got your usual news snippets, a stunning property of the week and some great recommendations to keep you occupied in the coming weeks.
Happy reading!
News snippets 🗞️
💗 Yesterday, Big Issue sadly announced the passing of Jane Burns, a long-time seller of Big Issue who once described herself as a Wimbledon “local landmark”. Jane arrived at Big Issue in 2002 after an injury and illness left her homeless. Many of our readers will remember seeing Jane outside Wimbledon station at her usual pitch. Click here to read Big Issue’s full article and tribute to Jane.
📻 Riverside Radio will broadcast live commentary of all AFC Wimbledon home games throughout the 2026/27 season. The announcement builds on the radio’s already extensive live coverage of sporting events. Riverside Radio’s first full AFC Wimbledon commentary will take place on Saturday 22 August, when the Dons face Reading in League One. Click here to read more.
🧽 The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) visited Wimbledon town centre last week to assess the condition of the pavements first-hand. According to the reporter, a “clear divide” could be seen outside Wimbledon Quarter between the areas maintained by shopping centre staff, which had recently been jet washed, and the adjoining council-owned pavement “which was blackened with stains”. Merton Council later confirmed that they do not have a statutory duty to pressure wash pavement throughout the year.
The council said cleaning work was scheduled post Championships but that other sporting events — chiefly, the World Cup — have put additional strain on the public realm due to increased footfall. Read more here.
🔒 Wimbledon Museum is now closed for maintenance and updates. The Wimbledon Village gem will reopen early in September. In the meantime, check out their website here to plan your autumn visit.
⚽ Wimbledon qualified for the second round of the Carabao Cup in dramatic style by defeating Newport County 5-4 on penalties. It was an exciting game right up until the last kick. Click here to read the full report.
The Wimble’s sponsor of the week 🧑🌾
The Wimble-reader favourite is back this week. This time, they are celebrating the flavours of the urban farm through a tasting experience and guided tour, featuring local chefs showcasing ingredients grown on the rooftop. Grab your tickets here.
Property of the week 🏠
Just a short walk from Wimbledon Village and Raynes Park station, this period home is all about space. Set over five floors, this five-bedroom home boasts a study, off-street parking, three reception rooms, five bathrooms and a huge garden. The price tag for the property is just as enormous: £3.15 million. Check out more photos here.
The Wimble’s to-do list 🎯
🍶 Kay Sake Sampling: To celebrate the upcoming National Sake Week UK, the team from Amathus Wimbledon are holding an advance weekend Kay Sake sampling. Lower in alcohol than spirits and with no additives or sulphites, it’s perfect on the rocks and in cocktails. This event is totally free and no booking is required.
Where: Amathus, Wimbledon Village
When: Friday 14 August (4–7pm), Saturday 15 August (11am–6pm), Sunday 16 August (11am–6pm)
👷♂️Summer Craft Workshop at Wimbledon Quarter: Looking for ways to entertain the kids for free this summer holiday? Look no further! Wimbledon Quarter has a range of workshops, including drawing, tote bag decoration and making your own mini suitcase! These workshops are a relaxed drop-in session to keep little hands busy this summer.
Where: Wimbledon Quarter
When: Monday 17–Saturday 29 August, 10–11am (excluding Tuesday 25 August)
🍺 Pub Quiz at the Dog & Fox: Time to grab your smartest friends, head to the pub and lock in. There are prizes to be won!
Where: Dog & Fox, Wimbledon Village
When: Wednesday 19 August, 7–10pm
🍾 Girls’ Night at The Fire Station Café: This event is for our female readers! Join The Fire Station Café team for an evening of good conversations, good drinks and even better company. Whether you’re new to Wimbledon, after a midweek pick-me-up or simply never need an excuse for a drink and some food, this is your evening. Tickets are £22 per person and include a glass of prosecco upon arrival, sweet treats, conversational games and a surprise goodie bag.
Where: The Fire Station Café
When: Thursday 20 August, 6pm
🎵 Live Music at the Rushmere: Enjoy an evening of live music from Dan McHale, music bingo and bandeoke, plus a raffle with loads of great prizes on offer, all in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. What’s not to love? Tickets are £5 per person. All proceeds go to Macmillan. To book, call The Rushmere on 020 8946 1652.
Where: The Rushmere, Wimbledon Village
When: Saturday 29 August, 6pm
What would you change about Wimbledon?
After the news broke about Wimbledon’s “dirty” streets, The Wimble hit the roads of SW19 to ask locals one question: If you could change something about Wimbledon, what would it be?
Kristine
I’d like to see more of a village vibe in the town centre. It would be lovely to see more seating areas, potted plants and cosy spaces to relax. There’s more of that in the village, but I’d like to see it down here too.
Laura
We could really do with some late-night venues. I don’t just mean bars. I mean clubs: places to dance until late. My friends and I have to go to Soho for a big night out. The closest area with a few clubs and late-night bars is Clapham, but even then we’re getting Ubers home. Last week, we took an Uber back to Wimbledon from Soho, and it cost us £65. If there were a few clubs here, we’d have just stayed in our area.
John
I think it would be great if we could sort out the schoolchildren fighting or causing problems in the town centre. I’m not saying they shouldn’t be allowed to hang out there and enjoy themselves, but the antisocial behaviour needs to stop.
Kyle
There seems to be a lack of retail shops for male teenagers. A friend of mine told me the other day that even Uniqlo doesn’t have enough options for male teens. It would be nice to change that.
Ally
I’d get a Zara here immediately. I love Zara. I just want to be able to stroll in on my lunch break and pick out something nice.
Marcus
Fewer buskers outside of office spaces. It’s driving us mad! No, I’m joking — some of the buskers are alright. Oh, I’d also like more men’s clothes shops.
Amy
I think more dedicated spaces for children, like a children’s crèche. Places to buy clothes for children, dedicated spaces for children, and activities. I think there were more of those across London 20 or so years ago, but they seem to have vanished.
Fiona
It’s definitely having more shops, specifically clothing shops. It would be nice to have a range. Basically, what Kingston has. If we could move Kingston’s shops here then that would be great!
What would you change about Wimbledon? Drop a comment below.
How busy was Wimbledon Town Centre during the tennis? 📈
The tennis is over and the dust has settled. But just how busy was Wimbledon’s town centre this year? The Wimble spoke with Love Wimbledon and Wimbledon Quarter to get the data.
According to Love Wimbledon’s footfall counters, the town centre saw 330,000 visitors across the first and 305,000 visitors across the second. The first week was a record week for footfall, though the second week saw a slight decline on 2025’s numbers (most likely due to the heat wave).
Wimbledon Quarter also saw an increase in footfall this year. The Quarter recorded 193,245 people for the first week and 189,682 for the second; a 9% increase on 2025’s numbers.
Question of the week 🔍
Last week, I asked you in what year Elisabeth Beresford's Wombles first appeared in print? The answer: 1968.
Q: How many acres do Wimbledon and Putney Commons cover?
You’re up to date 👋
Thank you for reading this week’s edition of The Wimble. I will be away next week, but we’ll have a survey for you to fill out whilst I’m gone, so keep your eyes peeled for that. Enjoy your week and I’ll see you when I’m back!
A huge issue, which I would be grateful if you could tackle is why healthy trees being cut down in Cannizaro Park. Merton Council have outsourced to a company which seems to be bent on cutting more trees so they can make more money.
Disclaimer: I love Wimbledon and our family chose to live here for a reason. It is a wonderful area with excellent schools, nurseries, parks and a strong sense of community. However, I believe there are several areas where the infrastructure for children and families could be improved.
Road safety is a major concern. As a local resident, it is frustrating that walking around residential areas often feels like an afterthought. Cars are prioritised almost everywhere, while pedestrians are given very little consideration.
What is particularly shocking is that the same issue exists around schools and nurseries. For example, Wimbledon Chase Primary School has around 700 pupils only, yet there is no pedestrian crossing close to the school entrance! Similar concerns exist around nurseries such as Building Blocks and Dicky Birds on Dundonald Road, where parents with very young children often have to cross busy roads while cars rush past and fail to give way.
What I find hardest to understand is how such a lack of attention to children's safety can persist in one of the most prosperous areas of London, in one of the world's most developed countries. Parents should not have to worry about crossing roads near schools and nurseries, nor should children be put at unnecessary risk simply because basic pedestrian infrastructure is missing.
There are surprisingly few playgrounds for such a family-oriented area. Even the council lists only a handful of play areas across Wimbledon, while thousands of children live in the area. The playground in Dundonald Park is often overcrowded, lacks shade in summer, and has seen little meaningful improvement in recent years.
There is also a shortage of indoor play facilities. Apart from Polka Theatre, there are literally no soft play options or family cafés with children's play areas.
For an affluent area with excellent schools and nurseries, Wimbledon offers surprisingly limited infrastructure for children and families. More playgrounds, safer crossings, and better indoor play facilities should be a priority.
I've seen that many of these concerns are regularly raised by local parents on community forums and neighbourhood groups, yet little seems to change year after year.