The All England Club (AELTC) has unveiled updated plans to significantly increase public access to green space on the site of the former Wimbledon Park Golf Course. As part of the AELTC Wimbledon Park Project, the Club will create an additional four-acre public parkland at the northern entrance of the site, complementing the 23 acres of southern parkland already included in the approved proposals. This means more than 27 acres of previously private land will be open to the public.
These enhancements follow extensive engagement, including consultations with the Greater London Authority and input from more than 8,500 people who participated in community consultation events since the planning applications were submitted in July 2021.
A New Northern Gateway to Wimbledon Park
The new northern parkland, located adjacent to Wimbledon Park Road and next to the entrance to the existing Wimbledon Park (operated by Merton Council), will provide:
- Year-round public access, outside of The Championships and Qualifying Competition
- Wildflower meadows, natural grasslands, woodland planting, and a tranquil pond
- New seating areas for relaxation and informal gathering
- Space for community events, such as farmers markets, exhibitions, yoga, and fitness classes
During The Championships, the northern parkland will serve as the main gateway for spectators arriving via Southfields.
Investment in Existing Wimbledon Park
The project will also deliver direct benefits to the adjacent public Wimbledon Park, including:
- A new state-of-the-art children’s playground
- Modern public toilet facilities
- Upgrades to the Watersports and Outdoor Centre
- Improved connectivity with new path links between the northern and southern parklands
- Extensive planting to enhance biodiversity and visual amenity
Honouring the Heritage of the Landscape
A key objective of the AELTC’s proposals is to recognise and revive the site’s unique heritage, inspired by the original landscape vision of Capability Brown. The reimagined 21st-century parkland will:
- Embrace naturalistic topography and scattered trees
- Use the existing lake as a central focal point
- Remove intrusive golf course features (fairways, bunkers, greens, and tees)
- Restore lost historic views across and into the site
- Reinstate the open, flowing character of the landscape in a way that honours its historic design
This project reflects the All England Club’s long-term commitment to community benefit, landscape restoration, and heritage conservation, ensuring the site becomes an inclusive, beautiful, and ecologically rich public space for generations to come.
Image Credits: Allies & Morrison
