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| Wimbledon has an attractive and well thought-out museum that covers almost every base and gets the balance between exhibits behind glass and interactivity just about spot on. Interactive consoles laced with facts, videos and quizzes, exhibits to touch, a reaction-testing device, a wide-screen cinema with a CGI film about the science of tennis (you may have to ask for it to be played), and the ‘ghost’ of John McEnroe talking to you from the Wimbledon locker room (using the 19th Century Pepper's Ghost illusionary trick) are likely to satisfy most visitors. Even those who don't find Djokovic, Nadal, Federer or Murray riveting are going to see something of interest – whether exhibits and re-enactments showing the place of tennis in Victorian life, coverage of Wimbledon's changing fashions or short films about Wimbledon and life in the forties, fifties and sixties.A free audio guide narrated by celebrity tennis fan Tony Hawks is well produced, easy-to-use, gently amusing, and adds a lot to what you can see – especially given the limited material from the early days of Wimbledon. _____________________________________________________________________ A special exhibition explores the sport's part in the Olympics, with Wimbledon hosting tennis in 2012. The previous Worple Road ground was the venue at London in 1908. Exhibits include Olympic medals (pictured) and badges, certificates and diplomas, clothing, programmes, and souvenirs. The exhibition tells the story of tennis’s incorporation into the Olympics and past champions, including Ireland's John Boland, the first Olympic gold medallist in singles and doubles, Titanic survivor Richard Williams, 1924 winner Hazel Wightman, and Steffi Graf, ‘Golden Slam’ victor in 1988. ______________________________________________________________________ Wimbledon Tours take you inside Centre Court (which will seem cosy, maybe even small), to 'Henman Hill' (officially Aorangi Terrace – also small, but with great views of London), some of the facilities for players and the media, and to outside courts, including number 18, the scene of the Isner/Mahut marathon in 2010. This is also the subject of a special display inside the museum. Make sure you visit the CentreCourt360 ‘viewing experience’ when it is open. You get to this glass-walled room jutting into the arena through the Wingfield café, but it is separate to away fromthe museum and is all too easy to miss. CentreCourt360 is brailled and there are also museum guides for visually impaired and deaf visitors. |
