Even in a packed stadium of 15,000 people, you can still hear each whoosh of the rackets. The stadium is silent, no sound except the occasional cough coming from a face in the crowd. Everyone is focused on the game in front of them, their eyes following the movement of the ball, their arms rising to the air in cheer when their favorite player scores a point. There are no distractions during The Championships, Wimbledon, only a tense cloud of anticipation settling over the stadium. This London tennis tournament captivates the audience. No cell phones are in sight. The crowd may be routing for different players, but they sit together in unity.

As the oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament in the world, The Championships, Wimbledon is the Met Gala of tennis. Guests watching from the sea of green plush chairs in the wrap-around stadium can feel the almost electric current from the game. With the swing of a racket, and a score from a player, the stadium cheers in harmony. Whether people are watching from the stands, or from a picnic set up along the grassy field, guests and players alike are dressed to the nines. Although there is no dress code for guests, the Wimbledon Tennis Championships is the perfect opportunity for visitors to put on their best outfits. Suits, jumpsuits, and sundresses are popular choices for women, while men look dashing in button-down shirts and trousers. Floral patterns and pastel colors may make up the audience, but players are required to dress in all white, from the headbands pushing back their sweat-soaked hair to the socks sticking out of their white tennis shoes.

The Championships, Wimbledon is more than a tennis match, but a social scene. Guests need to apply for tickets nearly a year in advance, but admission isn’t always guaranteed. Seats inside the stadium are even more rare, reserved for celebrities like Tom Hiddleston and Bradley Cooper, but some guests are lucky enough to score these exclusive tickets. The movie-theater sized screens and lounge chairs make the event comfortable for viewers who can’t watch the sport live, and drinks from bars, with streams of ivy coating the building’s stone, rest in the hands of everyone watching. As guests mingle and find their seats, an orchestra plays throughout the stadium, performing classics like What A Wonderful World. From the selection of bars and restaurants to the Wimbledon classic snack strawberries and cream, this will easily become one of your favorite summer sports.

The All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club has been home to the London tennis tournament since the championship began in 1887. Featuring ivy-covered buildings and nineteen separate tennis courts, this club is known for its extravagance and has seen some famous guests. In 1926, King George VI competed in the men’s double when he was still the Duke of York. Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal mark more recent tennis stars who have competed at The Championships, Wimbledon. Even for those who don’t like sports, the Wimbledon Tennis Championships is the clear exception. It is more than a tennis match, but a social gathering full of fine dining and exclusive guests.

Many games are played during this two-week long competition, although only the main events take place on the infamous Centre Court. The men and women’s singles, men and women’s doubles, and the mixed doubles are just some of the popular events at Wimbledon. Each game throughout the tournament is equally as intense, and with nearly 32,000,000 pounds as the total prize money for the competition, guests understand why. Players are invited to the tournament based on their international rank, some of the most famous to compete being Venus and Serena Williams, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. With these renowned players at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, matches often go on for longer than expected. Adding more sets is common, with competitors ending sets with ties, but this doesn’t make the competition any less electrifying. Guests sit on the edge of their seats as the match continues, barely letting out a breath into the intense atmosphere clouding the stadium. The air is still except for the bright yellow ball cutting through it, the stadium so silent you could hear a pin drop.

The Prize Giving Ceremony is the event guests wait all day for. As the champion and runner up are announced, the Duke or Duchess of Cambridge hand off gold and silver trophies to the winners, the trophies glistening from the light from hundreds of camera flashes. Winners of the men’s single championship collect a golden cup with the name of all former winners inscribed in it. The women’s single championship winner is presented with a silver dish, decorated with figures from mythology. Standing behind them are a wall of groundkeepers, dressed in all green, clapping as the champions are photographed. The stadium erupts in cheers and applause, louder than they’ve been all day. The moment of celebration occurs when the champion holds the trophy above their head, a second captured that will end up on the front page of nearly every newspaper in the world.

When not watching the match, guests can be found at the Wimbledon Museum. Although it used to be located in Centre Court, the main building where the most important game is played, the museum recently expanded to include more artifacts. Including the first models of tennis balls and rackets, guests can see how the game has evolved overtime through spinning a wheel that signals the year and model of equipment used for the game. Famous tennis outfits are also on display, all of them white, showcasing the years of tradition at Wimbledon. Touch screens with audio guides help cater to the guests’ experience, offering audio in nine different languages to accommodate for international visitors. For an even better experience, museum curators rotate their artifacts so guests can come back each year and see different items on display.

The infamous strawberries and cream are a fan-favorite to eat during the tennis match. Although a fairly simple snack, strawberries and cream at Wimbledon have been served at the tournament since its first year. The origin of this food dates back to the early 1500s, when strawberries, a fruit associated with the affluent, and cream, a food for commoners, were first combined. Representing a unity between classes, strawberries and cream was a snack that was celebrated. And it still carries a similar message. As the preferred snack of Wimbledon, fans of different players come together to enjoy this cherished treat. During the two week-long competition, about twenty-five tons of strawberries are used. Whether it is your first time at the competition or your fifth, eating strawberries and cream at Wimbledon is a tasty tradition you don’t want to miss.

Wingfield Restaurant at Centre Court is the best place to eat after a day of watching the tournament. As one of the few sit down places for food at the stadium, it offers top of the line service. Indoor and outdoor dining options are available, perfect for the rainy London weather that often occurs during summer sports. With purple and white flowers at each table, matching the flowers out on the terrace of Centre Court, Wingfield Restaurant brings in a taste of the game indoors. Serving classic English meals like pan-fried cod and afternoon tea, Winfield cherishes its tradition with a gentle nod to its home country. This comfort food is served in three-courses, offering an appetizer, entrée, and a dessert before guests head back to the match.

After a long day of watching tennis, guests can retire to The Lady Wimbledon Tennis Party. Hosted at the Hotel du Vin Wimbledon, this exclusive after-party is the place every guest wants to be. With a red-carpet entrance leading into a banquet with speciality cocktails created by Sipsmith Gin, guests enjoy live music performed by Britain-born celebrities, such as singer and songwriter Malory. Guests must follow a strict dress code of pastel colors, yet most people in attendance opt for white dresses and suits. Throughout the outdoor event space, the delicious scent of barbeque fills the noses of guests, as chefs grill mouthwatering shrimp and buttery lobster. The fun-filled night ends with charity raffles, where guests can win luxurious prizes like a stay at the Hotel du Vin Wimbledon and afternoon tea for four at hotspot Creams, Wimbledon.

The Championships, Wimbledon, is the perfect way to kick off the summer. In this beautiful ivy-covered stadium, not a single seat is left empty. As fans eagerly watch this once in a lifetime competition, they snack on the best comfort food in London without compromising sophistication. Between outdoor picnics, museum trips, and food tours, Wimbledon offers an experience like no other. This isn’t just a championship tennis match, it’s the event of the season.

Now, it’s your serve. Will you make your next summer trip?