Wimbledon

Wimbledon is a district in southwest London that sits on higher ground between two small rivers. The built environment alternates between residential streets of brick houses, the open expanse of the common, and the village centre around the High Street.

An Iron Age fort on the common shows early settlement, while the medieval village first appears in church records during the 12th century. The railway line in 1838 brought new residents and transformed the place from a rural hamlet into a suburb of the growing metropolis.

The name comes from an Old Saxon settlement meaning roughly ' Wynnman's hill', combining personal identity with the rolling landscape. Local life today moves between residential streets lined with Victorian and Edwardian houses, the broad green of the common, and the neighbourhood shops that serve the everyday needs of families who have lived here for generations.

Wimbledon and Wimbledon Park stations connect the area to central London through underground trains, suburban rail, and trams. Walking is a good way to explore the centre, while the common offers wide paths for strolls and outdoor rest.

The windmill tower on the common dates from the 19th century and served as a signal station for messages to Portsmouth. Today it stands as a landmark among the trees, recalling a time when optical telegraphy was still part of everyday communication.

Location: London Borough of Merton

Shares border with: Morden, London Borough of Wandsworth, New Malden, Mitcham, Streatham, Sutton

Address: Wimbledon, London, UK

GPS coordinates: 51.42148,-0.20640

Latest update: December 14, 2025 21:03