A Guide To The British Tennis Season

Fresh cut grass, Pimm’s and floral gowns: British tennis is synonymous with British summer. And while Wimbledon fever infects Londoners every June/July, the British tennis season as a whole is a much larger affair. This glorious romp traverses courts, cities and social circles, culminating in that iconic, royal-attended fortnight in SW19. Grab your strawberries and cream: it’s time for a smashing good run.

British Tennis Season 2025: A Guide

Birmingham Classic

Where & When? Edgbaston Priory Club (Sir Harrys Rd, Birmingham B15 2UZ), 31 May to 8 June 2025

Level: WTA 125 & ATP Challenger 125

Running in the second week of Roland-Garros across the Channel, the British grass-court season bursts into life with a flourish at the Birmingham Classic. Indeed, the grass is greener on this side – and faster, too. Here, rising stars and seasoned pros engage in fierce rallies while in-the-know spectators enjoy genteel conversation, afternoon tea and a charming atmosphere (much less chaotic than what’s to come later in the season). Historically a women’s event, the Birmingham Classic is seen as a warm up to Queen’s and Wimbledon, and is welcoming men for the very first time in 2025. lta.org.uk

Ilkley Open

Where & When? Ilkley Lawn Tennis & Squash Club (Stourton Rd, Ilkley LS29 9BG), 8 to 15 June

Level: WTA 125 & ATP Challenger 125

West Yorkshire’s annual festival of tennis – the largest tournament in the north – gives famous and rising British tennis stars another chance to rally on home turf, with international players flocking to the small town of Ilkley for the occasion. In 2025, this includes Canadian Rebecca Marino, Filipino Alexandra Eala, Aussie Maya Joint and Ukrainian Yulia Starodubtseva on the women’s side, plus Brit Cam Norrie, American Christopher Eubanks, Polish Kamil Majchrzak and Croatian Marin Čilić on the men’s. With low prices, street food vendors and a line-up of after-play acts, Ilkley is one of the more accessible, playful occasions on the British tennis calendar. In 2025, Scouting for Girls will kick off the action on 6 June, with a silent disco on Thursday 12 June and a DJ set by Chris Moyles on Friday 13 June. lta.org.uk

(© Shermozle/Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped)

Queen’s Club Championships

Where & When? The Queen’s Club (Palliser Rd, London W14 9EQ), 9 to 22 June 2025

Level: WTA 500 & ATP 500

Now this is where things get exciting. The Queen’s Club Championships is less of a tennis tournament and more of a garden party with a rather intense backdrop. (The pop of balls careening off rackets is about as frequent as the pop of champagne corks.) Steeped in history, for male players, it’s the unofficial warm-up for Wimbledon – so the atmosphere is buzzy with anticipation. And for 2025, the excitement doubles with the return of the women’s WTA 500 event from 9 to 15 June, with top players battling it out on these hallowed grass courts. The men then take over from 16 to 22 June, all accompanied by impeccably dressed spectators, including, probably, a celebrity or two (or 20). lta.org.uk

The Nottingham Open

Where & When? Nottingham Tennis Centre (University Blvd, Nottingham NG7 2QH), 14 to 22 June 2025

Level: WTA 250 & ATP Challenger 125

The Nottingham Open may be less known, but it’s another crucial stop on the grass court trail, where players really start to find their rhythm. With an accessible location and vibrant atmosphere, the Nottingham Open is also a fantastic opportunity for in-the-know tennis fans to enjoy world-class action without the looming pressure, queues and prices of other tournaments on the calendar. You may well see a future star emerge from the depths of qualifying, or an established pro rediscover their grass-court mojo. It’s a wonderfully relaxed environment where you can enjoy the intricacies of the game, perhaps with an ice cream in hand if fickle British summer permits. lta.org.uk

The Eastbourne Open

Where & When? Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club (College Rd, Eastbourne BN21 4JJ), 21 to 28 June 2025

Level: WTA 250, ATP 500 & ITF2

If Wimbledon is a grand and finely-tuned performance, The Eastbourne Open is the final dress rehearsal. Just a stone’s throw from the glorious British seaside, players use this final major tune-up to iron out any lingering kinks in their game and get one last competitive hit on grass. It’s a delightful blend of top talent and coastal charm; elegant tennis with the invigorating scent of salt in the air, and maybe a sneaky stroll along the pier to enhance the mini-break vibe. As far as results go, expect the unexpected as players push for peak performance ahead of Wimbledon. lta.org.uk

The Boodles Tennis Challenge

Where & When? Stoke Park (Park Rd, Stoke Poges SL2 4PG), 24 to 28 June 2025

Level: Non-competitive

If your tennis preferences are more social than sweat, take a look at the non-competitive exhibitions – the most iconic and elegant being The Boodles Tennis Challenge. An impossibly chic younger sister to the grand dame of Wimbledon, Boodles Tennis is the place to see and be seen. Founded by former tennis player and veteran sports agent Patricio Apeu in 2002, the idea is to give top players a chance to hone their grass court skills ahead of Wimbledon in relaxed surroundings, but there’s much more to it for spectators. Think gourmet dining, free-flowing Pimm’s and champagne galore. With attendees limited to 1,900 per day and a stadium designed so no one is more than 10 metres from the court, expect an intimate garden party vibe punctuated by high-calibre tennis – the perfect place to sip and schmooze. theboodles.com

The Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic

Where & When? The Hurlingham Club (Ranelagh Gardens, London SW6 3PR), 24 to 28 June 2025

Level: Non-competitive

Meanwhile in south west London, The Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic will take over the impeccably manicured (and notoriously exclusive) Hurlingham Club. Again, this is less about qualifying points and more about sartorial points: the very best dressed in London’s coolest social circles flaunt their summer style here. That said, it’s all super relaxed: top players and legendary icons trade playful blows on the courts, while off the court your most serious consideration will be which canape to scoff next. And scoffing is certainly tippy top of the agenda: 2025 sees the Tennis Classic’s first partnership with a Michelin starred chef, Paul Ainsworth. giorgioarmanitennisclassic.com

Wimbledon Qualifying Competition

Where & When? Wimbledon Qualifying and Community Sports Centre (Bank Ln, London SW15 5JT), 23 to 26 June 2025

Level: Grand Slam

Now back to serious business: the penultimate event on the British tennis calendar, this is where dreams are made – and broken. This is the Wimbledon qualifying rounds, so the atmosphere is undoubtedly tense. But the action is also more raw and unfiltered than Wimbledon proper: here, every last point matters, and players (especially newcomers) fight tooth and nail for a coveted spot in the main draw. If you’re a tennis purist who loves the grit, grind and palpable passion of the sport, this is the tournament for you. Best of all, it’s only £15 for a full day of world-class tennis. wimbledon.com

British Open Roehampton

Where & When? Wimbledon Qualifying and Community Sports Centre (Bank Ln, London SW15 5JT), 29 June to 4 July 2025

Level: ITF1 & J300

While everyone is buzzing about who will make it to Wimbledon proper, just down the road, the British Open Roehampton serves a fantastic tournament showcasing the incredible talent of top wheelchair tennis athletes and rising junior stars. Expect incredible athleticism and fierce determination, and see future stars and current Paralympic heroes up close ahead of Wimbledon, all with a more relaxed vibe. lta.org.uk

Wimbledon Tennis Championships

Where & When? All England Lawn Tennis Club, 30 June to 13 July 2025

Level: Grand Slam

All roads lead to Wimbledon: the career pinnacle, the stuff of dreams, the legendary tournament where tradition reigns supreme. It’s the jewel in the crown of the British tennis season – for good reason. From the perfectly manicured grass to the iconic Centre Court, Wimbledon is an experience like no other. And while Wimbledon’s favour with royals and celebrities has secured its spot on the social calendar, the tennis also remains incredibly high calibre. (This is a Grand Slam, after all.) Expect gladiatorial battles fought with grit and grace, punctuated by gasps of admiration. All this while sipping Pimm’s or fizz (or one of each?) and indulging in iconic strawberries and cream. wimbledon.com