It's a little way out from London's center, but Wimbledon easily boasts a day's worth of attractions, making it well worth the trip. From Wimbledon Tube/train/tram station, you emerge into a rather generic stretch of suburban high street. Turn right out of the station, however, and it's a 10-minute walk, or a 2-minute bus ride (nos. 93 or 493), up the hill to Wimbledon Village, with its very well-to-do high street of fashionable shops, restaurants, and overpriced delis. Keep heading north and you'll come to the open expanse of Wimbledon Common itself. The southern end is a wild and rather scrubby stretch of grassland, which gradually merges into a great stretch of woodland, riddled with paths and bridle routes. You can book a riding tour with Wimbledon Village Stables, 24a/b High St., SW19 (tel. 020/8946-8549; www.wvstables.com). In the middle of the common is a windmill with an attached museum (about windmills), for which there is a £2 entrance fee.

Back on the high street, head down Church Road to the All England Club, the setting for the annual Wimbledon Tennis Championships", and the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum, which stays open year round (tel. 020/8946-6131; www.wimbledon.org). Admission costs £10 for adults, £8.75 seniors and students, £5.50 children; it's open daily 10am to 5pm.