Wimbledon's usually lush Henman Hill has been left parched and sun-scorched after the driest July on record. The iconic spot, which thousands of fans descended on during last month's championships, has been left almost unrecognisable after weeks of dry weather and soaring temperatures.
Aerial images reveal impact
Shocking aerial images over the All England Club reveal the impact of the unprecedented conditions. The normally perfectly-manicured green lawn on Henman Hill is now a shade of beige following weeks of blistering heat. The hallowed turf on Court One also appears worse for wear, although the outside courts pictured still look in good nick.
Drought declared in half of England
An "exceptionally serious" drought has been declared in half of England after successive scorching heatwaves since May. The images from Wimbledon are a stark reminder of the challenge organisers are facing with increasingly hot summers.
Wimbledon's response
Wimbledon bosses have already warned more drought-resistant plants could be introduced in the grounds of SW19 due to rising temperatures. Additional shady areas were also created ahead of this summer's tournament which was the first rain-free championships since 2019.
Many of the record 550,151 spectators in attendance over the two-week Grand Slam were left baking as the mercury regularly climbed above 30C. About halfway through the major, handheld fans had sold out at all of Wimbledon's shops as tennis-lovers looked to cool themselves down in the sweltering heat.
Henman Hill's busy tournament
Spectators, equipped with picnic blankets and refreshments, packed out Henman Hill throughout the tournament to watch the action on the giant screen outside Court One. The lawn, officially Aorangi Terrace, was affectionately dubbed Arthur's Seat as British wildcard Arthur Fery defied all odds to reach the semi-finals.
World number one Jannik Sinner went on to win the men's singles title for the second year in a row on July 12, while rising star Linda Noskova lifted the women's trophy.
Future plans
The All England Club plans to revamp Henman Hill ahead of the 2027 tournament, boosting its capacity by 20% and improving accessibility for wheelchair users.
