The Essentials: The Time: 12 noon, 23 June to 6 July The Place: Wimbledon

Tickets for matches on courts 3 to 19 are pounds 8 in the first week and pounds 7 in the second week. Centre court tickets are between pounds 22 and pounds 44. Court One tickets cost pounds 19 to pounds 38 - but be warned, you'll have to queue half the night for these two courts. We've selected the following items to make sure you have the perfect day out, and who knows, maybe you'll return next year on the opposite side of the net.

Wimbledon branded tennis merchandise from the Wimbledon shop. Sports holdall, pounds 34, racket pounds 50, Hi-tec tennis shoes pounds 40, championship towel pounds 21, polo shirt pounds 38, sweat shirt pounds 52 and striped navy polo shirt, pounds 50.

For proficient players there's the Prince Precision Graphite 11 racket (above) at pounds 99.99, the Dunlop Revelation Pro Tour racket (left) at pounds 99.99 or Slazenger's Phantom Tour racket (below) at pounds 130. And of course you'll need to put the bounce in your game with new balls. A tin of three Slazenger Wimbledon balls (above) costs pounds 5.99. If watching previous Wimbledon champions such as Pete Sampras and Richard Krajicek has inspired youngsters to pick up a racket and head for the nearest park, then try the new Henman Phantom Tour Junior racket from Slazenger at pounds 25.

Strawberries and cream cost pounds 1.80 for 10 at Wimbledon, but you can go and pick your own for just 90p per pound at The Strawberry Farm Shop at Upminster, Essex (01708 640361).

If you're going to take a picnic you'll need a cool box. This green ice chest is ideal at pounds 39.95, along with the more traditional insulated wicker cool-basket at pounds 39.95. And don't forget to take a picnic rug like the foldaway version (bottom left) at pounds 34.95. All from Lakeland Plastics, mail order 015394 88100.

If you want to improve your tennis and have a ready supply of people to play with and coaches on hand, why not join a club. One example is the Linkside Lawn Tennis Club, Wanstead, London, where membership costs pounds 120 per year and coaching lessons are pounds 13 (0181-989 5773). If you prefer some intensive tuition, try a week at the Bollettieri tennis camp at Millfield, Somerset, which costs pounds 435, including food and accommodation (01458 445823). The Lawn Tennis Association runs residential weekend courses for pounds 170 at Bisham Abbey, Buckinghamshire (01628 483084).