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Wimbledon Village

Buddhapadipa Temple. Copyright London Borough Of Merton

For those in the know, Wimbledon is where you'll find one of London's most perfect villages. With fantastic shops and a great atmosphere, this leafy London area is perhaps best known for one of the world's top sporting events: The Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships. The Wimbledon tennis courts will also be a London 2012 Olympic venue.

Shopping in Wimbledon

Full of beautiful buildings and independently owned shops, Wimbledon Village is a place where locals make time to say "hello" to each other and the clip-clop of horses' hooves echo in the streets. You could be forgiven for thinking you're in the countryside. But shopping is rarely this good when you're out in the sticks. In this relatively compact area you'll find Joseph, Diane von Furstenberg, Matches, Max Mara, Questionair and Cath Kidston.

Eating in Wimbledon

After giving your credit card a serious work-out, you could take up the serious sport of people watching. The French patisserie Maison St Cassien has one of the best vantage points over the village. Or, if all that shopping has worked up an appetite, why not splurge out on some exemplary cuisine at the posh Lydon Restaurant, or at the sumptuous, Cannizaro House Hotel?

But if the sun is shining, there's nothing better than taking a picnic onto Wimbledon Common. Bayley and Sage stocks delicious pastas, wines, cheeses and other tasty morsels. And as you're tucking into your lunch, you could even spot a Womble – they're native to these parts!