Neurodiversity-Inclusive Activities & Spaces in Wimbledon

Wimbledon is home to a variety of inclusive spaces and activities designed to support neurodivergent individuals, including those who are autistic, have ADHD, learning disabilities, or other cognitive differences. Whether you’re looking for sensory-friendly experiences, quiet spaces, or accessible community activities, there are plenty of options to explore throughout the year.

Sensory-Friendly & Inclusive Activities in Wimbledon

Polka Theatre – Relaxed Performances for a Calmer Experience

• Polka Theatre offers relaxed performances with adjusted lighting and sound, a welcoming atmosphere, and a space where movement and vocalisations are embraced. Visual stories are available in advance to help children prepare.
  🔗 Find out more & view upcoming relaxed performances

Wimbledon Leisure Centre – Accessible Fitness for All

• Wimbledon Leisure Centre offers concessionary memberships for disabled individuals and provides inclusive facilities and fitness classes suitable for all abilities.
  🔗 Find out more

Wimbledon Library – A Safe and Sensory-Friendly Space

• Wimbledon Library has a dedicated SEND section with sensory-friendly resources, including ear defenders and pop-up dark tents. They also host inclusive events such as:
  • SEND Stay & Play (1st Saturday of each month)
  • SEND Story Time & Bookbag Sessions (3rd Saturday of each month, ages 0-7)
  • Author & Drawing Activity: Marielle Bayliss – Neurons & Autism (ages 3-7)
    🔗Find out more

Merton Mencap’s Community Café – Inclusive Social & Work Opportunities

• Located at Holy Trinity Church, Merton Mencap’s Community Café is run by adults with learning disabilities, providing vocational training and practical work experience in a supportive environment. It’s a great place to develop skills and engage with the local community.
  🔗 Find out more & get involved

Neurodivergent-Friendly Businesses in Wimbledon

Many businesses in Wimbledon have adapted their environments to be more welcoming for neurodivergent individuals:

The Entertainer – Quiet Hour Shopping

• The Entertainer dedicates the first hour of each day to a quieter shopping experience by turning off music, pausing demos, and dimming lights.
  🔗 Find out more

Morrisons – Quiet Hour Shopping

• Morrisons has extended it’s popular Quieter Hour so that it now runs between 2-3pm Monday-Thursday, 9-10am Saturday, and the first hour of trade on Sunday. This initiative involved turning off music, dimming lights, avoiding tannoy announcements, and turning down checkout beeps.
  🔗 Find out more

Tesco – Quiet Hour Shopping

• The Quieter Hour at Tesco runs between 9-10am on Wednesday and Sunday. During this time, they will dim the lights and lower checkout noise in all large stores, to make it a more enjoyable experience for customers. There are also plans to centrally reduce the noise of self-service tills and Scan As You Shop devices in the future.
  🔗 Find out more

Odeon Wimbledon – Autism-Friendly Screenings

• Odeon hosts autism-friendly screenings one Sunday morning each month with reduced sound, dimmed lighting, and relaxed rules around movement and noise.
  🔗 Find out more
  🔗 Check screening times

Creating a More Inclusive Wimbledon

Wimbledon is committed to fostering a welcoming environment for neurodivergent individuals by providing:

• Quiet spaces & quiet hours
• Sensory-friendly events & adaptive resources
• Inclusive design (e.g., accessible websites, visual guides, and tailored experiences)

If you know of any additional neurodiversity-friendly spaces or initiatives in Wimbledon, please get in touch—we’d love to help share them with the community!