Henman Hill

Aorangi Terrace, commonly known as Henman Hill, is a grassy, banked area located in the grounds of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. During the annual Wimbledon tennis championships, people who do not have tickets for the main courts can watch the matches live on a giant television screen placed beside No. 1 Court.

Cameras often show views of Henman Hill during television broadcasts, and sports journalists sometimes talk to people in the crowd there. It is also a popular spot for spectators to enjoy picnics while watching the games.

The nickname Henman Hill started in the late 1990s when British fans gathered there to cheer for the tennis player Tim Henman. Over time, the hill has had many playful nicknames based on other British players, such as Rusedski Ridge or Murray Mound, but Henman Hill remains the most well-known name.

History

The terrace is named after Aorangi Park, the grounds of the London New Zealand Rugby Club, which were there until 1981. Aorangi comes from a Māori name for Aoraki, New Zealand's highest mountain, also called Mount Cook. A big screen was added in 1997 when the new No. 1 Court was built. This happened just as British player Tim Henman became very popular, and the area quickly became known as "Henman Hill". Some say a fan from Bristol named it that because of a local spot called “Henmans Hill”.

Even after Henman stopped playing in 2007, people kept using the name “Henman Hill”, and sometimes gave it new names after other British players like Andy Murray. As of 2021, the BBC and others still call it “Henman Hill”. In 2022, a version of Henman Hill was made in New York City in Brooklyn Bridge Park for fans to enjoy during Wimbledon.