A Children's Story

What makes VC different is The Experience Hub.

What can take each Experience to a powerful level is meaning.

With every Experience, we hope you ask a simple question, such as:

  • What is the relevance of making a pizza at VC?
  • What is the significance of playing mud golf in the VC garden?
  • And how were many sports played globally formed on Wimbledon Common?
  • Why is drawing a bluebell in the Cow Shed respectful?
  • Why is it important to spend at least 10 minutes each day in the Gardener?
  • How can preparing a drink in The Coconut Bar be meaningful?


A 170-page Children’s Book entitled “Wimbledon Common, a children’s book”, has been written to help share these meanings.


The book is based on numerous facts and is interactive. Moreover, it is written like a Christmas pantomime – having meaning for children and adults.


It explains the history of Wimbledon Common from the Ice Age, through the middle ages and Industrialisation, and into The Modern Era. The pictures were architected by Max. Each character is based on someone - so have fun working out who Max is!


The book shares the turbulent story of how Small Animals overcame the odds, addressed their fears, and created The Wimbledon Spirit. By reading this you will understand how VC was built and why specific Experiences have been created.

Children's Book sketch

There are 3 suggested ways to engage with the book:

  1. For each child to read it and engage with the exercises in Appendix A
  2. For a parent to read it and summarise to smaller children using a Picture Book (which is available at VC). It allows you to tell your own story.
  3. For the family to read a chapter together or separately in different parts of VC followed by answering or debating the Appendix A exercises. If you get stuck you can ask Max for clues!
Wimbledon Common Book CoverAnimals

Please click here to download a simple overview of The Book.

When booking VC, you can ask Max for an electronic copy of The Book that will then be sent to you so you can get excited about your trip. There are hard copies of the book at VC for you to read too. Please note the hard copies only exist at VC.

There is another children’s book co-authored by the family and available at VC. This interactive book was part of an educational programme focusing on the sports formed on Wimbledon Common. This was written together with a children’s film which was shown at the Odeon cinema. Please click here for more details.