Padel Participation Doubles in the UK in 2025
Padel, once regarded as a niche or continental trend, has rapidly expanded in the United Kingdom, with nearly one million players recorded in 2025. According to figures obtained by , 860,000 Britons played padel at least once last year, a significant increase from 400,000 in 2024 and 129,000 in 2023, highlighting the sport's remarkable growth.
The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), the national governing body for tennis, attributes this surge to the sport’s accessibility, the increasing number of courts, and its appeal boosted by celebrities such as Eva Longoria, Lily James, and Cristiano Ronaldo adopting the sport.
Celebrity Influence and Accessibility Drive Growth
Notable figures including rapper Stormzy and tennis player Andy Murray have become prominent advocates for padel, a fast-paced racket sport that combines many tennis rules and scoring methods with elements of squash, such as the use of a back wall. The sport is easier to learn due to underarm serves and a court size roughly one-third that of a standard tennis court.
“The growth of padel, both in Britain and globally, is undeniable, with participation rising at an exponential rate. It’s a fun, fast-paced and accessible sport that is attracting new players every day.
As more courts are built across Great Britain, more people than ever are stepping on to the court to try it for themselves,” said Tom Murray, the LTA’s head of padel.
“From high-profile figures in entertainment and sport, such as Lily James, Eva Longoria, Andy Murray and Cristiano Ronaldo padel’s visibility continues to increase, inspiring more people to pick up a racket.
What makes padel particularly appealing is how easy it is to get started, many players can rally and play points from their very first session, immediately enjoying the physical, social and mental health benefits.”
Expansion of Courts and Venues Across the UK
By the end of 2025, the UK had 1,553 padel courts across 559 venues, a significant rise from 870 courts at 293 venues in 2024, and just 69 courts when the LTA assumed governance of the sport in 2020. The LTA anticipates further growth in 2026 despite some local opposition regarding noise concerns.
For example, last month, some residents expressed complaints about the impact of floodlights operating seven days a week and the "gunshot sound of the padel racket," fearing it would disturb local wildlife.
Despite such concerns, the sport’s momentum remains strong. Originating in Mexico in the late 1960s, padel has experienced a surge in popularity at both amateur and professional levels since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Upcoming Major Events and Recognition
In August, London will host the largest professional padel tournament ever held in the UK with the arrival of the Premier Tour. Additionally, the International Padel Federation recently announced that padel will be included as a medal event at the 2024 European Games in Istanbul, describing this as “a fundamental step on the pathway towards Olympic participation.”
Affordability and Widespread Interest
Although padel is often perceived as a middle-class sport, the LTA found that the average off-peak court booking costs approximately £7 per person per hour, based on four players sharing the court.
“With 860,000 people playing in 2025, over 10 million expressing interest in trying the sport, and around 1,600 courts now in place across hundreds of venues, padel’s momentum is undeniable,” added Tom Murray.
