Padel is booming in the UK — with 1,000+ courts and participation rising rapidly year on year.
Player numbers and awareness are climbing fast, moving padel from niche to mainstream.
It’s easy, social and accessible, which is driving its mass appeal.
More players means better competition and stronger community.
Brands are investing in the UK market, giving players more choice and better gear than ever before.
Why Padel Is the UK’s Fastest-Growing Sport (And What That Means For You)
A few years ago, most people in the UK hadn’t even heard of padel.
Now? Courts are fully booked, new clubs are opening every month, and more people than ever are picking up a racket.
Padel isn’t just growing — it’s booming.
The Numbers That Tell The Story
- Over 1,000 padel courts now exist across 325+ venues nationwide — up from just 68 courts in 2019.
- The number of people playing padel has exploded to ~400,000 adults and juniors in 2024 — from as few as ~15,000 in 2019.
- Awareness of padel among UK adults jumped from 23% to 43% in just one year — roughly 12 million → 23 million people.
Why Is Padel Growing So Fast?
- It is easy to start – it doesn’t require years of coaching, within 20 minutes most beginners can rally and have fun. Making it perfect for families, work socials and more.
- It is doubles by design – it is always played as a pair, against a pair. So you are always involved, always talking and always close to the action.
- More courts = more access – The more courts that open, the easier it becomes for new players to try the sport — and for regular players to play more often.
What This Means For UK Players
This growth isn’t just interesting — it directly affects you as a player. As more people pick up a racket, we’re seeing stronger leagues and more tournaments popping up across the country, giving players better competition at every level. A bigger player base also means a stronger, more active community — more games to join, more variety in playing standards, and more chances to improve. And as the UK market continues to expand, brands are taking it seriously, which means better opportunities, more options and so much potential.
Is This A Trend? My Final Thoughts
Personally – it really doesn’t look like a fad, the growth is consistent year on year. Investment is increasing and court numbers are expanding. I still feel we are closer to early in the sport than ‘oversaturation.’
If you’re already playing, you’re part of something that’s reshaping the UK racket sport scene.
If you haven’t started yet — now is the time.
Because padel in the UK isn’t slowing down.
In Summary
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