Padel Statistics UK 2026: Players, Courts, and Growth Data
Padel is the fastest-growing sport in Britain. That claim gets made a lot, but the data behind it is genuinely extraordinary. This page brings together every verified statistic on UK padel participation, court infrastructure, regional distribution, investment and global context - all in one place, fully sourced, and updated for 2026.
If you are a journalist, researcher, venue operator, investor, or simply someone trying to understand the scale of what is happening in UK padel, this is the reference you need.
The headline numbers at a glance
| Metric | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| UK padel players (2024) | 400,000+ | LTA, May 2025 |
| UK padel players (2019) | 15,000 | LTA |
| Player growth 2019 to 2024 | +2,567% | Calculated, Live for Padel |
| Adults playing twice monthly (2023-24) | 51,000 | Sport England Active Lives |
| Total UK courts (July 2025) | 1,004 | LTA, July 2025 |
| Total UK courts (2019) | 68 | LTA |
| Court growth 2019 to 2025 | +1,376% | Calculated, Live for Padel |
| Britons wanting to try padel | 8 million+ | LTA, May 2025 |
| Adult awareness of padel (Q1 2025) | 43% (23 million) | LTA |
| LTA investment in padel | £6 million+ | LTA, February 2025 |
UK padel player statistics
How many people play padel in the UK?
At the end of 2024, just over 400,000 adults and juniors in Great Britain played padel at least once in the preceding 12 months, according to figures released by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).
This single figure tells only part of the story. The LTA methodology counts anyone who played at least once in a 12-month period, which includes occasional players and those who tried the sport for the first time. Sport England uses a stricter metric - adults playing at least twice a month - which gives a better picture of regular participation.
Sport England's Active Lives annual survey found that the number of adults playing padel twice monthly doubled from 23,000 in 2022/23 to 51,000 in 2023/24. For those who are playing in groups, try this free padel tournament calculator to keep track of your scoring.
Both metrics tell the same story: rapid, sustained growth across all levels of engagement.
UK padel player growth over time
The progression from the LTA's official figures:
| Year | Players (played at least once) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 15,000 | LTA |
| 2021 | 89,000 | LTA |
| 2023 | 129,000 | LTA |
| 2024 | 400,000+ | LTA |
The jump from 129,000 to 400,000 between 2023 and 2024 represents a 210% increase in a single year - an acceleration rather than a slowdown. From the 2019 baseline, total player growth stands at approximately 2,567%.
A note on methodology: The LTA and Sport England use different counting methods, which is why their figures differ significantly. The LTA counts everyone who played once or more in a year; Sport England counts regular players (twice monthly minimum, 60 minutes per session). Neither figure is wrong - they measure different things. When comparing UK padel participation over time, it is important to use the same methodology consistently.
How many Britons want to play padel?
Over eight million Britons have expressed a desire to try padel, up 60% over the past 12 months.
This latent demand figure is arguably more significant than the active player count. With only 400,000 people currently playing and 8 million wanting to, the sport is constrained by supply - specifically, the availability of courts relative to demand. This gap is the primary driver of continued court investment across the UK.
Padel awareness in the UK
Awareness of padel among adults reached 43% of the population (around 23 million individuals) in the first quarter of 2025, representing a significant increase from 23% (12 million) during the same period in the previous year.
Awareness nearly doubling in 12 months is a remarkable rate of mainstream penetration for any sport. For context, padel went from being known to roughly 1 in 4 adults to roughly 1 in 2.3 adults in a single year. This level of awareness growth has historically preceded significant participation surges in other sports.
UK padel court statistics
How many padel courts are there in the UK?
The number of courts rose from just 68 in 2019 to 1,004 in July 2025, according to LTA figures. These 1,004 courts are located across 325 venues nationwide.
UK padel court growth by year
Every figure in this table comes directly from LTA published data:
| Year | Courts | Year-on-year growth |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 68 | — |
| 2020 | 87 | +28% |
| 2021 | 150 | +72% |
| 2022 | 220 | +47% |
| 2023 | 350 | +59% |
| 2024 (end of year) | 763 | +118% |
| July 2025 | 1,004 | +32% (7 months) |
The 2024 figure is the most significant single-year jump in absolute terms: 413 new courts in 12 months. The pace of construction in 2024 was more than double any previous year.
Regional distribution of padel courts in Great Britain
The breakdown of padel courts across Great Britain as of July 2025: South and South West — 172, London and South East — 297, North and West Midlands — 179, North and East Midlands — 153, Central and East — 124, Scotland — 45, Wales — 34.
Live for Padel analysis: London and the South East account for 29.6% of all courts in Great Britain despite containing approximately 20% of the population. Scotland, with approximately 8.4% of the GB population, accounts for only 4.5% of courts. Wales, with 4.9% of the population, accounts for 3.4% of courts. The North and Midlands combined (332 courts) now represents a significant and growing share of total UK padel infrastructure, with the West Midlands identified as the fastest-growing region in 2024-2025.
Courts per million population (estimated, Live for Padel calculations):
| Region | Courts (July 2025) | % of total |
|---|---|---|
| London & South East | 297 | 29.6% |
| South & South West | 172 | 17.1% |
| North & West Midlands | 179 | 17.8% |
| North & East Midlands | 153 | 15.2% |
| Central & East | 124 | 12.4% |
| Scotland | 45 | 4.5% |
| Wales | 34 | 3.4% |
| Total | 1,004 | 100% |
Population estimates based on ONS 2023 mid-year estimates. Court data from LTA July 2025.
Scotland and Wales are significantly underserved relative to their populations, reflecting the earlier stage of padel development in those nations and the greater concentration of commercial operators in English urban centres.
How many people per padel court in the UK?
With 400,000 players and 1,004 courts, the current ratio is approximately 398 players per court. In mature padel markets like Spain and Sweden, this ratio is significantly lower - Spain has over 17,000 courts for approximately 5.5 million players, giving a ratio of roughly 324 players per court. The UK's ratio indicates continued undersupply even accounting for the 8 million latent demand figure, reinforcing the investment case for further court construction.
UK padel operator landscape
The major operators
The UK padel market is commercially driven, with private operators accounting for the majority of court construction. David Lloyd Clubs remains the UK's largest padel operator by scale, followed by Game4Padel as the largest pay-and-play operator, and the rapidly growing The Padel Club in third place.
As of December 2024, David Lloyd had installed 66 courts across 26 of its clubs, with plans to double this during 2025. Game4Padel had 45 courts across 20 venues, followed by Rocket Padel with 27.5 courts across three venues.
Game4Padel reported over 600,000 players on its courts during 2025, with around 110,000 members in its UK community.
Monthly padel participation at David Lloyd Clubs jumped from 3,300 players in April 2023 to 18,100 by April 2025 - a 448% increase in two years at a single operator, giving a granular picture of how quickly padel is embedding itself into existing fitness club infrastructure.
Court bookings across the majority of UK pay-and-play venues are managed through Playtomic, which gives a real-time picture of availability and demand across the country.
Celebrity and institutional investment
UK padel has attracted significant investment from high-profile names, reflecting broader confidence in the sport's commercial trajectory.
Game4Padel, based in Edinburgh, is backed by Andy Murray and Jamie Murray, as well as footballers including Tammy Abraham and Callum Wilson. The company has raised $13.3 million in total funding. In 2025, Brit Award-winning artist Aitch joined as an investor, signalling padel's crossover into youth culture.
Anthony Joshua became co-owner of the AD/vantage padel team in January 2025.
The LTA has invested more than £6 million in padel infrastructure across Britain as of February 2025, with £4.5 million specifically directed toward the construction of 80 courts at 42 venues - representing approximately 10% of all UK courts.
The indoor shift
Indoor courts are becoming the default format for UK padel, with operators expanding beyond traditional regions and competition increasing as new brands enter the market.
This is a significant structural shift. Early UK padel growth was dominated by outdoor and covered-outdoor courts, which are cheaper to build but weather-dependent. The move toward indoor facilities reflects growing operator confidence in demand sustainability and the need to maintain utilisation rates year-round in the British climate.
LTA targets and projections
The LTA projects growth to 1,300 courts by end of 2026. Given the pace of construction in 2024 and the pipeline of announced venues, this target appears achievable. At the 2024 growth rate of approximately 413 courts per year, the UK would reach roughly 1,400 courts by end of 2026.
The LTA's stated strategic objectives for padel include growing the coaching workforce, implementing a competitive performance pathway, and developing public facilities that reach underserved communities. Over 75% of padel venues already engage in community outreach initiatives, ranging from school partnerships to free sessions for underserved groups.
UK padel in a global context
Global padel player numbers
Global padel participation has exceeded 35 million players according to the International Padel Federation (FIP), up from an estimated 25 to 30 million in 2023 and double what it was in 2017. Padel is now played in over 150 countries.
The UK's 400,000 players represent approximately 1.1% of the global player base, in a country that contains approximately 0.9% of the world's population. The UK is slightly over-indexed relative to its population share but dramatically under-indexed relative to the leading padel nations.
Top padel countries by court count
| Country | Courts (approx.) | Players (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | 17,000+ | 5.5 million |
| Italy | 10,000+ | 1.5 million |
| Argentina | 4,900+ | 1.4 million |
| Sweden | 4,200+ | 600,000+ |
| France | 1,500+ | — |
| United Kingdom | 1,004 | 400,000+ |
Spain has more padel courts than tennis courts. The UK, by comparison, has roughly one padel court for every 20 to 25 tennis courts.
The UK's growth trajectory vs comparable markets
Sweden is the most instructive comparison for the UK. Both countries have established tennis cultures, similar population sizes (Sweden 10.5 million, UK 67 million), and comparable climates. Sweden now has approximately 4,200 courts and 600,000 players. If the UK were to reach Swedish per-capita levels of court provision, it would need approximately 27,000 courts. Even reaching half of Sweden's per-capita density would imply a target of approximately 13,500 UK courts - 13 times the current figure. This gives a sense of the total addressable market for UK padel infrastructure investment.
Search data: the digital footprint of UK padel growth
Google search data provides a real-time proxy for public interest that official participation surveys cannot match, given that survey data typically lags 12 to 18 months behind actual behaviour.
In July 2025, search interest in padel reached record-breaking levels in the UK. The trend data shows consistent year-on-year acceleration, with particularly strong growth in location-based queries ("padel courts near me," "padel near me") indicating that awareness is converting to active intent to play.
The most searched padel terms in the UK show a strong balance between product interest, location intent and general awareness. Top queries include padel racket, padel courts and padel shoes, suggesting large numbers of users are already engaged or preparing to play.
The top trending padel searches in the UK highlight a shift from general curiosity to active local engagement, with nearly all the fastest-rising terms referencing specific clubs and venues - showing a greater shift to users seeking out where to play.
This transition from informational ("what is padel") to navigational ("padel courts near me") and commercial ("padel racket") queries is a classic indicator of a sport moving from early adopter phase into mainstream participation.
The supply gap: why courts cannot keep pace with demand
One of the defining characteristics of UK padel in 2025 and 2026 is the persistent gap between demand and supply. Court bookings regularly sell out days or weeks in advance at established venues, particularly in London and other major cities.
With 8 million Britons expressing intent to try padel and only 400,000 currently playing, the conversion rate is approximately 5%. The primary barrier to conversion is access: potential players cannot find a court, cannot get a booking, or have no local venue, find padel courts near you.
The average construction cost for an outdoor padel court ranges from £30,000 to £50,000. Indoor courts cost up to £70,000 due to roofing, lighting and ventilation. The LTA Padel Grant Fund offers grants of up to £250,000 per project, covering up to 50% of build costs for eligible venues.
Despite this support, planning permission and noise concerns from residential neighbours remain the most cited barriers to new court construction. These are structural constraints that commercial demand alone cannot resolve.
Key statistics for journalists and researchers
If you are citing UK padel statistics in an article, report or presentation, the following figures are the most reliable and widely referenced. All are sourced from official governing body data.
Player participation:
400,000+ people played padel in Great Britain at least once in 2024 (LTA)
51,000 adults play padel at least twice a month in England (Sport England, 2023-24)
15,000 players in 2019 - a 2,567% increase to 2024 (LTA)
8 million Britons have expressed desire to try padel (LTA, 2025)
Awareness:
43% of UK adults are aware of padel as of Q1 2025 (LTA)
Up from 23% awareness in Q1 2024 - an 87% increase in awareness in 12 months (LTA)
Courts and venues:
1,004 courts across 325 venues as of July 2025 (LTA)
68 courts in 2019 - a 1,376% increase to July 2025 (LTA)
413 new courts built in 2024 alone - the highest single-year total (LTA)
London and South East account for 29.6% of all GB courts (LTA)
Scotland has 45 courts, Wales has 34 courts (LTA, July 2025)
Investment:
LTA has invested £6 million+ in padel infrastructure as of February 2025
Game4Padel has raised $13.3 million in total funding
Court construction cost: £30,000 to £70,000 per court depending on type
Global context:
35 million+ players globally (FIP, 2025-26)
50,000+ courts globally
Spain leads with 17,000+ courts and 5.5 million players
UK has approximately 15 courts per million population vs Spain's ~354
Sources and methodology
All statistics in this article are sourced from official governing body data, peer-reviewed reports, or direct operator disclosures. Where we have made calculations from raw data (growth percentages, per-capita ratios, regional analysis), this is clearly indicated.
Primary sources:
Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) / LTA Padel - official governing body for padel in Great Britain. Key publications: May 2025 participation report, July 2025 court milestone announcement.
Sport England Active Lives Survey - annual survey measuring adult participation in England. 2023-24 edition cited.
International Padel Federation (FIP) - governing body for global padel. Player and court data.
Oxygen Consulting UK Padel Market Analysis - independent market research, December 2024.
Leisure DB UK Padel Report - industry research, December 2025.
Live for Padel original analysis:
Courts per million population by region (calculated from LTA court distribution data and ONS 2023 mid-year population estimates)
Players per court ratio (calculated from LTA player and court figures)
UK vs Sweden per-capita court projection (calculated from FIP and LTA data)
This page is updated periodically as new official data is released. Last updated: March 2026. Data correct as of the most recent published figures from each source.
Frequently asked questions
How many people play padel in the UK?
Over 400,000 people played padel in Great Britain at least once in 2024, according to LTA figures published in May 2025. Around 51,000 adults play at least twice a month according to Sport England's Active Lives survey.
How many padel courts are there in the UK?
As of July 2025, there are 1,004 padel courts across 325 venues in Great Britain, according to LTA data. The LTA projects growth to approximately 1,300 courts by end of 2026.
How fast is padel growing in the UK?
UK padel player numbers grew from 15,000 in 2019 to over 400,000 in 2024 - an increase of approximately 2,567% in five years. Court numbers grew from 68 in 2019 to 1,004 in July 2025, an increase of 1,376%. In 2024 alone, 413 new courts were built - the highest single-year total on record.
Which region has the most padel courts in the UK?
London and the South East has the highest concentration with 297 courts as of July 2025, accounting for approximately 29.6% of all courts in Great Britain. The North and West Midlands (179 courts) and North and East Midlands (153 courts) are the next largest regions.
How does UK padel compare globally?
The UK has approximately 1,004 courts compared to Spain's 17,000+, Italy's 10,000+ and Sweden's 4,200+. With 400,000 players, the UK represents approximately 1.1% of the estimated global player base of 35 million. The UK is growing rapidly but remains far behind the mature padel markets of southern Europe and Scandinavia on a per-capita basis.
Who are the biggest padel operators in the UK?
David Lloyd Clubs is the largest operator by scale, followed by Game4Padel (the largest pay-and-play operator) and The Padel Club. Game4Padel has raised over $13.3 million in funding and is backed by Andy Murray among others.
