“I went from casual games to checking my rank every week. Seeing my name move up the leaderboard is ridiculously motivating.”
Discover why padel tennis is the fastest-growing racquet sport in Britain. From its origins in Mexico to taking over UK courts, learn everything about this exciting sport that combines the best of tennis and squash.
From Mexican beaches to British courts, the journey of padel tennis
Padel was invented by Enrique Corcuera at his home in Acapulco. He modified his squash court, adding walls and creating the first padel court.
Prince Alfonso of Hohenlohe-Langenburg discovered padel in Mexico and built the first European courts at Marbella Club Hotel in Spain.
The first padel courts in the United Kingdom were built at private clubs in London, introducing British players to this exciting sport.
The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) officially recognised padel, investing millions to develop the sport across the UK with new courts and coaching programmes.
Padel experiences explosive growth in the UK with over 400 courts, major club investments, and professional tournaments being hosted across Britain.
Padel is played in doubles on an enclosed court about 25% smaller than a tennis court. The court is surrounded by walls made of glass and metallic mesh, which players can use during play, similar to squash. It combines elements of tennis, squash, and badminton into one dynamic sport.
Padel is ideal for the British climate as most courts are covered or indoor. It's easier to learn than tennis, more social with doubles format, and less physically demanding on joints. The smaller court and underarm serve make it accessible to all ages and fitness levels.
The UK now hosts international padel tournaments, has a national team, and sees major investments from David Lloyd Clubs, LTA, and independent operators. British Padel has over 89,000 active players with numbers doubling yearly.
Not sure if padel is for you? Here’s how padel tennis compares to traditional tennis and squash for UK players.
Padel courts are smaller than tennis courts, with walls you can use in play. Serves are underarm and rallies are generally longer. Many UK tennis players switch to padel because it’s easier on the body, more social in doubles format and more forgiving for beginners.
Like squash, padel uses walls – but it’s played with a net and an outdoor‑style court. Movement is more open than in a squash box and less intense on the joints. If you enjoy squash tactics but want a more social doubles game, padel is ideal.
Padel is perfect for absolute beginners, returning racket sport players and families. UK clubs report that many new members have never played tennis before but quickly fall in love with padel because they can rally and enjoy proper points from the very first session.
Master the rules and start playing today
New to padel tennis? Follow these simple steps to go from complete beginner to playing regular games at your local UK padel club.
Everything you need to start playing padel in the UK
Solid surface with holes, no strings. Made from carbon fibre or fibreglass. Lighter than tennis racquets at 350-390g. UK price: £50-£300.
Similar to tennis balls but with less pressure. Specific padel balls required for proper bounce. UK approved brands: Head, Babolat, Wilson.
Clay court tennis shoes or specific padel shoes. Herringbone sole pattern for UK artificial grass courts. Brands: ASICS, Adidas, Babolat.
Standard tennis or sports clothing. Breathable fabrics recommended. Many UK clubs have no strict dress code unlike traditional tennis clubs.
David Lloyd Clubs investing £8 million in padel courts across their UK sites. The LTA launching "Padel Priority Project" with £5 million funding. Game4Padel opening 40+ courts by 2025. We Are Padel expanding to 15 UK locations.
UK Padel Open at National Tennis Centre, British Padel Tour with events nationwide, Premier Padel exhibition matches in London, County championships across England, Scotland, and Wales.
London leads with 80+ courts including Stratford, Canary Wharf, and Chiswick. Major cities like Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, and Edinburgh rapidly adding courts. Find your nearest court using our Court Finder tool.
Most UK padel venues offer beginner sessions for £10-15 per person. Equipment hire available at most courts for £5. Group coaching sessions widely available. Join PaddlePals to track your progress and connect with local players!
From London to Edinburgh, there are now hundreds of indoor and outdoor padel courts across Britain. Use this quick guide to find courts and clubs near you.
London currently has the highest concentration of padel courts, with venues in Stratford, Canary Wharf, Chiswick and more. Other hotspots include Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, Glasgow and Edinburgh – with new facilities opening every month.
Indoor padel courts are increasingly popular in the UK due to the weather. Covered courts allow year‑round play, organised leagues and predictable bookings. Outdoor courts are often cheaper and great in summer, but more weather‑dependent.
Use the PaddlePals Court Finder to search by town, postcode or club name. Filter for indoor padel courts, beginner‑friendly venues, coaching options and more – all tailored to UK players.
With most UK padel courts being covered or fully indoor, British weather is no obstacle. Play year-round without cancellations, making it more reliable than outdoor tennis.
Less running than tennis due to smaller court size. Lower impact on joints with softer balls. Perfect for UK's aging population and those returning to sport. Burns 600-800 calories per hour.
Doubles format encourages conversation and banter. Many UK clubs have vibrant social scenes with leagues and mixers. Post-match socialising is part of padel culture, perfect for British pub culture!
Real stories from players who use PaddlePals to track every game, climb the rankings and keep friendly rivalries alive.
“I went from casual games to checking my rank every week. Seeing my name move up the leaderboard is ridiculously motivating.”
“Our club runs all internal competitions through PaddlePals now. The stats and rankings settle any ‘who’s better’ arguments instantly.”
“Love how I can see my progress from beginner to top 1,000. The leaderboard makes every game feel like it counts.”
“The private leaderboards for our friends group are genius. We trash‑talk in WhatsApp and settle it on PaddlePals.”
“Exactly what our venue needed – one place to log games, compare players and run little in‑house seasons.”
“Being able to compare my stats across paddle and table tennis in one place is unreal. PaddlePals is my daily check‑in.”
Quick answers to the most common questions about padel tennis in Britain
Yes. Padel is one of the most beginner‑friendly racket sports. The underarm serve, smaller court and use of walls make it easy to keep rallies going. Many UK clubs offer “Introduction to Padel” sessions specifically for new players.
Typical UK padel court hire ranges from £20–£50 per hour, split between four players. That’s roughly £5–£12.50 per person. Group beginner lessons usually cost £10–£15 per person, with equipment hire often included for first‑timers.
Not at all. Most UK padel venues allow you to hire a racquet and buy or borrow balls on site. Once you’re playing regularly, investing in your own padel racquet and shoes will improve comfort and performance.
Yes. The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) officially supports padel and has invested millions into new courts and coaching frameworks. Many LTA‑affiliated clubs now offer padel alongside tennis programmes.
Track your games, find courts, and connect with 89,000+ UK padel players
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