We are in the middle of something unusual. A sport going from almost nothing to almost everywhere in under six years. The numbers behind UK padel's growth are the kind you normally associate with technology companies, not racket sports. Here is what is actually happening.
The Player Numbers
The LTA reported that 860,000 adults and juniors played padel in the UK in 2025. That is more than double the 400,000 who played in 2024 - itself up from 129,000 in 2023 and just 15,000 in 2019.
To put that in perspective: the sport multiplied its UK player base by more than 57 times in six years. That kind of growth rate does not happen in established sports. It happens in technology.
The regular player figure is equally striking. According to Sport England's Active Lives survey, 51,000 adults now play padel at least twice a month - up from 23,000 the year before. These are committed, returning players. Not people who tried it once at a friend's birthday.
Courts: Supply is Struggling to Keep Up
The UK had 69 padel courts in 2020 when the LTA took over governance of the sport. By the end of 2025 there were 1,553 courts across 559 venues. That is a 22-fold increase in five years.
Planning applications for new courts jumped 113% in 2024 alone, and online searches for "padel courts" hit 155,000 in January 2026 - up 190% year on year. Clubs across the country are reporting waiting lists and peak-time shortages. Demand is outpacing supply.
Court growth at a glance
- 2020: 69 courts
- 2022: 220 courts
- 2024 (end): 763 courts
- 2025 (end): 1,553 courts across 559 venues
- LTA projection for 2026: 1,300+ courts (already likely conservative)
A typical padel court costs £50,000 to install on an existing tennis court, and up to £100,000 on new ground. The pace of investment is remarkable - and largely commercially driven, with private operators accounting for most new construction.
The West Midlands is at the Centre of It
The North and West Midlands now accounts for 179 padel courts - and LTA data specifically identified the West Midlands as the fastest-growing padel region in the country in 2024-25.
This sport is not just happening in London. It is happening here. If you are based in or around Birmingham, you are in one of the most active padel regions in the UK right now.
London and the South East still lead overall with 297 courts - but the gap is closing fast, and the West Midlands is the region where growth is accelerating most quickly.
Awareness Nearly Doubled in a Year
57% of British adults were aware of padel by end of 2025, up from 23% just two years earlier. That means the sport went from being known by roughly 1 in 4 adults to more than 1 in 2 in under 24 months.
Over 10 million Britons now say they want to try padel - up from 8 million a year ago. Searches for "padel" hit 13 million in January 2026 alone, a 47% increase year on year.
Why awareness matters
When awareness doubles in a year, participation follows. Every sport that has hit mainstream adoption shows the same pattern - awareness spikes first, then courts fill up, then equipment demand follows. The UK is at the beginning of that conversion curve, not the end.
The UK Leads the World on Revenue Per Court
This is the statistic that surprises most people. The UK is the leading nation worldwide for gross monetary value per court - up 74% from 2023. British padel players spend more per court than anywhere else in the world.
Court rental in London can reach £60-100 per hour. Even off-peak bookings average £27 per doubles session nationally. The economics are strong for operators - which is why investment keeps coming.
Why is Padel Growing So Fast?
The reasons are genuinely straightforward - and they explain why the sport has grown in every country it has entered, not just the UK.
- Easy to start. You do not need to learn a serve, master topspin or play for years before rallies feel enjoyable. Most people have fun in their first session.
- Doubles only. The social dynamic is built in. You are always playing with and against other people. Clubs form naturally.
- Physically accessible. Less running than tennis, smaller court, lower injury risk. Works for a wider age range.
- Glass walls change the game. The ability to play off the walls creates tactical depth and longer rallies that feel more satisfying than other racket sports at beginner level.
What It Means If You Are Playing Right Now
If you are reading this, you are already ahead of most people. You are playing a sport that 10 million Britons have said they want to try. Court availability is going to get tighter before it gets easier. Prices are unlikely to fall.
The practical implication is simple: getting properly set up now - with the right racket for your level, the right equipment - makes the sport more enjoyable and gives you more control over your own development as the courts around you get busier.
We started CORTA to be the specialist UK padel retailer for players who take the sport seriously. If you need help finding the right racket for where you are in your game, the CORTA racket quiz is a good place to start.
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