The numbers behind UK padel growth tell a clear story. From a near-zero base less than a decade ago, padel has become one of the fastest growing participation sports in the country. Here is what the data shows.
Court count growth
The UK had fewer than 50 padel courts in 2018. By 2024 that number had grown to over 350. As of 2026, the LTA registers more than 400 courts in operation, with significant pipeline activity adding new courts each month.
Forecasts from the LTA and industry analysts suggest the UK will exceed 1,000 courts by 2028 and continue growing through 2030. This places the UK well behind Spain (over 18,000 courts) and Sweden (over 4,000 courts) but on a clear upward trajectory.
Player numbers
Active UK padel players exceed 250,000 according to recent participation data. The compound annual growth rate over the past three years has been over 60 per cent, an exceptional figure compared to any other UK sport.
Globally, padel now has over 25 million active players across more than 90 countries. The professional World Padel Tour and Premier Padel circuits draw international audiences and have accelerated mainstream awareness.
Player demographics
UK padel skews younger and more diverse than tennis. The median age of UK padel players is in the 30s versus 40s for tennis. Gender distribution is closer to equal than tennis, with female participation growing rapidly.
Padel attracts players from football, squash, and tennis backgrounds, but increasingly recruits from outside racket sports entirely. The social, doubles-based nature makes it accessible to people who would not consider singles tennis or squash.
Geographic distribution
Greater London leads the UK court count with strong concentrations in the Home Counties, the Midlands, and the South West. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland all have growing but smaller markets. Rural and small-town facilities are emerging as urban markets become more saturated.
Economic indicators
UK padel utilisation rates remain strong. Prime time slots in mature urban venues routinely sell out weeks in advance. Court hire rates have remained stable or grown slightly through 2025 and 2026, suggesting demand continues to outpace supply.
The investor and operator landscape has matured. Several padel operator groups now run multi-venue portfolios. Property developers increasingly include padel as a standard residential and mixed-use amenity.
Where the market goes next
Expect continued growth through at least 2030. Supply is still catching up with demand. The professional game is gaining UK profile. Padel is a clear long-term growth opportunity for operators, investors, and amenity providers.
Get involved
If you are considering entering the UK padel market, speak to our team about the build options and likely returns.