The UK's padel boom shows no sign of slowing. According to the latest LTA data, Great Britain had 1,004 padel courts across 325 venues as of July 2025 — and the governing body now projects that number will pass 1,300 by the end of 2026.
To put that growth in context: there were just 68 padel courts in the UK back in 2019. That's a rise of over 1,300% in under seven years, with 2024 alone accounting for 413 new courts — the highest single-year total on record.
Where the growth is happening
London and the South East remain the country's padel stronghold, with 297 courts accounting for nearly 30% of the national total. The North and West Midlands, and North and East Midlands, follow as the next largest regions — a reminder that the sport's growth isn't confined to the capital.
Demand is still outpacing supply
Even with this pace of construction, court bookings regularly sell out days or weeks in advance at established venues. Industry estimates suggest around 8 million Britons have expressed interest in trying padel, against roughly 400,000 who currently play — meaning the vast majority of that potential is still untapped, largely because of access rather than lack of interest.
What this means for VDP
For our members, this national growth is a good sign rather than a threat — it means more investment in coaching, more media coverage, and more people discovering the sport for the first time. If you've been struggling to get your usual peak-time slot, you're not imagining it: demand really has been rising faster than court capacity nationally, which is exactly why we'd encourage booking ahead where you can.
