Padel participation in the UK trebled last year with over 400,000 adults and juniors playing the sport at least once in the preceding 12 months, according to new LTA figures.
The figures released today (Monday 12 May) by the national governing body show an astounding rise in participation and awareness, up to 400,000 players from just 15,000 in 2019, 89,000 in 2021, and 129,000 at the end of 2023.
Meanwhile Sport England, who use a different metric, recorded the number of adults who play twice monthly as doubling from 23,000 in 2022-23 to 51,000 in 2023-24, as per their Active Lives annual survey released two weeks ago.
This growth is supported by a rapidly expanding infrastructure, with 893 padel courts now available at 300 venues across Britain.
As of February 2025, the LTA has invested more than £6 million in the growth of padel across Britain, including £4.5 million towards the development of 80 courts at 42 venues — representing approximately 10% of all padel courts nationwide.
Awareness of padel among adults reached 43% of the population (approximately 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.
Interest in playing padel across GB continues to increase, with over eight million Britons expressing a desire to try padel, which is up by 60% over the past 12 months, reflecting its accessible, social nature and appeal to all age groups.
The LTA’s support for padel now extends to dedicated padel social media accounts and a new padel website featuring a range of resources and news.
Tom Murray, LTA Head of Padel, said: “The LTA are pleased to share the latest figures highlighting the continued growth of padel in Great Britain, alongside the launch of the LTA’s new dedicated social channels and website.
“With over 400,000 people taking to the courts in 2024 and eight million expressing interest in trying the sport, padel’s momentum is undeniable. The expansion of facilities, now at 893 courts across 300 venues, and the strong community engagement at more than 75% of these sites, reflects the sport’s inclusive and social appeal.
“Increasing visibility and accessibility is a key pillar of our padel strategy, and through these new platforms and our partnerships across the sector, the LTA are able to share more content, reach new audiences, and help even more people discover where and how they can get involved in the sport.”
