Padel is increasingly taking the world by storm, and London is no exception. With its unique offering, padel offers an exciting and accessible experience for players of all ages and skill levels. When discussing padel in the UK and its popularity and growth, it’s hard not to immediately focus on London. The UK’s capital is home to the iconic Wimbledon tennis tournament, so naturally is viewed as the Mecca of racket sports.

If you’re in London and eager to dive into the world of padel, this article will be your ultimate guide, highlighting the best places to play in the city and what essential factors to consider when choosing a padel court.

How To Play Padel In London?

London boasts a growing number of padel facilities that cater to both seasoned players and beginners. Spread across the iconic capital are some of the UK’s top padel locations where enthusiasts can book out a court and play. Here are some of the top locations to enjoy the sport…

The Regent’s Park

Regent’s Park padel courts are located in the heart of London, split between the City of Westminster and the Borough of Camden. Park Sports The Regent’s Park offers pay and play bookings available to book online up to 7 days in advance. With a regular timetable of weekly courses, tournaments, and lessons, it remains the most centrally located padel court in London. The outdoor courts are of decent quality for a park court standard and are also floodlit meaning you can continue on playing after dark weather permitting.

Hyde Park

Hyde Park is perhaps known as London’s most famous park and is also the largest of all four royal parks in the capital. With a similar feel to the Regent’s Park courts, the open-air enclosed glass outdoor court offers people a great option to play the sport in the hustle and bustle of central London. You can book out the single court through the Park Sports booking platform.

Stratford Padel Club

Stratford Padel Club is a great community space and padel club which is open to both members and non-members. Boasting regular social events, a restaurant bar, matches to play and watch, as well as a beer garden. The club is the perfect place to get together with friends, family or even meet new likeminded people who share the love of padel. What’s more, there are padel lessons for adults and juniors, monthly tournaments, corporate events, match play and socials, gym facilities, and table tennis if you haven’t had enough of racket sports by the end of it. Featuring 5 indoor courts with a Rocky Balboa roughness to them, the club has over 1000 active members, and over 11000 registered players.

A mere 10 minute walk from Stratford Underground Station, Stratford Padel Club remains one of London’s premium padel clubs focussed entirely on spreading the word of padel and getting more people to play the game.

Rocks Lane Chiswick

Nestled just 200m from Turnham Green tube station in the beating heart of Chiswick, Rocks Lane is a multi-functional sports hub that places padel front and centre of its extensive offering. With 9 high-quality full sized padel courts available to book and hire, as well as a clubhouse with a café and changing rooms, Rocks Lane is one of our favourite places to play padel in London. All courts are outdoors, however 4 are now under a weatherproof canopy tent enabling play under unfavourable weather conditions. The courts are available to book 7 days a week, 8am-10pm with floodlights available for an additional charge of £6 per hour.

David Lloyd Bushey & Chigwell

One of the main organisations who have used their facilities to promote and spread awareness of padel in the UK is undoubtedly the David Lloyd Leisure Group. In the Greater London area, both Chigwell (on the cusp of the London/Essex border) and Bushey (Hertfordshire) offer padel to their members with courts, although dated, are built to a decent condition. We have no doubt that other David Lloyd clubs will follow suit.

Padium, Canary Wharf

One of the newest clubs on the scene in London (and most central) is Padium, located in Canary Wharf.

This is currently the most premium facility in London with 7 indoor courts and 1 outdoor court – in a canopy structure with enclosed walls, which gives an indoor club feeling. At the club they provide coaching, events and court rentals, all within easy reach of public transport.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Padel Court

We’re all too aware that choosing a court relies on deciding upon several factors. Here’s what we think you need to consider before choosing…

Location

Consider the location of the padel facility in relation to your home, workplace, or other frequent destinations. A conveniently located court will make it easier for you to commit to regular play.

Court Surface

Padel courts can have different surfaces, there are different qualities of artificial grass. Each surface has its unique characteristics, affecting ball bounce and player movement. Try out different surfaces to see which one suits your playing style best.

Indoor vs Outdoor

Both indoor and outdoor courts have their merits. Indoor facilities allow for year-round play, regardless of weather conditions, while outdoor courts offer a refreshing experience and natural lighting. Decide based on your preferences and willingness to brave the elements.

Court Booking System

Check the court booking system of the facility you’re interested in. Some places allow online bookings in advance, making it convenient to secure your playtime, while others may have a first-come, first-served basis or require a subscription membership.

Coaching and Training

If you’re a beginner or looking to improve your skills, consider facilities that offer coaching and training programs. Certified instructors can help you grasp the fundamentals and advance your game – there are not many around yet, but if you can find a good one it will elevate your padel.

Membership and Fees

Compare membership options and fees across different clubs to find one that fits your budget and playing frequency. Some facilities might offer concession discounts for students or off-peak hours.

London’s passion for padel is evident in the array of top-notch facilities scattered across the city. Whether you’re a newcomer eager to try out the sport or an experienced player looking for some friendly competition, the London padel scene has something to offer for everyone.

What do you think? Got a personal favourite in London? We’d love to hear your thoughts, so if you have any questions or suggestions get in touch with us now!