Brit padel player numbers reach 400,000
400,000 Brits play padel
Padel is officially the fastest growing sport in Britain, with new figures from governing body the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) revealing that participation more than trebled last year, alongside a major spike in public awareness and interest.
The LTA today released its latest stats, revealing that at the end of 2024 just over 400,000 adults and juniors in Britain played padel at least once in the preceding 12 months.
That’s up from 15,000 in 2019, 89,000 in 2021 and 129,000 at the end of 2023.
Meanwhile Sport England, which counts participation as the number of adults playing padel twice a month, doubled from 23,000 in 2022-23 to 51,000 in 2023-24, as per its recent Active Lives annual survey.
This growth is supported by a rapidly expanding infrastructure, with almost 900 padel courts installed in 300 venues across Britain.
As of February 2025, the LTA – which officially became GB padel’s governing body in 2020 – said it had 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 (through its repayable Quick Access Loan scheme) representing approximately 10% of all padel courts nationwide. The association.
The organisation has also listened to feedback and added a tab to the main LTA home page taking players straight to padel content. It is the first time in the 137-year-old association’s history that a sport other than tennis has shared top billing on the site.
“With more than 400,000 people taking to the courts in 2024, and eight million expressing interest in trying the sport, padel’s momentum is undeniable.
Tom Murray, LTA Head of Padel
An LTA spokesman said: “Padel is playing an increasingly active role within our communities. The LTA is passionate about opening up padel to a more diverse audience, including those from underserved communities across the country, so everyone can enjoy the physical and mental benefits of staying active.”
The LTA research also showed that more than 75% of padel venues are involved in some form of community outreach, from local school partnerships to free sessions and coaching for underserved groups. Research shows that an average off-peak court booking costs £7 per person per hour (based upon doubles).
The spokesman added: “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 more than 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.”
To help continue to drive the visibility and growth of the sport, the LTA recently expanded its digital presence with the launch of dedicated LTA Padel social media channels in April. Fans and players can now follow @LTA_Padel on Instagram and @ltapadel on TikTok for exclusive content, including expert player tips, how-to guides and the latest updates on elite British players.
The LTA has also launched a dedicated padel website (www.ltapadel.org.uk), as the association spokesman explained: “As interest in the sport continues to rise, the new site provides a variety of information for anyone looking to get involved – from beginners picking up a racket for the first time, to experienced players looking to compete. With a range of accessible resources including ‘how to get started’ guides, equipment advice and tips on entering competitions, the platform aims to make padel more accessible to anyone who wants to get involved.”
The site will also offer comprehensive support for venues, including information on how to integrate padel into existing facilities and capitalise on the sport’s growing popularity. Furthermore, fans of the sport can enjoy a dedicated ‘fanzone’ spotlighting the achievements of Britain’s elite padel players, celebrating milestones from across the padel community and providing player profiles.
The LTA believes the launch of the dedicated padel website marks an ‘exciting step’ in its commitment to growing padel at all levels, making it easier for players, venues and supporters to connect with and enjoy the sport.
Tom Murray, LTA Head of Padel, said: “The LTA is 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 more than 400,000 people taking to the courts in 2024 and eight million expressing interest in trying the sport, padel’s momentum is undeniable. 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 is able to share more content, reach new audiences and help even more people discover where and how they can get involved in the sport.”
These updates build on earlier announcements from the LTA, including the appointments of Libby Fletcher as National Performance Pathway Manager and Sandy Farquharson as National Performance Coach, as well as new partnerships with UK pro-celebrity padel series, the Pro Am Padel Tour, along with Padel TV and Hexagon Cup’s Team AD/vantage. 🎾
