You’ve finally succumbed and jumped on the padel tennis train. The next step now that you’ve drunk the Kool-aid? Finding a court.
The sport has skyrocketed in popularity in recent years — more than 89,000 Brits now play regularly, and counting. Regulars at some London clubs are known to stay up until midnight to bag fresh slots.
Happily, new clubs are springing up across the capital faster than you can say “volley” — and there’s much more to them than a few courts and a simple reception desk. Think plant-filled co-working spaces, clubhouses inspired by Soho House and AI-powered technology to analyse your gameplay.
From London’s largest padel community in Stratford to the members’ club of padel tennis in Earls Court, here are the hottest spots to book now.
Stratford Padel Club, east London
USP: Size. Stratford is London’s largest padel club, boasting nine indoor courts and more than 20,000 players.
Some of the highest-ranking members in the UK train at Stratford — but don’t let that put you off. The club is next to the Olympic Park and boasts the largest padel community in the UK, across all abilities. The beginner package costs just £15 and includes a one-hour training session and 30-day free membership including racket rental. There are nine indoor courts available to book for competitive or social matches.
Facilities include match recording and streaming, a gym, showers and changing rooms, a bar serving hot food — and even a beer garden. Stratford High Street DLR station is just a four-minute walk away. Monthly membership costs £22 or it’s £199 for the year.
Cost per hour: From £6 for members, from £10.67 for non-members
221 High St, E15 2AE, stratfordpadelclub.org
Padel Social Club, Earls Court
USP: A members’ club feel without the exclusivity. Regulars call it the Soho House of padel clubs thanks to its bouji clubhouse serving canned margaritas.
Kristian, the founder, an ex-broker and tennis coach, says he wants his padel community to have a members’ club feel — and so far he’s going the right way about it. The west London club sits next to The Prince pub in the heart of Earls Court’s snazzy new wellness hub Empress Place. There is also an ice bath pop-up opening next door this summer. Plus, a sister club is already running at Soho House’s Somerset outpost, Babington House.
Come for music while you play, and stay for your post-padel pint. PSC’s clubhouse is designed by the same interior experts as Soho House and serves everything from champagne to luxury canned cocktails. Keep an eye on the calendar: the club hosted its first Play Dates singles’ night on Valentine’s Day to roaring success (attendees say it was the first singles’ event they’ve been to that gave their coupled-up friends FOMO), and is set to host more this summer.
Cost per hour: From £50
Empress Place, SW6 1TT, padelsocial.club
Blank Street Padel Club, Battersea Power Station
USP: Padel in the shadow of London’s famous power station — and bats that match your matcha
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Jump on it while you can. Blank Street’s summer padel pop-up is so popular it’s been extended until September 8, with slots available from 8am to 9.30pm in the enviable location that is Power Station Park, between Battersea Power Station and the jetty over the Thames.
Come for the padel and stay for the merch — and free coffee. All bookings include one complimentary matcha drink per player, and you can pick up Blank Street’s cool green matcha-themed padel kit (bats, balls, socks, bags and tees) from the kiosk next to the court.
Cost per hour: £50
Until September 8, Battersea Power Station, Nine Elms, SW11 8AL, blankstreet.com/padelclub
Powerleague, Shoreditch
USP: Padel in the heart of Shoreditch for a post-work hit
You’ve probably seen the football courts by now, hidden around the back of Shoreditch High Street station. But did you know Powerleague now has padel? Three snazzy new panoramic padel courts with a view of the Gherkin (and Boxpark right on the doorstep for post-padel pints), to be precise.
Courts are available to book for 60 or 90-minute sessions and the club now runs lessons and social events, too.
Cost per hour: From £11 per person
Behind Shoreditch High Street Station, Braithwaite Street Opposite Shoreditch High Street, E1 6GJ, powerleague.com
Park Sports, Hyde Park and Regent’s Park
USP: Padel for everyone after dark. The club’s two padel venues feature floodlights and racket hire.
Park Sports is the perfect place to play after work. Both are public facilities so anyone can book, with non-members able to book up to seven days in advance (courts are released at 7am each day) and existing cardholders 10 days in advance. All you have to do is set up a free online account.
Both venues also offer weekly drill sessions for beginners through to advanced players, and there’s coaching if you’re looking for something more intensive.
Cost per hour: From £25.80
W2 2UH and NW1 4PA, parksports.co.uk
Padium, Canary Wharf
USP: Padel in your lunchbreak. Padium’s courts are perfectly placed to catch the pre-, post and mid-way-through-work Canary Wharf crowd. Think of it as the love child of Barry’s (you can pre-order your protein shake), WeWork (there’s a plant and sofa-filled mezzanine area) and, well, your local padel club.
Canary Wharf naturally draws an analytical crowd, so the team behind Padium were smart in installing special AI ‘gamecam’ technology to its centre court. This allows players to analyse their matches afterwards.
The club offers seven indoor courts and one outdoor. It also runs regular 90-minute ‘Intro to padel’ sessions for beginners and social and one-on-one coaching sessions. If you want a boozy alternative to pre-ordering a protein shake, Ace Bar is stocked with beer and wine for a post-match drink. Book your court via the Playtomic app, seven days in advance if you’re a non-member and 14 days before if you’re a member.
Cost per hour: £80
10 Bank Street, E14 4DE, padium.com
National Tennis Centre, Roehampton
USP: Celeb-spotting. Tim Henman and other Wimbledon aces are regularly seen enjoying a spot of padel alongside regular tennis
It might be home to the Lawn Tennis Association but there’s no need to be a member to play padel at the National Tennis Centre. The centre’s three padel courts are available for pay and play seven days a week, with bookings open seven days in advance.
The team there also runs social sessions and mix-in events for intermediate players. Bats can be hired from the main reception desk.
Cost per hour: £30
100 Priory Lane, SW15 5JQ, clubspark.lta.org.uk
The Padel Yard, Wandsworth
USP: Padel and pickle in one place. The Padel Yard has three padel courts and one pickleball court, with three more padel courts opening next month.
You might recognise the location of The Padel Yard if you’re a Backyard Cinema fan. It’s where the Wandsworth cinema used to be, but reopened with a fresh new look and purpose in October 2023, featuring three padel courts and a fun social space with deck chairs and bean bags. It serves a selection of alcoholic drinks and smoothies on tap, and is dog-friendly if you want to bring your furry mascot along.
The new club is run in collaboration with Game4Padel, the UK’s largest and fastest-growing padel operator whose founder Michael Gradon reportedly persuaded Andy Murray to invest in the sport in 2019. Book via the Matchi app and sign up for an intro session or beginner lesson if you’re a newbie. There’s a ladies’ WhatsApp group for arranging games and gatherings.
Cost per hour: £50
2 Armoury Way, SW18, 1SH, thepadelyard.com
Rocks Lane Padel Club, Chiswick
USP: Padel for all the family. Rocks Lane hosts youth tournaments and has a soft play area for kids.
Teenagers and toddlers are a regular sight on the padel courts at Rocks Lane in Chiswick. The club is keen to promote inclusivity, running everything from intro sessions for kids to youth tournaments.
There are 10 courts plus a clubhouse featuring a cafe, changing rooms, social areas, and soft play for children. It’s just 200 metres from Turnham Green Tube. Use the Playtomic app [playtomic.io] for bookings.
Cost per hour: From £44 for outdoor courts, £55 for indoor
60 Chiswick Common Rd, W4 1RZ, rockslane.co.uk
Padel People, Wimbledon
USP: A WhatsApp community. Follow the club on Instagram for links to join and meet fellow local players.
Padel People’s London outpost opened in July as part of Hybrid Fitness in Wimbledon. There is just one (indoor) court at the moment but still a thriving social scene. Drop the club a DM on Instagram (@padelpeopleuk) to join the WhatsApp group or learn about lessons.
There’s a late morning ladies group and several padel pros are among the coaching team. Racket and ball rental is free if you’re a member.
Cost per hour: From £22
