Over 400,000 players: LTA unveils latest figures on growth of Padel in Britain
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Padel is continuing to grow in popularity across Great Britain, with new figures collected and analysed by the LTA, revealing that participation more than trebled last year, alongside a major spike in public awareness and interest.
Padel is one of the fastest growing sports in Britian. New figures released today by the LTA show that at the end of 2024, just over 400,000 adults and juniors in Great Britain played padel at least once in the preceding 12 months. Up from 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 - doubling from 23,000 in 2022-23 to 51,000 in 2023-24, as per their Active Lives annual survey that was released two weeks ago.
This growth is supported by a rapidly expanding infrastructure, with 893 padel courts now available across 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.
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.
More than three-quarters of all 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.)
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 Britain 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.
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 Britain’s padel players.
Whilst this week the LTA has launched a dedicated padel website (www.ltapadel.org.uk) to support the growing players, fans, competitors and venues. 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 practical 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 launch of the LTA Padel website marks an exciting step in the LTA’s commitment to growing padel at all levels, making it easier for players, venues, and supporters to connect with and enjoy the sport.
Reflecting on these announcements, 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 8 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.”
These updates build on earlier announcements from the LTA this year regarding British padel, including the appointments of Libby Fletcher as National Performance Pathway Manager and Sandy Farquharson as National Performance Coach, as well as new partnerships with the UK’s leading Pro-Celebrity padel series, the Pro Am Padel Tour, along with Padel TV and Hexagon Cup’s Team AD/vantage.
