Padel is having a real moment right now, threatening to take tennis’ crown as queen of the ball sports – just in time for summer 2025. Want to pick up a racket and give it a go? Here’s where to play padel in London.
What is padel, anyway?
Padel is a racquet sport that is best described as a blended version of tennis and squash. It is typically played in teams of two on an enclosed court about a third of the size of a tennis court, and while the ball can bounce off the walls (like squash), the scoring system is the same as tennis, with no double bounces allowed. You also use a special racket, which is a little like the stringless, solid rackets you might have used as a kid for swing ball.
How does padel compare to tennis?
Think of padel as the younger sister of tennis (the original darling of summer racket sports). As a comparison, padel games are generally faster and less technical than traditional tennis – making it super accessible for beginners. In particular, the ball stays in play longer, leading to exciting fast-paced rallies; there’s a social energy due to the doubles format because communication with your partner is key; and the simple-to-pick-up rules keep energy levels high so there’s no reason for first-timer anxiety. If you’ve always struggled with tennis serving, there’s another benefit too: you have to serve underhand, which makes things feel a little easier.
Who might enjoy padel?
Padel is a brilliantly inclusive sport. Whether you’re competitive or just in it for fun, padel offers a great workout and a brilliant way to meet new people because it is rarely a singles sport. If you’re looking for a way to improve your fitness in a social setting, it might just be time to join the other Londoners who are swapping solo gym sessions for the padel court.
Where to play padel in London
Interested in giving it a go? Here are five of our favourite places to play padel in London, with options suitable for all experience levels and capital postcodes.
1. Padium, Canary Wharf
Another sign that Canary Wharf is leading the capital’s 2025 wellness charge, the financial capital is home to Padium – London’s first indoor padel club, meaning you can get your fix come rain or shine. Perfect for an after-work rally or weekend fun with friends, Padium offers more than just well-kept courts. It’s a real social hub, with a lounge for post-game socialising that has really strengthened the site’s growing community of competitive (and first-time) players. The coaches are as friendly as they are knowledgeable too, and if you really want to improve your game, you can book the centre court, which comes complete with game-cam technology that can help you capture and analyse your performance in detail.
2. Padel Social Club, Various Locations
Perfectly defined by the tagline, ‘Game.Set.Chat’, Padel Social Club has fast become known as ‘the Soho House of padel clubs’ – aka it has a real community of fun-loving players ready for you to join. Plus, with three locations across London (and one more launching in Wandsworth soon), a padel court is probably closer to you than you might think. A membership gives you access not only to court time but to additional benefits, including organised matches and tournaments for competitive types, and sauna and cold plunge experiences because recovery is just as important as play. Want to also meet your match on court? Try Padel Play Dates, where fast-paced games, rotating partners, drinks and a Live DJ mean dating can feel fun (and active) again.
3. Stratford Padel Club, Stratford
The largest padel club in London, Stratford has nine indoor courts and a community of more than 35,000 players, including some of the best padel players in the UK, who can be spotted training here. Don’t be intimidated though. The club also has the largest percentage of female players in the capital (and plenty of beginners), with lots of opportunities for coaching, pay-per-play and tournaments – all set across the road from the iconic location of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Best of all, booking a court is pretty affordable. A New To Padel session is just £20 so you don’t have to break the bank to work out whether you like the sport (and you’ll get some tips and tricks on how to play the game cleverly too). Then, if you do fall in love with padel, social sessions start from just £22 for a two-hour slot, and there are off-peak offers too.
4. National Tennis Centre, Roehampton
In Roehampton, you have access to four outdoor padel courts and professional-grade facilities on site at the NTC. Ideal for players who want a high-quality, well-organised playing experience with or without the social club atmosphere (aka it is particularly perfect for just a quick game with friends), the location also means that you can play with a hefty side order of celebrity tennis star spotting too. Best of all, you can access the courts on a pay and play basis, so you can give the sport a try without any commitment. And, there are tennis courts right next door so you can make a day of it, with lots of racket sports in the summer sunshine with your friends should you wish.
5. Powerleague Padel, Shoreditch
Right by Shoreditch High Street overground station (making it super accessible for many Londoners), Powerleague has already built up quite the reputation for fun and friendly football leagues. Now, with the help of three outdoor courts, padel is making a racket in the area too, with super casual bookings allowing seasoned players and newcomers to enjoy the space side-by-side. There are also Intro to Padel sessions and further coaching sessions led by qualified padel coaches meaning you can gather up a friend or two (or visit solo), and, even if you are new to the sport, you can enjoy the racket sport with confidence.
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