The significant growth of padel across the nation has led to a boom of courts in South West London, here’s where you can play.
Padel, known for its unique social style, has seen a huge growth in the post-pandemic years which has in turn resulted in a surge of padel clubs across the country, in particular South West London.
The sport is often viewed as more appealing than tennis, especially when playing with friends, as the small, enclosed courts encourage free flowing rallies and, the rules and techniques of the game are relatively easy to learn.
Its popularity can also be attributed to the number of celebrities who have found a love for the sport, these range from football superstars like Ronaldo, Messi and Beckham, to tennis personalities such as Nadal and Serena Williams, to Formula 1 drivers, and even the French president.
No matter what has skyrocketed its popularity, padel is the fastest growing sport in the UK with over 89,000 players and continues to thrive in communities across the country.
For this reason, we have put together a list of the best places to play padel in South West London.
The National Tennis Centre – Roehampton
Despite this location being the UK’s national tennis centre, the site has recently opened three padel courts which are available to the public on a pay and play basis.
The courts are said to be one of the best facilities for padel in the UK and have the added bonus of being able to spot some of the country’s top tennis players after their training sessions.
So, for any tennis enthusiasts or padel players looking for a high quality court to play on, the National Tennis Centre is the place to be.
The Padel Yard – Wandsworth
In a partnership with Game4Padel, sponsored by Andy Murray and Virgil Van Dijk, this distinctive location is a centre for social participation in padel in South West London.
With deck chairs and bean bags alongside a bar serving smoothies and craft beer, the padel yard has created a community of padel enthusiasts.
Hence, this is an excellent place to learn and develop the techniques of the game whilst with friends and family, especially as it is also dog friendly.
Rocks Lane Padel Club – Chiswick
Having recently held the Euro Padel League, Rocks Lane is a hub for London’s talent.
For those wanting to achieve within the sport, this club offers academy and player performance programmes, helping to provide opportunities for everyone.
Its performance pathway has successful players including GB number ones for a range of age groups.
With 10 courts in total, this is the optimal place to learn and develop as a padel player to reach the highest ranks of the sport.
Paddle People – Wimbledon
In collaboration with hybrid fitness, padel has reached Wimbledon – arguably the heart of English tennis.
Run by sport fanatics, this site offers both beginner and intermediate classes to help those interested in the sport improve their performance.
Additionally, this humble location enables players to interact with staff on a personal level which, along with their social work space, helps to create a warm and welcoming environment.
So, for those wanting to play padel less than two miles from centre court, this hospitable location is the spot to be.
Park Sports – Hyde Park
Being one of the royal parks, this is most definitely a unique location to play padel in the heart of London.
Its picturesque surroundings and local cafe make this the perfect place to casually play with friends, especially as no membership is required to book the court.
For those wanting to take up the sport more seriously, park sports also offer weekly training sessions and one to one lessons to help players develop as rapidly as the sport is.
For that reason, this site is extremely beginner friendly and welcoming to all padel players no matter their ability.
Padel Social Club – Earls Court
This site aims to create a community where padel players can thrive and make social connections with other players.
Their range of facilities enhances the padel experience both on and off the court, with bars and restaurants creating a prospering community space for players to reflect on performance with one another and, a wellness pod to recuperate from the physical and mental exertion of the sport.
On top of this, their outdoor roof terrace is a perfect way to end a day of the sport, making this location one of the top social hubs for the padel community in South West London.
