Sport and socialising: now that’s what we call a great match. Luckily for Londoners, we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to tennis, football, and golfing grounds – but what about padel? This new sporting trend – founded in Mexico and typically played in doubles on a glass-walled court, which you can bounce the ball off – has taken the city by storm in recent years, resulting in a number of modern clubs spanning east to west and everywhere in between. While all of the below specialise in the sport, and come equipped with highly-experienced coaches to teach you the ropes, you’ll soon discover that they are more than just places to play, featuring coffee shops, bars and lounges designed to make you linger a little longer once the match is over. Welcome to the best padel clubs in London. 

Padium, Canary Wharf

Situated in the heart of London’s business epicentre – and therefore a hub for workers looking to blow off some steam after a long day at the office – Padium boasts seven indoor and two outdoor padel courts, all fitted with All For Padel-accredited, 10-metre panoramic screens with mondo turfs. While the club certainly caters to beginners – we recommend booking the Intro to Padel session to learn all the essential techniques, rules, and tactics – proficient players can seriously elevate their game on the centre court, which is equipped with an AI-camera that analyses movement with detailed statistics. Stock your sporting wardrobe at the Pro Shop – offering top notch equipment from Babolat, Wilson and Adidas – before dipping into the Ace Bar to pick up well-deserved protein shakes and nutritional sweet treats from Nocco’s, Vitamin Well and Barebells.  

From £80 per one-hour session, visit padium.com

Rocket Padel, Battersea and Ilford

A Scandinavian brand founded by Morten Bugge in 2019, Rocket Padel has made headlines in the capital not once, but twice: when it launched London’s largest padel court in Ilford, and then again last year when it opened in the shadow of Battersea Power Station. The latter location features four courts housed in an 11-metre-high glass building alongside a stylish clubhouse, a dedicated warm-up zone, a pro shop, bar and bistro (with more refuelling restaurants just moments away within the power station and on Electric Boulevard). Elsewhere, the Ilford site offers similar amenities on a larger scale – discover an additional 10 courts here – as well as spectating areas and a conference room. A team day on the padel court, anyone? 

Visit rocketpadel.com

Padel Social Club, across London

With thriving debut outposts in Earl’s Court and Soho House’s Babington House in Somerset – as well as two new clubs rumoured to be opening at The O2 and in Wandsworth – Padel Social Club has proven demand for padel courts has sky-rocketed in the capital. While we eagerly await the east and south London outposts, head to the inaugural Earl’s Court site to sample the ultimate on-and-off-court experience. Five panoramic courts sit alongside sleek changing rooms, a wellness pod featuring a sauna and cold plunge – simultaneously taking your recovery game to the next level – as well as a shop, nutrition-focused restaurant, bar and an outdoor roof terrace. If that’s not enough, expert coaching and calming yoga sessions have been designed to elevate your game even further. 

From £33 per month, visit padelsocial.club

Padel Box, Bermondsey

Launched by brothers Charlie and Terry Williams earlier this year, Padel Box combines premium facilities and stylish socialising in a modern Victorian property. Designed to be more than a place to play, discover five new courts alongside chic changing rooms, shower facilities, and for those who prefer spectating, a viewing balcony which offers the best seats in the house. On-site work booths – where members are invited to host colleagues, team meetings or rifle through emails pre- or post-match – a stylish coffee counter which sources its beans from local roasteries, generously-stocked bar and a shop offering  all the must-have pro-padel gear adds to the seamless experience. This is more than just your average court. 

From £30 per month, visit padelbox.club

The Padel Yard, Wandsworth

Arrive at The Padel Yard’s fairylight-festooned gates on Armoury Way and you’d be forgiven for thinking you’ve turned up at a secret London drinking hole. Featuring a circus-style tent housing a bar, several turfed grounds strewn with benches and bean bags, and more parasols and deck chairs than you can shake a stick at, it certainly takes the socialising aspect seriously – but the six courts, one pickleball court and army of expert instructors on hand to help you ace your game are also not to be sniffed at. Housed on a former pop-up cinema site, it came to fruition in 2023 when developer Sha Jenab and founder Harvey Armstrong launched The Padel Yard as one of the first padel-only clubs and it now boasts 500 members. Book a court now to get your endorphins pumping; just don’t forget to grab one of the craft beers or homemade smoothies after you’ve sweated it out. 

From £30 per month, visit thepadelyard.com

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