There are plenty of health and wellbeing trends out there at the moment: high protein meals (we see you, cottage cheese), the 80/20 rule, manifestation and sound healing, and low-impact walks and Pilates for days. But what's the latest game to come to the world of popular sports? Padel, of course. This racket sport hails from Mexico, taking over London with its perfect hybrid of squash and tennis; think solid, stringless bats and playing balls off the court's wall like in squash, but combined with tennis scoring and a smaller doubles tennis-style court. If that sounds like it'll float your boat, check out all the very best courts and clubs for playing padel tennis in London.

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West London

Padel Social Club, Earls Court

Built around fostering a sense of community, making their Earls Court venue popular with everyone from beginners to enthusiasts, Padel Social Club offers a vibrant hub for playing the sport in West London. Alongside the chance to hone your padel skills, there are sauna and cold plunge sessions, as well as fitness classes - both at 20% off with memberships - creating a well-rounded fitness package. Membership itself is £33 per month, which also grants access to league and club championship tournaments, and courts cost around £50 or more for each hour. West Brompton station is just a short walk away too for easy transport links. They've even got a partnership with local boozer The Prince on 27th May, where you and three mates can try padel at a reduced price of £40 each, including equipment hire, welcome drinks and an after-party.

This padel club in London will soon be expanding to The O2.

Rocks Lane Padel Tennis, Chiswick And Barnes

Having been well-established in Chiswick and now expanding to Barnes, Rocks Lane Padel Tennis is sure to be a staple for those of you in W and SW postcodes. You'll find the former just a stroll away from Turnham Green tube stop on Chiswick Common, boasting 12 padel courts (including four), plus a bustling clubhouse with a cafe, changing rooms and soft play. Meanwhile, the newer, latter venue has four courts in a picturesque Barnes Common setting - again with plenty of facilities to reflect the fact padel is a social sport played in doubles pairs. And if you fancy brushing up on your skills? Book into the adult courses or one-on-one coaching. They're also joining forces with The Anti Swipe for a sporty singles event on 30th May that costs £36 per person.

Depending on your membership level, it's between £40 and £60 per hour to hire courts here.

East London

Padium, Canary Wharf

A premium pick of places to play padel, Padium has seven indoor and a single outdoor court across their state-of-the-art club, which is also one of the few places to provide showers on-site. Expect full courses tailored to all skill levels, private tuition and social padel too, with court hire costing £80 an hour for your group of four. Upgrade your booking to centre court here (£100 per hour) and you'll get to enjoy the added benefits of gamecam technology - recording and analysing your gameplay with AI, so that you know exactly where and how to improve. 

Relax after your session in the mezzanine lounge, with a protein shake, glass of wine or beer in-hand.

Stratford Padel Club, East London

Nine indoor courts make up Stratford Padel Club, a space founded by Javier Fernandez Aguirre back in December 2018. The venue has since grown from its 30 members to having serviced more than 20,000 players over the years - a testament to both the growth of the sport and the dedication of the team here. Top-notch facilities span everything from match recording and streaming to changing rooms with showers, a popular beer garden, table tennis, a gym, and a bar serving drinks and hot food. It's really got everything you need, all in one place.

While some of the UK's highest ranking athletes train here, four members can still nab 90 minutes of court time for £52 in peak times.

Rocket Padel, Ilford

Having opened in April after £2.5 million was spent building a World Padel Tour-standard space, Rocket Padel now boasts the title of the largest indoor padel club in the capital - a legacy they'll be hoping to expand on with the opening of a further venue in Battersea later this year. This Ilford spot is a 10 min walk from Redbridge tube station, bringing you the opportunity to play across 11 courts, alongside two high-tech tournament centre courts complete with spectator areas. There's a full coaching programme to get stuck into, a bistro to make a full day out of your sports session, and a pro shop for all your equipment needs. But what about cost? It's £36 for an hour on the court as a group of four.

Rocket is the biggest venue for indoor padel in London and has come to our city courtesy of the world-famous Swedish brand.

Central And North London

Park Sports, Regent's Park And Hyde Park

To book padel at London Regent's Park or Hyde Park, Park Sports have you covered with two floodlit courts at the former and one at the latter. You can join courses, head to lessons or opt for the simple 'pay and play' basis - no membership needed. Bookings open seven days in advance and spots are sought-after, although once you're there, you'll have the best time playing in a gorgeous Royal Park surrounded by green space. There's even a friendly cafe at each location too.

Play in some of the city's most iconic parks for up to £43 per hour (between four).

Hazelwood Sports Club, Winchmore Hill

If a North London padel club would be more around your neck of the woods, then checking out Hazelwood Sports Club is essential. Originally opened in 1909 as a traditional tennis club, the venue has since added both squash and padel to their repertoire. This was one of the first places in the UK where you could play padel, having added a court in 2015, so the team here have really been paving the way for the sport. Annual memberships offer £15 per hour off-peak hire (£24 in peak times), alongside tournaments and weekly club nights - although non-members can still hire courts at higher rates.

With some of the most affordable hourly rates for court hire, Hazelwood Sports Club is worth a look.

South West London

The Padel Yard, Wandsworth 

Fans of the former Backyard Cinema stomping ground in Wandsworth will know the surroundings of The Padel Yard well, but the space has been totally transformed into this new sports club in collaboration with Game 4 Padel. There are now three indoor padel courts and four outdoor - all made of artificial grass - so that you can make the most of the world's fastest growing sport. Or you can even play pickleback too if you fancy a go at what's trending over in the US. There are intro classes, social sessions where you'll get randomly paired with other participants, and coaching ranging from beginner to intermediate. Memberships make the hourly court charge cheaper, plus the venue has a vibrant bar serving craft beer and smoothies to really make an occasion of your workout.

After the best courts for padel in South London? Check this place out, where they cost between £50 and £60 an hour.

For more fun and fitness-related things to do, take a look at our guide covering the most unique classes across London. Sign up to our newsletter and hear about the latest trends.