If you've ever played padel on a trip to London and winced at the booking fee, you're not imagining it. New figures show there's a clear north–south divide in what we pay for an hour on court, and for once, we in the North West come out on the right side of it.
As a padel coach in Southport, I get asked about cost all the time: "Is padel expensive?", "Is it worth paying for lessons?", "How do I play more without spending a fortune?" So let's look at the numbers, what they mean for players in Merseyside and West Lancashire, and how to get the most out of every pound you spend on court.
The headline numbers
The Padel Paper recently published a deep dive using data from Playskan, a court-price comparison site for padel. The UK average for an hour of padel is £34 per court, but where you live makes a big difference.
| Location | Average price per court, per hour | Per player (split 4 ways) |
|---|---|---|
| London | £47 | £11.75 |
| Manchester | £37 | £9.25 |
| Wigan | £34 | £8.50 |
| UK average | £34 | £8.50 |
| Liverpool | £33 | £8.25 |
| Leeds | £32 | £8.00 |
| Ipswich (cheapest in the south) | £24 | £6.00 |
| York (cheapest in the UK) | £23 | £5.75 |
Source: Playskan data via The Padel Paper, October 2026. Averages are estimates based on publicly available booking data.
So an hour in Liverpool costs, on average, around £14 less per court than in London. Split four ways, that's £3.50 each per game. Play once a week for a year and each player saves roughly £180 compared with a Londoner. That's a new racket.
Why is padel more expensive in the south?
It mostly comes down to supply and demand:
- Busier courts. London courts are booked around two-thirds of the time on average, compared with about half the time in Manchester. When courts are full, clubs can charge more.
- Prices moving in opposite directions. Over the last three months, more London clubs have raised prices than cut them, while in Manchester more clubs have cut prices than raised them.
- Competition. Manchester now has more than 40 clubs within 15 miles of the city centre. More choice means operators have to compete on price, and players benefit.
- Property and running costs. Land, rent and staff all cost more in the south, and that gets passed on to the booking fee.
Same chain, different price
One of the most telling comparisons in the data is within the same brand. Vida del Padel's northern sites sit in a roughly £18–£40 per hour range, while its single southern club in Chichester goes up to £48 at peak.
At the top end, southern chain Rocket Padel averages around £51 per hour across its clubs, and its flagship Battersea site charges £70–£80 per hour, and it's still almost always full. Different market, different expectations.
What about Southport, Merseyside and West Lancashire?
The data doesn't break out Southport on its own, but Liverpool's £33 average gives a good benchmark for our area, and Merseyside has some genuinely good-value options. For example, Game4Padel at Liverpool Cricket Club lists non-member rates of £7–£8 per player per hour, with rackets free to borrow.
Here in Southport:
- Birkdale Padel Club (Victoria Park): £30 per court per hour off-peak (£7.50 each with four players) and £40 at peak times (£10 each).
Off-peak, that puts Southport below the UK average of £34 and below Liverpool's £33, and £17 an hour cheaper than the London average. Peak evening slots are a little above the national average, but still £7 an hour less than London. Play off-peak once a week for a year and each player in a group of four saves around £220 compared with the London average.
The North West is one of the best-value places in the country to play padel right now, and with new clubs opening across Merseyside, there's every chance prices stay competitive.
A coach's tips for playing more padel for less
Whatever the booking fee, here's how my players get the best value:
- Always fill the court. Padel is a doubles game. A £32 court is £8 each with four players, but £16 each with two.
- Play off-peak if you can. Weekday daytime slots are often several pounds cheaper per hour. Ideal if you're retired, work shifts or work from home.
- Look at memberships. If you play more than once a week, a membership with reduced court rates usually pays for itself quickly.
- Book group or semi-private lessons. A coaching session shared between four players gives you expert input for a fraction of a one-to-one price.
- Don't over-buy kit. You don't need a £250 racket in your first year. Borrow or hire first, then buy something suited to your level. Ask your coach.
- Make every hour count. The most expensive padel is the hour where you repeat the same mistakes. A few lessons early on mean you enjoy every booking more and improve faster.
Thinking about lessons?
I coach padel players of all levels in Southport and across Merseyside and West Lancashire, mainly at Birkdale Padel Club. Whether you're brand new to the sport or want to sharpen your game for leagues and tournaments, I offer:
- One-to-one: £30
- Two players: £35 (£17.50 each)
- Three or four players: £40 (as little as £10 each)
Coaching prices exclude court hire.
Here's the maths for a group of four at Birkdale: £40 coaching plus £30 off-peak court hire is £70, just £17.50 each for an hour of professional coaching on court (or £20 each at peak times). That's less than many London players pay just to book the court.
Prefer a quick chat first? Message me on WhatsApp or find out more about padel coaching in Southport. I also coach in Formby, Ormskirk and Preston.
Frequently asked questions
How much does padel cost per hour in the UK? The UK average is around £34 per court per hour (about £8.50 per player when four play), according to Playskan data published in October 2026. Prices range from around £23 in York to £47 on average in London.
Is padel cheaper in the north of England? Yes. London averages about £47 per hour, while Manchester (£37), Liverpool (£33) and Leeds (£32) are all noticeably cheaper. York is the cheapest city in the UK at around £23.
How much does padel cost in Liverpool and Merseyside? Liverpool averages around £33 per court per hour, roughly £8.25 per player, and some Merseyside venues charge as little as £7–£8 per player.
How much does padel cost in Southport? At Birkdale Padel Club in Victoria Park, a court costs £30 per hour off-peak and £40 at peak times, £7.50 to £10 per player when four play. Off-peak, that's below both the UK average (£34) and Liverpool (£33).
What's the cheapest way to play padel? Book as a group of four, play off-peak, consider a membership if you play regularly, and borrow or hire a racket before buying one.
How much are padel lessons in Southport? With PT Padel Coach Trevor, lessons are £30 one-to-one, £35 for two players and £40 for three or four players, plus court hire. A group of four at Birkdale Padel Club pays £17.50–£20 each for an hour of coaching including the court.
Price data: Playskan, as reported by The Padel Paper, 27 October 2026. Local venue prices correct at time of writing. Always check with the club before booking.
