University of Cambridge Sports Centre

Two outdoor padel courts sit alongside the University of Cambridge Sports Centre on Philippa Fawcett Drive at Cambridge West, near the Eddington community. Run by University of Cambridge Sport, the courts are open to everyone and bookable in one-hour slots from 7am to 10pm via the CamUniSport app. Pay-and-play hire is thirty-six pounds an hour, dropping to twenty-eight for members and University of Cambridge students, with free racquet hire included. Learn to Padel sessions, coaching, open drop-in nights and a socially competitive league are all offered, making it a welcoming spot for newcomers and regulars alike.

New to padel? What you need for your first session

Most UK padel venues hire rackets by the hour, so you do not need to buy anything before your first game. Check this club’s booking page for hire availability and prices.

Once you have played a few times and want your own kit, this is the order we would buy in.

• Court shoes first. Clubs hire rackets, they do not hire shoes, and running trainers slide on padel courts. This is the single purchase that most improves your first month. See our best padel shoes for UK players.
• Then a racket. Once your technique has settled you will know whether you want control or power. Start with our best beginner padel rackets, or read how to choose your first padel racket.
• Balls last. Most clubs provide balls for casual sessions. When you start playing regularly, see our best padel balls for UK courts.

🛒 Shop padel kit on Amazon UK →

Never played before? Read the rules of padel and how padel differs from tennis before you turn up.

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