Abingdon to get three new covered padel courts at Tilsley Park

Local authorities approved three new covered outdoor padel courts for Tilsley Park in Abingdon, a move that gives the area its first dedicated padel footprint and adds another option to a sports hub already used for multiple activities. The courts are due to arrive in autumn 2026, and Abingdon Sports and Leisure is pitching the project as a fresh way to play, socialise and stay active.

The appeal is not hard to read. Padel has become one of the fastest-growing sports in the UK, and covered courts matter in a town like Abingdon because they extend play beyond the best-weather months. Three outdoor courts under cover do more than decorate a leisure site; they make the game more usable for newcomers who want a simple entry point and for regulars who need reliable court time without chasing indoor availability elsewhere.

That access piece is the real story here. Abingdon Sports and Leisure has invited people to register their interest, a sign that the venue is already trying to measure demand before the first ball is struck. For players in Abingdon and the wider Vale of White Horse, that could mean less pressure on existing nearby facilities and a clearer pathway for beginners who might otherwise be waiting for a slot or travelling farther afield.

The project also fits a broader pattern in the district. Vale of White Horse District Council approved a vision for the future of sports pitches and leisure facilities on 4 December 2024, setting out a wider framework for investment in places like Tilsley Park. Put alongside that policy backdrop, the padel build looks less like a small add-on and more like evidence that councils now see racket-sport courts as part of core community infrastructure, not just a niche extra.

Tilsley Park has long been one of Abingdon’s main sports venues, and the addition of three brand-new covered courts gives it a new lane to grow into as padel keeps pulling in players who want a fast, social format that is easier to pick up than many traditional racquet sports. Autumn 2026 is still the target for arrival, but the direction is already clear: Abingdon is moving to make padel part of the local sporting mix, not a one-off novelty.