UK sports boom in 2025: Pickleball and climbing lead record participation surge
Participation in sports surged across the UK in 2025, with several activities seeing sharp rises in popularity. New figures reveal climbing, pickleball and football led the growth, while walking remained the most common fitness activity for both men and women.
The sporting goods industry also expanded, though at a slower pace than the wider economy. Pickleball saw the biggest jump, with participation up by 22.8 percent to 24.3 million. The fast-growing sport has attracted a broad range of players in recent years.
Climbing also experienced strong gains across all disciplines. Traditional, ice and mountaineering climbers increased by 14.2 percent to 2.9 million. Sport and bouldering climbers rose by 20.1 percent to 3.2 million. Indoor climbing alone grew by 13.1 percent, reaching 7.1 million participants.
Football remained a major draw, with outdoor participation climbing 15.8 percent to 16.8 million. Indoor football also saw a 10.5 percent rise, bringing its total to 6.6 million players.
Trail running continued its upward trend, growing by 6.6 percent to 17.2 million. Track and field participation increased by 10.6 percent, reaching 4.6 million. Meanwhile, walking for fitness stayed the most popular activity, with 51.5 million men and 64.1 million women taking part.
Despite the boom in participation, the sporting goods industry grew by just 3.4 percent in 2025. This was slower than the UK’s overall GDP growth of 5 percent for the same period. The latest data confirms a clear shift in how people engage with sports. Activities like pickleball and climbing have gained significant traction, while traditional favourites such as football and walking maintain their appeal. The slower growth in sporting goods sales suggests that more participants may be using existing equipment rather than buying new gear.
