Some venues are just venues. A sports hall, a few courts, somewhere to play.

And then there's Lee Valley VeloPark.

Situated in the heart of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, east London, LeeValley VeloPark is the place where Team GB's cyclists carved their names into sporting history at the London 2012 Olympics. The velodrome - nicknamed "the Pringle" for its iconic curved roof - is one of the most architecturally celebrated sports buildings in Britain. Its Siberian pine track has been ridden by more world champions and Olympic medallists than almost anywhere else on earth.

And now, right alongside all of that, you can play competitive pickleball in the Picklemania League.

The partnership that makes this special

Lee Valley VeloPark isn't just a venue that happens to have pickleball courts. It's one of the first venues in the UK to go all-in on what pickleball can be when a world-class facility and a serious league platform come together.

Picklemania - the digital league platform created in conjunction with The Pickleball Directory - is now fully live at Lee Valley VeloPark. That means every session, every match, every rally feeds into something bigger. Players can find matches, track scores, track participation and climb the rankings through the Picklemania app, all from within one of the UK's most iconic sporting destinations.

This isn't recreational sport quietly going through the motions. This is structured, connected, competitive pickleball at an Olympic venue.

If you want to understand what the future of pickleball in the UK looks like - this is a very good place to start.

The launch that set the tone

When the four brand-new courts opened, Lee Valley VeloPark made sure the occasion matched the ambition of the venue.

Top UK players turned out to help launch the courts and the Picklemania League together. Jess Wilson, the UK's number three female player, was there. So was Richard Love, the top-ranked UK player in the 50+ category and number three in Europe. Rob Williams, one of the UK's most respected coaches, was on site. The Jess Premier Pickleball League Team, including European champions Emily Jelly and Anty Guiliano, were part of the celebration.

Professional player James Chaudry led 40-minute coached sessions on the day, giving players expert insight and a genuine taste of what the game looks like at the highest level.

The Picklemania app was live on the day. Players arrived, got connected, joined the league, and played their first ranked matches - all at the same event.

That's not a venue adding a sport to the timetable. That's a venue making a statement about where pickleball is going.

Join the Picklemania League at Lee Valley

The Picklemania League is the thing that makes Lee Valley VeloPark genuinely different from every other pickleball venue in London.

Picklemania is a digital league platform built to connect players, clubs and venues - supporting organised play, community engagement and structured competition in away that casual court bookings simply can't. It's the platform that transforms a venue into a community, and a session into a season.

At Lee Valley, it works like this: you book your session, you play, you log your results in the Picklemania app. Your ranking updates. You see where you stand against other players at the venue and beyond. You get matched with players at your level. You come back with something to play for.

It's the difference between going to the gym and actually training.

Ready to join? Head to Picklemania | Official Pickleball League & Match Tracking Platform to get set up before your first session.

 

What's on offer

Lee Valley VeloPark has built a full pickleball programme - not a single session bolted onto an existing timetable, but a proper suite of options for every type of player.

Social Pickleball Sessions - the weekly heartbeat Tuesdays 11:00 -13:00 and Fridays 18:00-20:00. Facilitated by a trained Sports Activator who supports all abilities and keeps the games flowing. Equipment provided. From £12.50 for members.

The Friday evening session is worth calling out specifically. Playing pickleball from 6pm to 8pm on a Friday, in a Picklemania -connected league, at an Olympic venue in one of London's most exciting areas - that's an experience most cities simply can't offer.

Court Hire - bring your own group Book online or through the Better UK app. From £18.90 off-peak and from £23.60 peak. Racket and ball hire available at £2 per person. Selected memberships include a court allowance per month.

Drop-in Sessions - your court, your way Informal, unfacilitated court time for players who know the basics and want flexibility. Book online, turn up, organise your own games. Perfect for regular players who want court time on their own terms - and every session still counts towards your Picklemania ranking.

Why this matters beyond four courts

When a venue with the profile and Olympic legacy of Lee Valley VeloPark commits to pickleball at this level - permanent acrylic courts, a full weekly programme, an active Picklemania League, elite players at the launch - it means something for the sport as a whole.

It tells leisure centre managers, sports directors and facility operators across the country that pickleball deserves proper investment. That it belongs in the best venues. That treating it seriously - with structured competition, quality surfaces, and connected league play - is the right call.

Lee Valley VeloPark and Picklemania together aren't just providing a place to play. They're helping define what UK pickleball can look like at its best.

The setting

Let's not gloss over the backdrop.

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is one of the great sporting destinations in Europe. The London Stadium, the Aquatics Centre, the Arcelor Mittal Orbit - all within walking distance. Lee Valley VeloPark itself brings together all four Olympic cycling disciplines: the iconic velodrome, a remodelled BMX track, a floodlit road circuit and miles of mountain bike trails.

Playing pickleball here is an experience. Not just a session.

If you're coming from outside east London, make a day of it. The park is extraordinary. The Olympic legacy is tangible in a way that's genuinely moving if you remember the 2012 Games. And somewhere in the middle of all that history, there are four purpose-built pickleball courts and a live Picklemania League waiting for you.

Not many venues can offer that.

Visit Lee Valley VeloPark and join the Picklemania League

Location: Abercrombie Road, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, London, E20 3AB

Getting there: Stratford station (Elizabeth Line, Central Line, Overground, DLR) - short walk through the park

Social sessions: Tuesdays 11:00-13:00 and Fridays 18:00-20:00 - from £12.50 for members - equipment provided

Court hire: From £18.90 off-peak / £23.60 peak - racket and ball hire £2 per person

Drop-in: Bookable online - informal, unfacilitated court time Picklemania League: Join at picklemania.co.uk

Book: Bookings | Choose a Time Slot or the Better UK app

Find this venue on Lee Valley VeloPark | Pickleball Court in London, South East

Session times, pricing and availability may vary. Always check directly with the venue before attending.

 

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