Sports, dance and activity clubs around Exeter that welcome newcomers, with their regular sessions. Outdoor clubs further afield are included when they need the landscape.
Sports, dance and activity clubs around Exeter that welcome newcomers, with their regular sessions. Outdoor clubs further afield are included when they need the landscape.
Flying depends on wind and weather, at sites from about 8 to 25 miles from Exeter
East Devon and Somerset coast and hills · 15 miles from Exeter · Air sports · £25 a year (plus BHPA membership)
A hang gliding and paragliding club for qualified BHPA pilots with 17 sites from West Bay to Exmouth and inland, including Bickleigh and Beer Head. Learners train at a BHPA school first, then join the club.
New here? For pilots with the BHPA Club Pilot rating. Learners can join while training at a BHPA school, but fly with the club once qualified.
Club flies on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, weather permitting
Honiton (North Hill, Sheldon) · 19 miles from Exeter · Air sports
Gliding club on North Hill Airfield in the Blackdown Hills. Trial lessons give a 15-30 minute flight with an instructor, and the club trains new pilots.
New here? Trial lessons on flying days: 15 to 30 minutes in a two-seat glider with an instructor. Junior gliding too.
Slower, non-contact rugby run by Exeter Saracens RFC. Aimed at over-55s but open to any adult, including people coming back from injury or illness; no rugby experience needed.
New here? Aimed at over-55s but open to anyone over 18 of any gender; previous rugby experience isn't required.
Tennis, squash and racketball at the club in Countess Wear: coach-led social doubles on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and a no-booking Friday evening squash session, with routes in for complete beginners.
New here? Everyone is welcome, including beginners: three free trial tennis sessions (sign up and play the same day), 'Get into Racketball' tasters and six-week adult squash courses, plus women-only sessions.
Boutique reformer Pilates studio in a listed building on Cathedral Close, with 45-minute instructor-led classes and self-led on-demand reformer sessions. Newcomers start with an orientation session.
New here? An orientation session (£10) is required before joining group classes; it covers health and safety, studio housekeeping and a reformer taster. Intro offer: 3 classes for £30, usable in instructor-led and on-demand classes. Grip socks are required.
Free beginner-friendly meditation sessions at Exeter Phoenix, with short talks, videos and guided practice, sitting on chairs with no mat or special clothing needed.
New here? Everyone welcome, no experience needed; the current 10-week course runs on Monday evenings.
Haldon Forest Park (near Kennford) · 7 miles from Exeter · Fitness · £7 a session, paid by card or bank…
Last Wed7:30pm
Woodbury Common (East Devon) · 9 miles from Exeter · Air sports
A radio control model flying club (aircraft, helicopters, boats) flying from Woodbury Common, with a beginner training scheme leading to the BMFA A certificate.
New here? Training scheme starts with ground school, then flying tuition to the BMFA A certificate; temporary membership available; guests can fly with permission via the contact form.
Mon
Community Touch runs every Monday night (start time and venue are given on Spond, not on the website)
Exeter · Team sports · £4.50 per session; no membership…
Touch rugby club with a Monday-night Community Touch session open to anyone 18 or over; the rules are taught on the day and most players start as beginners. Pre-booked through the Spond app.
New here? Open to anyone aged 18 or over whatever their experience or fitness; most players have never played; first session free if you message the club on Spond.
Exeter (University and Exeter School) · Team sports · Adult player £440 a year (includes…
Large Exeter hockey club with seven men's and four women's league teams, masters and juniors from under-8s. Adults who can't commit to matches can join on a training-only membership.
New here? The club 'caters for all ages and abilities'; new players apply through the Join Us form, and an Adult (Training) membership is for players who want to train without playing league matches.
Exeter (Summer Lane / Riverside) · Team sports · £6 per person, pay as you go
Pay-as-you-go social netball in Exeter: ladies' Back to Netball sessions for newcomers and returners, plus a mixed session with a beginners hour. Suits adults of any ability who want a game without joining a league.
New here? Ladies sessions are for people trying netball for the first time, returning after a break, or wanting a no-commitment social game; mixed session has a social/beginners hour. Some posts mention a free first session.
A friendly weekly five-a-side game for women of all levels on the University of Exeter Sports Park pitches, with numbers changing from week to week.
New here? All levels welcome; join the group on Meetup and RSVP for the week you want to play.
Sat
8am
Sun2:30pm
Exeter (Wonford and Riverside) · Racket sports · £4 per session, or free for Exeter…
Social, beginner-friendly and skills sessions of pickleball, a paddle game played on a badminton-sized court, at Exeter's council sports centres. Balls and paddles are provided.
New here? Sunday afternoon social is 'ideal for beginners' and the Wednesday 10.30am social welcomes beginners; a taster session runs on Monday mornings (contact the club first). The centres lend balls and paddles free.
Social Mix-Ins, open to all abilities, run on different evenings
Exeter (Haven Banks) · Racket sports · Social Mix-In about £15 per…
Nine indoor padel courts and two pickleball courts at Haven Banks, opened in September 2026. Runs 'Social Mix-In' sessions where players are matched with different partners, so no group is needed.
New here? Mixed Social Mix-In listed as open to all abilities; coaching available.
Classes most days
Exeter (Quayside) · Yoga & pilates · See…
Hot yoga in inflatable pods on the Vulcan Estate, bookable class by class or on a membership. Suits all levels.
New here? Timetable listed as suitable for all levels; passes available without membership.
Free outdoor yoga on Sunday mornings in summer at Cowick Barton Playing Fields and Heavitree Pleasure Ground, part of the national Park Yoga scheme. All levels are welcome.
New here? Free sessions; look for the large Park Yoga flag. The Cowick Barton instructor says all levels are most welcome.
Woodbury Business Park (east of Exeter) · Yoga & pilates · Intro offers 5 mat classes £45 or 5…
Reformer and mat Pilates studio at Woodbury Business Park, between Exeter and Exmouth, also running hot Pilates and barre. Mindful Motion is the recommended starting class for people new to the reformer.
New here? Mindful Motion welcomes all levels and is the recommended starting point for anyone new to reformer Pilates; arrive a little early and tell your instructor it is your first visit. Intro offers: 5 mat classes for £45 or 5 reformer classes for £70.
Free groups for adults run by the Step One charity from the X Centre: an easy-paced walk of about 3 miles along the Exe from the Quay, and an eight-week Yoga4Wellbeing course for any ability or health condition.
New here? Walk-ins welcome on the walk (registering helps). The yoga course is open to all abilities and health conditions; sign up through BeWell (course 222).
Reformer Pilates studio run by Vyve Gym on North Street, with group classes and private sessions. Every class except Elevate is suitable for beginners, and one-off drop-in classes can be booked.
New here? All classes apart from Elevate are suitable for beginners. A drop-in credit lets you enjoy a class as a one-off, and a 5-day trial gives unlimited reformer Pilates and gym classes.
A friendly outdoor fitness class in Haldon Forest, with a coach giving exercises for strength, flexibility and fitness. No circuits experience needed, just a basic level such as gentle walking.
New here? No booking: just turn up. Suits a basic fitness level such as gentle walking; no previous circuits experience needed. Bring comfortable clothes for the weather and a bottle of water.
An official Hyrox training club in Marsh Barton with a sled track and coached group classes in Hyrox conditioning and strength, for anyone from beginners to people training for a race.
New here? One-week free trial with no commitment: sign up, then book as many classes as you like through the PushPress app. A coach introduces themselves, checks you're comfortable and explains the session; you're welcome to drop in just to look around.
Classes run several times a week at Southernhay Hall and Isca Academy
Exeter (city centre and St Loyes) · Fitness · New Customer Trial £29 (2 weeks…
Jazzercise franchise classes mixing dance cardio with strength work, at Southernhay Hall in the city centre and Isca Academy's dance studio. Low-impact and sculpt-only formats suit beginners and all fitness levels.
New here? Jazzercise says its classes are for all levels. A New Customer Trial gives single-class visits and unlimited workouts for 2 weeks with no commitment, described as perfect for those new to Jazzercise.
Pole fitness studio at Exeter Phoenix with beginner, intermediate and advanced pole classes, pole flow, floorwork and heels choreography on weekday evenings. Pay as you go, with free taster sessions.
New here? Complete beginners can join a taster session (held every four weeks) or book straight onto a regular beginners' class; all classes pay as you go. 16+ (under-18s need adult consent).