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.
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Exeter (Tudor Street) · Climbing · Pay as you go entry (price on site)…
A bouldering-only climbing gym by Exe Bridges with an instructor-led social session, a women's social night and Boulder Basics introductions included with entry.
New here? Boulder Basics, a staff-led introduction to bouldering, is included with entry; rental shoes and chalk provided; Social Climbing is beginner-friendly.
Bouldering meetups at the Climbing Hangar, usually on Wednesday or Thursday evenings
Exeter (Marsh Barton) · Climbing · Hangar entry fee applies
Social Meetup group that organises bouldering evenings at The Climbing Hangar for beginners and experienced climbers, with occasional other climbing trips.
New here? Welcomes beginners and experienced climbers; members can bring a guest free for their first session at the Hangar.
Open Mon-Fri 10am-10pm, weekends 9am-8pm
Email the club to ask about classes and membership
Exeter · Martial arts
Teaches traditional collar-and-elbow Devon wrestling, plus the history of the region's fighting arts. Welcomes complete beginners and experienced martial artists.
New here? 'Whether you're a complete beginner or an experienced martial artist.'
Exeter (Riverside Leisure Centre) · Martial arts · Free first session for children
Judo club with children's classes and an adult group in Exeter, plus children's judo in Broadclyst.
New here? Spaces available in Exeter; children can try a free session. Adults contact the club.
Classes every day of the week
Exeter (Marsh Barton) · Martial arts · Pay as you go and monthly…
A Brazilian jiu-jitsu academy in Marsh Barton teaching gi and no-gi BJJ and wrestling, with beginner, women's and children's classes. Pay as you go and monthly options are listed.
New here? Dedicated beginners', women's and children's classes. Book ahead, as places are limited.
Exeter · Team sports
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.
Exeter (Wonford) · Team sports · £4 an hour (£5 for the Tuesday Exeter…
Walking football for men over 50 and women over 40, with weekly sessions at Wonford, Countess Wear and Exeter City's Cliff Hill training ground.
New here? Email to come along and try a session; membership £20 a year.
St Thomas, Exeter · Dance classes · £15 or £12 booked in advance; two £10…
A weekly 5Rhythms movement class on Sunday evenings in St Thomas: free, unchoreographed dancing to music, guided by a teacher. No steps to learn, so it suits complete beginners as well as experienced dancers.
New here? 'A welcoming class for both beginners and experienced dancers'; no dance steps needed. Arrive by 6pm; no entry after 6.20pm.
Exeter (city centre) · Dance classes · £8.50 per class (acro £15)
City-centre dance studio running weekly adult classes in ballet, tap, contemporary and commercial street dance, many of them drop-in with no monthly membership. Suits beginners and returners as well as experienced dancers.
New here? Many adult sessions are drop-in, booked online; the timetable includes Absolute Beginners Ballet and Adults Beginners Tap. No monthly memberships.
Exeter (Belle Isle Park) · Outdoor & adventure, Social & games
Nature volunteering with Friends of Belle Isle Park on Tuesday evenings and Sunday mornings, planting wildflowers and making habitats for wildlife, plus Green Drinks socials for anyone interested in a greener Exeter.
New here? Anyone welcome; no manual work is required, and it's a good way to meet people.
Events across Devon, including Haldon Forest
East Devon (coaching); events across Devon · 15 miles from Exeter · Outdoor & adventure · Event fees on the club's fees page
County orienteering club running events in forests and heaths across Devon and weekly coaching in East Devon and Torbay. Open to adults and children.
New here? Your first event is free and you don't need to be a member: turn up, and someone at registration will help you start. Walk, jog or run; all ages welcome.
Regular trips, an Exeter social evening and weekly Wednesday gatherings are mentioned
Devon (hut at Buckfastleigh; Exeter social) · 20 miles from Exeter · · Modest yearly membership, including…
Exeter (Quay) · Climbing · See…
The South West's largest indoor climbing centre on Exeter Quay, with roped walls and bouldering. It runs beginner inductions and courses, youth programmes and regular social events.
New here? Runs a full programme of beginner courses: Auto Belay/Bouldering Intro (1 hour, ages 7+), Belaying and Roped Climbing Inductions (two 1-hour sessions, 18+), Mastering Climbing Movement (four 2-hour sessions, 18+).
Open daily, with kids' Rock Club sessions, a teen social at weekends, and Hangar Women Rock and Pride Night…
Exeter (Marsh Barton) · Climbing · Day entry £16 adults, £13 concessions…
Large indoor bouldering and climbing centre at Marsh Barton with pay-as-you-go entry, a short beginner bouldering intro, kids' Rock Clubs and themed sessions such as Hangar Women Rock and Pride Night.
New here? First-timers can add a 30-minute Intro to Bouldering session for £5.
Exeter (city centre) · Martial arts
Historical European martial arts club teaching longsword, with wrestling and medieval dagger classes. Runs periodic beginner sessions that book up quickly.
New here? Beginners longsword sessions run through the year (the January 2026 one was fully booked; more planned).
Exeter (St David's) · Martial arts · Monthly membership; free taster class
A multi-discipline school teaching Brazilian jiu-jitsu, traditional jiu jitsu, kickboxing, kenjutsu and tai chi, with children's and women's classes. No experience needed, and every discipline has a free taster.
New here? No experience is needed for any class; free taster class available for every discipline; flexible monthly membership with no long-term contract.
Exeter (Wonford) · Martial arts · First lesson free
Exeter School of Taekwon-Do, running since 1992, teaches Taekwon-Do to children, juniors and adults on Wednesday evenings at Wonford Sports Centre.
New here? Free trial lesson; book through the club's timetable page.
Five-week beginners' sabre courses on Thursday evenings at Alphington Village Hall
Exeter (Alphington) · Martial arts · £65 for the five-week beginners…
British Fencing affiliated community club with group and one-to-one lessons, plus five-week Sabre for Beginners courses with kit loan. Includes work towards seated fencing.
New here? Beginner courses of five sessions for ages 13+; sold out, join the waiting list for the next course.
Exeter (Whipton) · Martial arts · Trial class bookable online
Krav Maga self-defence training for adults at Whipton Barton on Thursday evenings, with trial classes bookable online. Novices are welcome.
New here? 'Novices are most welcome'; trial class bookable online; new members always welcome in Exeter.
Group MMA, self-defence and women's classes at St Matthew's Church Hall and LED Broadclyst Leisure Centre
Exeter (Newtown) and Broadclyst · Martial arts · Monthly direct debit: £39, £49 or £64…
MMA and self-defence academy (formerly Exeter Self-Defence Academy) with classes for children, teens, adults and families, plus women's combat fitness and kickboxing.
New here? Free trial class, booked online through the club's timetable.
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.
Exeter (University Sports Park) · Team sports
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.
Exeter (city centre) · Dance classes · £8 per class; discounted monthly pass…
Adult ballet for beginners and an open-level contemporary class on Tuesday evenings at DanSci Dance Studio in central Exeter.
New here? Beginner ballet class; contemporary is open level.
Exeter (city centre) · Dance classes · £6 to £7 per session (sources differ)
Weekly adult jazz dance classes in Exeter, including a beginners and improvers class for those new or rusty, plus a low-impact fitness class. Join at any time and pay weekly.
New here? Adult classes are ongoing so you can join at any time; the Thursday class is for beginners, improvers or those feeling rusty.
Caving club founded in 1947 that welcomes novices and experienced cavers. It has a hut at Buckfastleigh and holds social evenings in Exeter.
New here? Novices and experienced cavers welcome; kit such as helmets, oversuits and lights can usually be borrowed for the first couple of trips.
Lessons and hacks are booked with the office (9am–5pm)
Exeter (Balls Farm Road, near Alphington) · Outdoor & adventure
Family-run BHS approved riding school on the edge of Exeter with about 50 horses, offering private, shared and group lessons and hacks for complete beginners through to experienced riders, adults and children.
New here? Lessons for all ages and abilities; new riders are advised to start with a private lesson so the school can place them in the right group. Hacking for complete beginners upwards.