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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Sunday rides (book by Saturday 12pm) and an easy-paced Thursday Bike Bus
Exeter (Quay, West Hill, other start points) · Cycling · Cycling UK membership after three rides
Cycling UK's Exeter group runs Sunday day rides (A, about 35-60 miles; B, about 25-40) and a gentle Thursday Bike Bus with a coffee stop. Booking is required.
New here? New riders are always very welcome; asked to join Cycling UK after three rides.
Pinhoe, Exeter · Cycling · Free
Sunday road rides of 40-60 miles at 16-18mph with a coffee stop and a no-drop policy, starting from Pinhoe. Joining is by Strava club.
New here? Request to join via Strava; no-drop policy.
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.
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 a class (cash or card)
Adult ballet class at Exeter Phoenix taught by Anne Jobson, for people who have always wanted to try ballet as well as those with some experience. Men and women equally welcome.
New here? For those who have always wanted to try ballet and those with some experience; men and women equally welcome.
Monthly on a Saturday, 6–7:30pm
Topsham · Yoga & pilates · £25
A monthly Saturday evening group gong bath in Topsham: lie down and relax for 90 minutes while gongs and other instruments are played.
New here? Book online; sessions often sell out.
Exeter (city centre) · Yoga & pilates · £5 or donation
A weekly Tibetan Buddhist meditation class in central Exeter: calm-abiding meditation followed by a talk, with refreshments. Open to everyone, no experience needed.
New here? Open to everyone, no experience needed, no need to book; come as often as you like.
St Thomas · Yoga & pilates · £8–£8.50 a class
Chen-style tai chi classes at the St Thomas Centre on Monday and Tuesday mornings and Tuesday evenings. The school is always open to welcoming beginners.
Always open to welcoming beginners; contact an instructor with any questions.
Exeter (city centre) · Fitness · £8
Relaxed dance class for over-50s at Exeter Phoenix, moving to world and other music with fun, easy-to-follow routines. Dance experience is welcome but not needed.
New here? Some come with dance experience, others with none; all levels.
Exeter (Countess Wear, Mount Pleasant Road, Whipton) · Fitness · £7 a session (one page says £6.50)
Gentle weekly qigong/tai chi and chair-based exercise groups run by Age UK Exeter in Countess Wear, Mount Pleasant and Whipton, with refreshments.
New here? Moves can be done seated or standing; pay as you go, no commitment.
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.
Exeter (city centre) · Social & games
Tabletop roleplaying in Exeter, with an ongoing Dungeons and Dragons campaign every other Wednesday evening at the White Hart for new and experienced players.
New here? New players welcome; bring a character or ask for help making one before you come.
Exeter · Cycling · Membership: seniors £20 a year…
Exeter's long-running road cycling club, founded in 1924, with no-drop social rides through the week as well as faster club runs and race training. Suits road riders who want company on Devon lanes.
New here? The club says new riders would be very welcome and invites them to get in touch; the Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday rides are social and no-drop, paced to the slowest rider.
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 (St Thomas) · Martial arts · £5 a session; beginners' joining fee…
A Shotokan karate club affiliated to the Karate Union of Great Britain, training in its own dojo in St Thomas. Beginners' classes take adults and juniors together, with a separate class for children aged 5 to 10.
New here? Regular beginners' courses for teenagers and adults; beginners book a place in the Monday or Thursday beginner/intermediate class by email.
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.
Exeter (city centre) · Dance classes · £8.50 a 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 (city centre) · Dance classes · £8 a 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
Flamenco classes with Karina Gracia at Exeter Phoenix, accompanied by live guitar: footwork, technique and full choreographies, with beginners' classes needing no experience.
New here? Beginners' classes need no experience; check with Karina before your first class in case of date changes.
Exeter (city centre) · Dance classes · £45 for a four-week Tuesday block…
Commercial and hip hop dance at Exeter Phoenix: learn a routine to pop music over a month-long block, then perform and film it. Open to anyone, whatever your experience.
New here? For everyone whatever their dancing experience; monthly Confidence Workshops for beginners (up to five people)
Exeter (city centre) · Dance classes · £6–£7 a 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.
Exeter (city centre) · Yoga & pilates · Orientation £10; intro offer 3…
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.
Exeter (Exeter Phoenix) · Yoga & pilates · Free
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.
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.
Alphington · Yoga & pilates · Term of 7 classes £77 (£11 each)…
Flowing Hatha yoga classes in Alphington, mixing gentle sequences with restorative postures and relaxation; suitable for all levels, with postures adapted to different abilities.
New here? Suitable for all levels, beginners welcome; postures can be adapted.
St James · Yoga & pilates · Foundations of Meditation £7…
A Buddhist meditation centre near St James running drop-in guided meditation classes with a short talk. You don't need to be Buddhist, and classes suit complete beginners.
New here? All classes suit complete beginners; no need to be Buddhist; classes are self-contained so you can drop in; chairs provided, cushions if you prefer.
Dated sessions every one to three weeks: candlelit sound baths at St James Church Hall (Sun 8 and 29 Nov…
Exeter (St James, Alphington, Broadclyst) · Yoga & pilates · £13.50
Relaxing sound baths held every week or two at halls around Exeter, including candlelit evenings at St James Church Hall and afternoon sessions in Alphington.
New here? Book on Eventbrite from each event page, or pay cash on the door by arrangement.
Exeter (city centre) · Yoga & pilates · Varies by teacher: drop-in £8–£13.50…
A city-centre yoga centre where independent teachers run classes most days, from gentle and somatic yoga to vinyasa, Jivamukti and Iyengar, plus Pilates and an AcroYoga jam.
New here? Several classes are marked suitable for beginners (Beginners Pilates, Gentle Somatic Yoga, Pilates for All Abilities) and most are all levels; mats and equipment are free to use. Teachers run their own classes, so book or ask the teacher.
Exeter (Cowick Barton and Heavitree) · Yoga & pilates · Free
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.
Classes run through the week
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.
Exeter (Quay) · Walking & hiking, Yoga & pilates · Free
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)
Classes run early mornings, lunchtimes and evenings
Exeter (The Depot, Cheeke Street) · Yoga & pilates · New clients: 6 classes for £60 (an…
Studio running 40-minute reformer Pilates classes from early morning to evening, with an intro offer for new clients.
New here? 40-minute reformer workouts for all ages and fitness levels; new clients start with a compulsory orientation workout.
Exeter (Heavitree) · Yoga & pilates
Taoist tai chi classes in Heavitree, with an introductory class on Wednesday mornings. Newcomers can join at any time.
New here? Beginners can join at any time; introductory sessions have their own registration form.
Classes run through the week
Exeter (city centre) · Yoga & pilates · Drop-in £23; 5-class pack £95 (use…
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.
Contact the gym for class times and a free intro session
Exeter (Marsh Barton) · Fitness
CrossFit affiliate in Exeter offering coached group classes with a free intro for new members.
New here? Free intro session for newcomers; drop-ins by arrangement.
Haldon Forest Park (near Kennford) · 7 miles from the centre · Fitness · £7 a session, paid by card or bank…
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.
Exeter (Marsh Barton) · Fitness · Drop-in class £12; one-week pass £29…
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.
Mondays in school term time
Exeter (city centre) · Fitness · £9 a class; first session free
Gentle dance and fitness class for over-60s at Exeter Phoenix, with simple exercises, some seated dances and a little ballet at the barre. No dance experience needed.
New here? No dance experience necessary; first session free. Contact the teacher before attending in case of date changes.
Exeter (Marsh Barton) · Fitness · £15 a class
Aerial silks, hoop and pole studio at Marsh Barton with beginner classes and intro courses; no prior experience needed.
New here? Aerial classes for all abilities, no prior experience needed; Intro to Aerial course.
Exeter (city centre) · Fitness · £12 per 60-minute class; packs of…
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)
Exeter (city centre) · Fitness · £5 a session
Friday evening Zumba at Exeter Phoenix: a high-energy dance workout mixing salsa, reggaeton, cumbia and more. For everyone, including people who think they have two left feet.
New here? For everyone, whether a strong dancer or not.
Exeter (city centre) · Social & games · Free; asked to buy food and drink at…
Meetup group playing board games in Exeter pubs on Sunday afternoons, with a monthly Blood on the Clocktower session. Bring a game or join one already being played.
New here? 'Anything's welcome'; Clocktower sessions include a beginner-friendly game led by a Storyteller. White Hart Sundays are 18+.
Exeter (Newcourt and Victoria Park) · Social & games · £3 table money per face-to-face…
Duplicate bridge club for all levels, from newer players to experienced ones, with supervised play for novices, an improvers' practice evening and teaching for beginners and improvers.
New here? Plays ‘Duplicate Bridge at all levels’; runs teaching classes for beginners and improvers and supervised duplicate for novices. Visitors welcome (50p extra per session); the club helps find a partner if you ask a day ahead.
Exeter (Heavitree) · Social & games · Membership £10 (£5 concessions) plus…
Weekly Tuesday club night at Heavitree Social Club with a junior section earlier in the evening in term time. Visitors can attend three nights before joining.
New here? ‘Visitors and new members are always welcome’; non-members can attend three club nights as guests.
Next:Sun 1 Nov 6pm
Exeter (Exeter Phoenix) · Social & games
Improv workshops for people in their 20s and 30s: short- and long-form games and exercises, for experienced improvisers and complete novices alike.
New here? Complete novices welcome; you can join in or just come to watch.
Next:Thu 29 Oct 7:30pm
Exeter (city centre) · Social & games
A monthly social for meeting new people over a drink, set up for anyone new to town or finding it hard to make friends as an adult; the organisers greet newcomers.
New here? Newcomers are greeted by the organisers; just turn up.