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 midday) 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.
Training times are in the club's 2026–27 timetable, which isn't published as text on the site
Exeter (Exeter School and other city pools) · Swimming · £36 a month plus annual membership fee
The Masters squad of Exeter City Swimming Club, coached training for adult swimmers aged over 20 who want to train and race, from local open meets upwards.
New here? Swim England's club finder lists Masters as open to new members, with newcomer and improver levels. Squad criteria: over 20 and 'trainability'; use the club's enquiry form.
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.
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 (St Leonard's) · Other sport · Monday class £56.25 a month (plus…
Adult gymnastics at the club's Bull Meadow Park gym: a coached evening class that suits complete beginners, a coached lunchtime class and a supervised open gym.
New here? The Monday class offers "a complete new experience for the absolute beginners". No free trials, but fees aren't asked for until after your first session. Open gym needs a waiver if you're not a British Gymnastics member.
Exeter · Other sport · From £3.50 a session (members only…
Friendly triathlon club for adults and juniors in and around Exeter, with weekly swim and run training and member-organised group rides.
New here? New members are welcome and the club offers a trial membership. Swim sessions need at least 200m front crawl. Book sessions in advance.
Pay and play: book a tee time online (visitors.brsgolf.com/exminster) or call
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 (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 (St Thomas) · Martial arts · £5 per session; beginners' joining…
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 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.
Exminster · Other sport · Pay & play: 9 holes £24, 18 holes £48
Pay-and-play golf centre on Exminster Hill with a 9-hole par 66 course for new and experienced golfers, a covered floodlit driving range and lessons for all levels.
New here? Pay and play without membership; the course is described as suitable for all abilities, and professional lessons are offered for all ages and levels.
Outdoor season runs in spring and summer (2026 closing day 25 September)
Heavitree · Other sport · Playing member £70 a year; first year…
Lawn bowls club on Heavitree Pleasure Ground that welcomes complete beginners and experienced bowlers, with three free tasters before joining and a cheaper first year for new bowlers.
New here? New members welcome, whether new to bowls or experienced. Anyone can have three free sessions before being asked to join; free tasters before the season and by arrangement during it.
Outdoor season from mid-April to the third week of September
Exeter (St Thomas) · Other sport · Small annual membership plus the…
Lawn bowls club on the council green at Pinces Gardens in St Thomas, playing friendly and league matches through the summer. Beginners are coached.
New here? 'Beginners and experienced players are welcome'; coaching and advice on dress and etiquette provided. Contact the secretary first.
Outdoor season April to mid or late September, with club sessions on Monday evenings (5.30pm for a 6pm…
Exeter (St Thomas) · Other sport
Lawn bowls club founded in 1921 at Barton Playing Fields in St Thomas, with friendly matches, men's and ladies' leagues and casual roll-ups for members.
New here? New and experienced bowlers, men and women of all ages, are welcome. Free sessions in April with equipment provided; flat shoes needed.