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.
Next:Sun 15 Nov 12pm
Exeter and around · Walking & hiking
Sociable group walks around Exeter and Devon, often finishing with food together.
New here? Join the group on Meetup and RSVP for a walk.
Walks are announced one by one on the events page, at different places around South East Devon, usually…
South East Devon · Walking & hiking · Free
Free guided social walks for dog owners across South East Devon, led by rangers, with time to let dogs run and meet others. Run by Devon Loves Dogs, a free membership scheme that promotes responsible dog walking in the countryside.
New here? Free; book each walk on the events page. Usually one dog per person, on a lead at the meeting point.
Walks are listed individually on the Ramblers site
Exeter and Devon · Walking & hiking · Free to try three walks, then…
Ramblers group with longer Sunday walks, shorter mid-week walks and leisurely ambles of up to 3 miles from points around Exeter.
New here? New walkers can try three walks before being asked to join the Ramblers.
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 (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.
Outdoor season from mid-April to the third week of September
Haldon Forest Park, Kennford · 7 miles from Exeter · Walking & hiking · £10 a week, reduced if paid up front…
Instructor-led Nordic fitness walking at Haldon Forest Park in six-week blocks; newcomers start with an induction session.
New here? Complete a Nordic walking induction first (monthly, on a Monday, £10 including poles).
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).
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.
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.