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.
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.
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.
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.
BSAC diving club based at the Haven Road water sports site, training new divers in the pool at Riverside and diving off the Devon coast all year. It suits complete beginners, lapsed divers and qualified divers from any agency.
New here? ‘If you can swim, then come and talk to us.’ Complete beginners and people who haven't dived for years are welcome at the Friday social; try dives run on Tuesday evenings (book in advance)
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.
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.
Pinhoe, Alphington and Marsh Barton · Social dance · Daytime £8 including tea or coffee…
Ballroom, Latin and popular sequence dance classes for couples and singles of all ages, with daytime sessions in Pinhoe and Alphington and a Thursday evening class for beginners and intermediates.
New here? Brand-new beginners/intermediates evening class for 2026; teaching paced to each student, and singles welcome.
Exeter (city centre) · Social dance · 1 class + social £8; 2 classes +…
Weekly Tuesday evening salsa and bachata beginner classes followed by a social dance at Southernhay Church Hall. Suitable for beginners and people coming alone.
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.
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 (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.
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.
Spanish and English conversation practice in pairs and small groups: half an hour in each language, twice over, every Tuesday evening, plus occasional weekend café mornings in Spanish.
New here? Learners of either language at any level are welcome; just come along.
Bring a book and read quietly with others for an hour, then stay for a chat and a drink. Free, no booking, at Topsham Brewery's taproom on Exeter Quay.
New here? Free to attend, no booking required: bring your own book. Book tokens available for those who need one.
Exeter (St David's) · Music & singing · First session free; termly…
Wren Music's longest-running community folk choir, learning traditional and new folk songs by ear. No auditions, no need to read music, and the first session is free.
New here? Open access: anyone can join, no auditions or waiting lists, no experience or music reading needed. First session free; then register for a term, half term or drop in.
Exeter (city centre) · Arts & crafts · £25 a session plus £1.50 booking fee
Monthly photography meet-up at Exeter Phoenix with tutor Vanessa Miles: shoot together on a theme and share your pictures and projects. For people who can already use their camera's manual settings.
New here? For people with some experience (able to use manual camera settings), or who have done the Phoenix beginners’ course. 8 places per session; book ahead.
Trains on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with volunteer patrols on summer Sundays
Exmouth · 11 miles from the centre · Watersports
A volunteer surf life saving club on Exmouth beach training lifeguards and running summer beach patrols. New adult members are welcome with no previous experience; juniors join via a waiting list.
New here? New senior members welcome, no previous experience needed; adults can visit the beach to see the club or get in touch. Juniors (Nippers 7 to 12, Graduate Lifeguards 13+) via a waiting list form.
Exmouth · 10 miles from the centre · Watersports · Two free trial rows; then a pro rata…
Friendly community rowing club on Exmouth seafront, rowing stable coastal boats on the estuary and at sea, recreationally or in regattas. It suits adults of any age with no experience.
New here? Two free trial rows during Sunday club sessions before joining; new starter inductions roughly once a month, with an indoor rowing machine lesson then a trial row in a quad with a ‘buddy’
Topsham · Watersports · Membership fees on the club's…
A friendly sailing club on the Exe estuary running dinghy, yawl and cruiser racing plus a social calendar. It welcomes new members who simply want to sail.
New here? Welcomes new members; ‘all that is needed is enthusiasm for sailing’. Prospective members can visit on race nights or events to meet the Membership Secretary.
Thu
7:45pm
Exeter (Exwick) · Social dance · Free taster sessions
Scottish country dancing classes on Monday and Thursday evenings at Exwick Parish Hall, with regular social dances to live music. A new beginners' course started this autumn after free taster sessions.
New here? ‘Beginners are welcome’; new beginners' course in autumn 2026 with free tasters on 17 and 24 September; all ages welcome.
Exeter (University) · Social dance · Lessons £3 for one or £5 for two…
Weekly ballroom and Latin lessons from beginner to intermediate, run through the Students' Guild. Weekly lessons are open to non-members and non-students aged 18 and over.
New here? Weekly lessons are open to ‘members, non-members and non-students (18+)’; classes start Monday 21 September with beginner tasters in fresher's week.
Weekly salsa, bachata and rueda classes at the University of Exeter, taught by named teachers at several levels. Classes are open to students, staff and members of the public, including complete beginners.
New here? Classes are for ‘students, staff and members of the public’; Salsa Fundamentals and Beginners Bachata classes are for newcomers.
Alphington · Social dance · Beginners' course £70 (8 weeks)…
Argentine tango classes in Alphington on Thursday evenings, with an eight-week beginners' course, an intermediate class and practice time, plus a monthly milonga near Exeter. Come alone or with a partner.
New here? Free beginner taster class, then an 8-week beginners' course (latest started 24 September 2026); you can come alone or with a partner, and changing partners is optional.
Weekly line dancing at The Beacon Community Centre in Exeter, with a beginners' class followed by an improvers' class. No cowboy boots needed: bring water and wear comfortable shoes.
New here? Beginner class each week; no cowboy boots or hats needed, just water and comfortable shoes.
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)
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.
Wed
1pm, 7pm
Thu1:30pm
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.
Talk, languages & learning
A Toastmasters club where members practise speeches, impromptu speaking and evaluation in a supportive meeting. Suits anyone who wants to feel more confident speaking at work or in public.
New here? Guests can visit free (free meeting guest pass), with no pressure to take part until they are ready.