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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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.
Events across Devon, including Haldon Forest
East Devon (coaching); events across Devon · 15 miles from the centre · 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 the centre · · Modest yearly membership, including…
Sundays 10:30am–12:30pm, fortnightly in term
Exeter (Streatham Campus) · Music & singing
An all-ages community orchestra led by Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra musicians, where families and adults of any level play, listen and make up music together. Instruments can be borrowed.
New here? Open to all ages, instruments and experience; no need to book, just turn up. Percussion, melodicas and ukuleles provided. Come to as many or as few sessions as you like.
Wednesdays 7–9pm in school term time
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.
Wednesdays 6–8pm in term time at the Barnfield (Cygnet Theatre in some weeks)
Exeter (city centre) · Music & singing · £80 for 10 sessions, or £45 for a…
A no-audition choir run by the Exeter Northcott for singers of all levels, rehearsing in term time at the Barnfield Theatre.
New here? No audition; all levels welcome. Book a full term or a half term online.
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.
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.