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.
Cranbrook · Running · parkrun free; ask the club about…
Cranbrook-based running club meeting on Monday and Wednesday evenings, open to complete beginners and experienced runners, with a couch to 5k course twice a year. It also hosts the free Saturday parkrun and Sunday junior parkrun in Cranbrook Country Park.
New here? Club runs are open to complete beginners as well as seasoned runners; couch to 5k twice a year. For parkrun, register once with parkrun before your first run; junior parkrun is for children aged 4 to 14.
Exeter (Exeter Arena) · Running · Fees on the club's Training Fees…
Athletics club training on the track at Exeter Arena for juniors from age 8 and adults, from beginners to experienced athletes. Coaches hold UKA licences and are DBS checked.
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.
Exmouth seafront (Sideshore, EX8 2GD), about 10 miles from Exeter · 10 miles from the centre · Swimming
Guided Sunday-morning sea swims from Sideshore, Exmouth's community eco-hub, for first-time cold-water dippers and seasoned swimmers alike. Runs in ticketed seasons.
New here? Yes: suits everyone from ‘a seasoned swimmer’ to someone ‘trying cold-water dipping for the first time’. Ticketed.
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.
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 (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.
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.
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.
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.
New here? Newcomers email the welcome desk; temporary (trial) membership is available. First-timers should arrive by 6:15pm (juniors) or 7pm (seniors) to do paperwork. Some senior groups may be full from 1 May to 19 June.
Exeter (Quay and River Valley Park) · Running · Free
Free weekly timed 5km run at Exeter Quay and River Valley Park, open to walkers, joggers and runners at any pace. Register once with parkrun and bring your barcode.
New here? Open to everyone; register once on parkrun.org.uk before the first run.
Exeter (starts at Exeter Phoenix) · Running · Free
Weekly group run to a local community task (gardening, litter picking), then back. Short distances of 1-2km in total, so it suits beginners who can run for 15 minutes.
New here? New GoodGymers welcome; labelled ideal for beginners. If you cannot run 15 minutes without stopping, contact GoodGym first.
Thursday evening club night from the Quay with two groups: a 10-12k or structured session, and a chattier paced 8-10k. Suits regular runners; newcomers can come for a free trial.
New here? Come along for a free trial; ask for the founder on arrival and you will be paired with a member.
A social run club for all abilities, running 4km and 5km routes with the odd challenge every Tuesday evening, plus a first-Sunday run with Between Bread.
New here? All abilities welcome. Message the club on Instagram for the meeting point.
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+)
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.
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.
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.
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.
Thu
6:30pm, 7pm
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
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.
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.
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.
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)
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.