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.
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.
Slower, non-contact rugby run by Exeter Saracens RFC. Aimed at over-55s but open to any adult, including people coming back from injury or illness; no rugby experience needed.
New here? Aimed at over-55s but open to anyone over 18 of any gender; previous rugby experience isn't required.
Tennis, squash and racketball at the club in Countess Wear: coach-led social doubles on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and a no-booking Friday evening squash session, with routes in for complete beginners.
New here? Everyone is welcome, including beginners: three free trial tennis sessions (sign up and play the same day), 'Get into Racketball' tasters and six-week adult squash courses, plus women-only sessions.
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.
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.
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.
Mon
Community Touch runs every Monday night (start time and venue are given on Spond, not on the website)
Exeter · Team sports · £4.50 per session; no membership…
Touch rugby club with a Monday-night Community Touch session open to anyone 18 or over; the rules are taught on the day and most players start as beginners. Pre-booked through the Spond app.
New here? Open to anyone aged 18 or over whatever their experience or fitness; most players have never played; first session free if you message the club on Spond.
Exeter (University and Exeter School) · Team sports · Adult player £440 a year (includes…
Large Exeter hockey club with seven men's and four women's league teams, masters and juniors from under-8s. Adults who can't commit to matches can join on a training-only membership.
New here? The club 'caters for all ages and abilities'; new players apply through the Join Us form, and an Adult (Training) membership is for players who want to train without playing league matches.
Exeter (Summer Lane / Riverside) · Team sports · £6 per person, pay as you go
Pay-as-you-go social netball in Exeter: ladies' Back to Netball sessions for newcomers and returners, plus a mixed session with a beginners hour. Suits adults of any ability who want a game without joining a league.
New here? Ladies sessions are for people trying netball for the first time, returning after a break, or wanting a no-commitment social game; mixed session has a social/beginners hour. Some posts mention a free first session.
A friendly weekly five-a-side game for women of all levels on the University of Exeter Sports Park pitches, with numbers changing from week to week.
New here? All levels welcome; join the group on Meetup and RSVP for the week you want to play.
Sat
8am
Sun2:30pm
Exeter (Wonford and Riverside) · Racket sports · £4 per session, or free for Exeter…
Social, beginner-friendly and skills sessions of pickleball, a paddle game played on a badminton-sized court, at Exeter's council sports centres. Balls and paddles are provided.
New here? Sunday afternoon social is 'ideal for beginners' and the Wednesday 10.30am social welcomes beginners; a taster session runs on Monday mornings (contact the club first). The centres lend balls and paddles free.
Social Mix-Ins, open to all abilities, run on different evenings
Exeter (Haven Banks) · Racket sports · Social Mix-In about £15 per…
Nine indoor padel courts and two pickleball courts at Haven Banks, opened in September 2026. Runs 'Social Mix-In' sessions where players are matched with different partners, so no group is needed.
New here? Mixed Social Mix-In listed as open to all abilities; coaching available.
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.
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.