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.
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.
Exmouth · 11 miles from Exeter · Watersports · See membership fees page; RYA Level 2…
Exmouth dinghy club with weekly racing, RYA courses and a Get Racing scheme for new racers. It runs taster sails and open days and has a Sailability programme for disabled people.
New here? Taster sails (20 minutes, free at past open days) and RYA courses; Get Racing programme for new racers; join via the website.
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.
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.
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 · £8.50 per 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.
New here? Newcomers email the welcome desk; temporary (trial) membership is available. First-timers should arrive by 18:15 (juniors) or 19:00 (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.
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).
Rowing club on the Exeter Ship Canal and River Exe. Adults new to the sport start with a four-week Introduction to Rowing course, with coaching in small boats.
New here? No previous experience needed: start with the four-week adult taster course (£40). Juniors aged 12 to 16 get two free trial sessions. A British Rowing membership number is needed to join.
Trains on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with volunteer patrols on summer Sundays
Exmouth · 11 miles from Exeter · 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.
Regular rows at weekends and in evenings (light permitting)
Exmouth · 11 miles from Exeter · Watersports
Cornish pilot gig rowing off Exmouth beach, open to all ages with no experience needed. New rowers do about three intro sessions before deciding to join.
New here? Intro sessions for complete beginners, open to all ages; first session includes launching the boat, a briefing and a 45-minute row; up to two further sessions before joining. Run on safe, slack tides only.
Exmouth · 10 miles from Exeter · 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'.
Sailing and racing programme April to September, tide dependent (roughly two hours either side of high water)
Lympstone · 9 miles from Exeter · Watersports · Adult £70 a year, joint adult £95…
Family-friendly sailing club on the Exe estuary at Lympstone with dinghy, day boat and cruiser racing from April to September, RYA training for members and a busy social calendar.
New here? Describes itself as 'family friendly and great for meeting new people'; members help with training, race and safety boat duties, which 'makes it easy for new members to meet people'. RYA training courses are for members.
Racing on Sundays and other programmed days, tide dependent
Starcross · 9 miles from Exeter · Watersports · Subscriptions on the club's price…
A dinghy, catamaran and yacht club on the west bank of the Exe estuary with year-round racing, training for members and a junior section. Membership has no waiting list.
New here? No waiting list for membership; visitors are invited to come along on a race day.
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.
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.
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.
Exeter (city centre) · Dance classes · £6 to £7 per session (sources differ)
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.