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 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.
An RYA-accredited centre on Exmouth seafront teaching paddleboarding, kitesurfing and wingsurfing, with paddleboard hire. Suits people wanting to learn a board sport with an instructor.
New here? Lessons and courses in paddleboarding, kitesurfing and wingsurfing, booked online.
Exmouth · 11 miles from the centre · 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.
Friendly mixed-gender korfball club, a fast team sport like basketball and netball. Beginner-friendly training on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, with league teams and socials.
New here? ‘New players are always welcome - no experience needed!’ Contact the club and get two sessions free.
Training moves with the seasons: Saturday mornings in winter, Tuesday evenings in spring and summer
Exwick · Team sports · First three sessions free; fees on…
Community ultimate frisbee club at Exwick Playing Fields, open to everyone from age 10 with special support for beginners. Your first three sessions are free.
New here? ‘We take beginners’; special support for beginners and those new to the sport; first three sessions free.
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.
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.
7pm
Sat9am
Sun9am
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.
New here? 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.
New here? Free taster session; get in touch before turning up so they can accommodate you.
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 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.
Regular rows at weekends and in evenings (light permitting)
Exmouth · 11 miles from the centre · 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 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’
Lessons and courses run on dates in the online booking system
Exmouth · 10 miles from the centre · Watersports · RYA Start Windsurfing (2 days) £249…
An RYA-registered watersports centre on the Exe estuary at Exmouth, teaching windsurfing from first lessons, plus paddleboard lessons and sit-on-top kayak tours on shallow, flat water.
New here? RYA Start Windsurfing is a two-day beginners' course; paddleboard lessons are for beginners and include all equipment.
Sailing and racing programme April to September, tide dependent (roughly two hours either side of high water)
Lympstone · 9 miles from the centre · 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 the centre · 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.
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
Squad training on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings at St Peter's School and St James School
Exeter (Quarry Lane) · Team sports
Large field hockey club with five men's and six women's teams in Devon and South West leagues, for juniors through to veterans. New players start with the membership form.
New here? ‘We look forward to welcoming new players to the club!’ Fill in the membership form and the membership secretary will be in touch about training times. Open to men, women, boys and girls, competitive and friendly.
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.
Community Touch runs every Monday night (start time and venue are given on Spond, not on the website)
Exeter · Team sports · £4.50 a session; no membership; first…
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.
Exwick · Team sports · Membership £30 adults (£15 youth)…
Women's softball cricket at Exwick Cricket Club, designed for all skill and fitness levels and ideal for beginners or those returning. Players range from 15 to over 50; training is free.
New here? Ideal for beginners or those returning; drop by a training session for a no-obligation taster.
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 (Sidmouth Road) · Team sports · £36.50 a month; first night free
Weekly six-a-side football league for men who want to lose weight: each session starts with a weigh-in, then a game, with bonus goals for weight lost. Run with Exeter City Community Trust.
New here? Register online; a coach gets in touch and your first night is a free taster to meet your club coach and the other players.
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.
Exeter (Stoke Hill) · Team sports · £45 per team a week, split between…
Social netball league on floodlit outdoor courts at St James' School, open to all abilities. You can sign up alone and be placed in a team; umpires help with the rules if you're returning to the game.
New here? Individuals can register and are placed in a team (98% of women joined as individuals in 2025); open to all abilities, with umpires helping players returning after time away.
Training runs September to April at Riverside Leisure Centre: Monday ladies, Wednesday ladies and men…
Exeter (St Thomas) · Team sports
Exeter's volleyball club, training at Riverside Leisure Centre from September to April. Friendly sessions for all levels, including a Friday beginners' session, with a route into league teams.
New here? Welcomes players of all levels, 'whether you're trying volleyball for the first time or looking to refine your skills'. Sessions must be pre-booked through the club's site; non-members should contact the club before attending.
Wonford · Team sports · First four sessions free; later cost…
Wheelchair rugby club with a weekly Saturday session at Wonford Sports Centre for people with a permanent physical disability. The first four sessions are free and chairs can be arranged.
New here? First four sessions free; message ahead so the club can arrange a suitable wheelchair. Anyone can come and watch.
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.
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.