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.
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 · £8.50 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.
Exeter (St Leonard's) · Other sport · Monday class £56.25 a month (plus…
Adult gymnastics at the club's Bull Meadow Park gym: a coached evening class that suits complete beginners, a coached lunchtime class and a supervised open gym.
New here? The Monday class offers "a complete new experience for the absolute beginners". No free trials, but fees aren't asked for until after your first session. Open gym needs a waiver if you're not a British Gymnastics member.
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.
Tabletop roleplaying in Exeter, with an ongoing Dungeons and Dragons campaign every other Wednesday evening at the White Hart for new and experienced players.
New here? New players welcome; bring a character or ask for help making one before you come.
Spanish and English conversation practice in pairs and small groups: half an hour in each language, twice over, every Tuesday evening, plus occasional weekend café mornings in Spanish.
New here? Learners of either language at any level are welcome; just come along.
Monthly meeting at The Mint, 10:30am (coffee from 10am, speaker from about 11am)
Exeter · Talk, languages & learning · Monthly meetings free for members and…
A self-help learning organisation for people no longer in full-time work, with about 80 member-run interest groups from languages and bridge to choir, walking and drawing, plus monthly talks.
Exeter (Streatham Campus) · Music & singing · Not stated
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.
Workshops and Knit-Stop groups are booked through the shop's calendar and workshop pages
Exeter (St Thomas) · Arts & crafts · Learn to crochet £35; spinning wheel…
A community fibre arts shop and studio in St Thomas running small beginner and improver workshops in knitting, crochet, spinning, dyeing and more, plus Knit-Stop groups for new and returning knitters.
New here? Beginners' workshops (Learn to knit, Learn to crochet) in groups of five or fewer; Knit-Stop groups welcome people who have never knitted.
Exeter (city centre) · Drama & theatre · Membership fees on the Join Us/Fees…
A volunteer-run amateur theatre company founded in 1954 that stages plays, musicals and pantomimes. Members act, build sets, make costumes or help backstage, and there are monthly members' nights.
New here? No experience needed to join: acting, set building, costume, backstage and a monthly members' social.
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.
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 per session; beginners' joining…
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.
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.
Exminster · Other sport · Pay & play: 9 holes £24, 18 holes £48
Pay-and-play golf centre on Exminster Hill with a 9-hole par 66 course for new and experienced golfers, a covered floodlit driving range and lessons for all levels.
New here? Pay and play without membership; the course is described as suitable for all abilities, and professional lessons are offered for all ages and levels.
Outdoor season runs in spring and summer (2026 closing day 25 September)
Heavitree · Other sport · Playing member £70 a year; first year…
Lawn bowls club on Heavitree Pleasure Ground that welcomes complete beginners and experienced bowlers, with three free tasters before joining and a cheaper first year for new bowlers.
New here? New members welcome, whether new to bowls or experienced. Anyone can have three free sessions before being asked to join; free tasters before the season and by arrangement during it.
Outdoor season April to mid or late September, with club sessions on Monday evenings (5.30pm for a 6pm…
Exeter (St Thomas) · Other sport
Lawn bowls club founded in 1921 at Barton Playing Fields in St Thomas, with friendly matches, men's and ladies' leagues and casual roll-ups for members.
New here? New and experienced bowlers, men and women of all ages, are welcome. Free sessions in April with equipment provided; flat shoes needed.
Exeter (city centre) · Social & games · Free; asked to buy food and drink at…
Meetup group playing board games in Exeter pubs on Sunday afternoons, with a monthly Blood on the Clocktower session. Bring a game or join one already being played.
New here? 'Anything's welcome'; Clocktower sessions include a beginner-friendly game led by a Storyteller. White Hart Sundays are 18+.
Exeter (Newcourt and Victoria Park) · Social & games · £3 table money per face-to-face…
Duplicate bridge club for all levels, from newer players to experienced ones, with supervised play for novices, an improvers' practice evening and teaching for beginners and improvers.
New here? Plays 'Duplicate Bridge at all levels'; runs teaching classes for beginners and improvers and supervised duplicate for novices. Visitors welcome (50p extra per session); the club helps find a partner if you ask a day ahead.
Exeter (Heavitree) · Social & games · Membership £10 (£5 concessions) plus…
Weekly Tuesday club night at Heavitree Social Club with a junior section earlier in the evening in term time. Visitors can attend three nights before joining.
New here? 'Visitors and new members are always welcome'; non-members can attend three club nights as guests.
A monthly social for meeting new people over a drink, set up for anyone new to town or finding it hard to make friends as an adult; the organisers greet newcomers.
New here? Newcomers are greeted by the organisers; just turn up.
New here? Non-members are welcome at the monthly meetings free of charge; the Topsham Social (Globe Hotel, Topsham, 10:30am) is open to potential members. Membership enquiries via the contact form.
Exeter (city centre) · Talk, languages & learning · Visits free; membership fees not stated
A Toastmasters club where members practise speeches, impromptu speaking and evaluation in a supportive meeting. Suits anyone who wants to feel more confident speaking at work or in public.
New here? Guests can visit free (free meeting guest pass), with no pressure to take part until they are ready.