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.
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.
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.
Clyst St Mary (east of Exeter) · Racket sports · Not listed on the club page; prices…
Indoor padel club with six courts at Hill Barton, running weekly Intro to Padel and beginners' coaching, mixed-ability socials and a women's coffee morning. Rackets and balls can be hired.
New here? Intro to Padel sessions and Beginner Coaching (0-0.9 level); socials are mixed ability; rackets and balls available to rent on site.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Exwick · Racket sports · Group coaching £8 non-members (£7…
LTA club at the Exwick Sports Hub with weekly adult group coaching for beginners and improvers, plus club sessions non-members can join for a small fee.
New here? Adult and student group coaching for Beginner and Improver players on Wednesdays; club sessions cover Beginner to Advanced and are open to non-members for £7. Register through the club's WhatsApp community (link on the site).
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.
Adult tennis at the university's tennis centre, open to anyone: five-week beginners' courses, improver and advanced groups, pay-and-play mornings and a Wednesday club night for players who can already rally.
New here? The page says anyone can play. Five-week Beginners courses (Mondays 8pm or Thursdays 6pm, starting 2 and 5 Nov 2026). Club Night and Pay & Play are for players who can rally, serve and return; Club Night is not suitable for complete beginners.
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.