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.
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)
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)
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.
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.
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 (Beacon Heath) · Boxing & combat fitness · Monthly: £30 (1 class a week), £55…
Sport kickboxing and Te-Ashi-Do karate for children from four and adults, with a free first lesson. Opened its own centre at Beacon Heath in 2026 after years in hired halls.
New here? You can try any class for free; ‘Taking on new students now’
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.
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 (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.
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.
Chen-style tai chi classes at the St Thomas Centre on Monday and Tuesday mornings and Tuesday evenings. The school is always open to welcoming beginners.
New here? Always open to welcoming beginners; contact an instructor with any questions.
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.
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.
Free guided health walks led by trained volunteers from the charity Westbank, at ten places around Exeter. Walks are graded from short and flat to about 90 minutes, and most end with an optional coffee.
New here? Anyone can turn up and join in; no need to book. Wear suitable clothing and supportive shoes and bring water.
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.
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.
Thu
3 sessions from 5pm
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.
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Adult classes seven days a week and ladies-only kickboxing on Sundays
Exeter (St Thomas) · Boxing & combat fitness · First session free; no long…
A Muay Thai and kickboxing gym near St Thomas with beginner Positive Start classes for adults, ladies-only kickboxing and junior classes. First session is free on any programme.
New here? First session free on any martial arts programme; ‘Positive Start’ classes teach Muay Thai basics, with several beginner classes each week; gloves can be lent.
Mon7:30pm
Tue7:30pm, 8pm
Wed3 sessions from 6:30pm
Thu7pm
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.
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.
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 a 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.
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.
Alphington · Yoga & pilates · Term of 7 classes £77 (£11 each)…
Flowing Hatha yoga classes in Alphington, mixing gentle sequences with restorative postures and relaxation; suitable for all levels, with postures adapted to different abilities.
New here? Suitable for all levels, beginners welcome; postures can be adapted.
A city-centre yoga centre where independent teachers run classes most days, from gentle and somatic yoga to vinyasa, Jivamukti and Iyengar, plus Pilates and an AcroYoga jam.
New here? Several classes are marked suitable for beginners (Beginners Pilates, Gentle Somatic Yoga, Pilates for All Abilities) and most are all levels; mats and equipment are free to use. Teachers run their own classes, so book or ask the teacher.