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.
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).
Club flies on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, weather permitting
Honiton (North Hill, Sheldon) · 19 miles from Exeter · Air sports
Gliding club on North Hill Airfield in the Blackdown Hills. Trial lessons give a 15-30 minute flight with an instructor, and the club trains new pilots.
New here? Trial lessons on flying days: 15 to 30 minutes in a two-seat glider with an instructor. Junior gliding too.
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.
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 (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 per session; no membership…
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.
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 (city centre) · Social dance · £8 for one class, £10 for two on the…
Drop-in salsa classes on Monday evenings at Exeter Phoenix, with a beginners' class, a technique class and an improvers' class. No partner or experience needed.
New here? Drop-in, so you can start any week; no experience needed and your first beginners' class is free.
Exeter (city centre) · Social dance · 1 class + social £8; 2 classes +…
Weekly Tuesday evening salsa and bachata beginner classes followed by a social dance at Southernhay Church Hall. Suitable for beginners and people coming alone.
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.
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 (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.
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.
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.
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'.
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.
Martial arts
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.
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 (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.
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.
Scottish country dancing classes on Monday and Thursday evenings at Exwick Parish Hall, with regular social dances to live music. A new beginners' course started this autumn after free taster sessions.
New here? 'Beginners are welcome'; new beginners' course in autumn 2026 with free tasters on 17 and 24 September; all ages welcome.
Exeter (city centre) · Social dance · Block of 4 classes £30 (£26…
Volunteer-run swing dance group teaching Lindy Hop and Charleston in central Exeter, with a Thursday jam and Wednesday class. No partner needed; partners rotate and complete beginners start in Level 1.
New here? Level One classes suit complete beginners; no partner needed; new beginners can start on week 1 of any four-week block.
Exeter (University) · Social dance · Lessons £3 for one or £5 for two…
Weekly ballroom and Latin lessons from beginner to intermediate, run through the Students' Guild. Weekly lessons are open to non-members and non-students aged 18 and over.
New here? Weekly lessons are open to 'members, non-members and non-students (18+)'; classes start Monday 21 September with beginner tasters in fresher's week.
Weekly salsa, bachata and rueda classes at the University of Exeter, taught by named teachers at several levels. Classes are open to students, staff and members of the public, including complete beginners.
New here? Classes are for 'students, staff and members of the public'; Salsa Fundamentals and Beginners Bachata classes are for newcomers.