Where Swimming & Water Polo Players Live in Exeter
Early morning training (6:30am) makes transport to Exeter Riverside Leisure Centre critical. Pennsylvania Road and St James give good access to the city centre and Riverside by bike. Heavitree and St Davids are also practical areas for Riverside access via the main city bus routes.
Best Areas for Swimming Players
University of Exeter swimming players typically choose from these student areas — all within easy reach of Streatham Campus and the Sports Park:
Find Your Student House Near the Sports Park
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View Available Properties →About Swimming & Water Polo at Exeter University
The University of Exeter Swimming Club and Water Polo Club both compete in BUCS competitions, training primarily at Exeter Riverside Leisure Centre — the city's main public swimming facility with 25m and 50m pool options during summer months. The swimming club competes at BUCS Short Course Swimming Championships for individual events and at BUCS Galas throughout the year. The water polo programme fields men's and women's teams in BUCS regional competition. Both clubs welcome students with a wide range of swimming abilities, from social swimmers to competitive county or national standard athletes. The clubs' dual training programme provides a strong foundation for students who want both the competitive pathway and the fitness benefits of swimming.
Club History
The swimming club has maintained BUCS competition across individual events for many years. The water polo programme emerged as a growing section through the 2010s, building on the strong swimming foundation to develop a competitive team sport element. The clubs are linked through shared pool access at Exeter Riverside Leisure Centre, which provides more lane access than most university pools in similarly sized cities.
Joining the Swimming Club
The swimming club has open membership. Competitive squad consideration is based on submitted times or pool assessment. Water polo is open to students who can swim to a competent level — prior water polo experience is helpful but not required. Coaching sessions for both clubs are available to all members.
Training
Competitive swimming: early morning pool sessions at Exeter Riverside (6:30–8am Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday) and evening sessions (7–9pm Tuesday, Friday). Water polo: water polo specific sessions twice per week at Exeter Riverside. Dry-land strength and conditioning through the Sports Park gym.
BUCS Competition
BUCS Short Course Swimming Championships (individual events, national), BUCS Galas (team events, South West region), and BUCS Water Polo South West league fixtures. Top BUCS Gala teams advance to national rounds.
Teams
Highlights
Consistent BUCS Short Course Championship qualification for individual swimmers. Water polo programme with BUCS South West competition. The Exeter Riverside pool access provides more training lane availability than most similarly-sized UK university towns.
Tips for New Members
- Early morning training (6:30am) requires disciplined sleep and preparation — prioritise this from day one
- Bike access to Exeter Riverside from Pennsylvania Road or Heavitree is the most reliable transport method for early sessions
- Water polo is genuinely learnable from a strong swimming background — don't rule it out if you've never played before
- Submit competitive times to the squad coaches early in September — squad placement in swimming is time-based
- The dry-land gym sessions at the Sports Park are integral to the competitive swimming programme — don't skip these
Related Sports at Exeter University
If you play swimming you may also be interested in these Exeter University clubs:
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Exeter University Swimming Club train?
Exeter Riverside Leisure Centre — the city's main public pool facility with early morning and evening lane sessions. Dry-land strength work at Streatham Sports Park gym.
Does Exeter University have a water polo team?
Yes — men's and women's water polo teams compete in BUCS South West regional competitions. Students who swim competently are welcome to try out.
What BUCS competitions does Exeter Swimming Club enter?
BUCS Short Course Swimming Championships (individual events, national) and BUCS Galas (South West region, team format).
Can I join Exeter University Swimming Club as a recreational swimmer?
Yes — the club has open membership. Not all members are on the BUCS competitive squads; many join for the training environment and fitness benefits.
What accommodation is best for Exeter University swimmers?
Pennsylvania Road, St James, and Heavitree all have good bike access or bus routes to Exeter Riverside Leisure Centre. Early morning training makes short or reliable transport essential.
Can I join the water polo team without water polo experience?
Yes — water polo experience is helpful but not required. Competent swimming ability is the primary requirement. The club provides position coaching and tactical instruction.