The quickest way to find a D&D group in the UK is to visit a local game shop that runs Dungeons & Dragons nights. Many shops host beginner-friendly sessions and one-off adventures, and the official D&D Beyond group finder lists in-store events near you. If there is nothing close by, you can join a game online through the official D&D Discord or a virtual tabletop.
Dungeons & Dragons is a game of shared storytelling. One person, the Dungeon Master (DM), describes the world and plays everyone you meet. Everyone else plays a single character, says what that character does, and rolls dice to see whether it works. You do not need to read a rulebook first. Most groups are glad to teach, and your first session will show you how it all fits together.
Where to find a group
Local game shops
Game shops are the heart of in-person D&D in the UK. Many run weekly or fortnightly nights, and some host short adventures (called one-shots) that finish in a single evening, which suits anyone trying the game for the first time. Shops can also put you in touch with players looking for more people for a longer campaign.
You can browse venues on our D&D page or look at the cities with the most activity, including Manchester, Sheffield and London. The Sheffield events calendar shows regular nights by date.
D&D Encounters in stores
D&D Encounters is the official in-store programme, run by shops in the Wizards Play Network. It is organised into seasons, each themed around a new release. A season usually opens with a Celebration event of about three hours, where up to four tables (roughly 20 players) work towards a shared goal. Pre-made characters are typically provided, or you can create your own.
Shops can also run two other official formats. D&D Adventurers League continues as an event type, using community-written adventures for fifth edition, and Legends of Greyhawk is a newer ongoing campaign for stores using the 2024 rules.
After that comes Weekly Play: four weeks of shorter sessions of 90 minutes to two hours, often on Wednesdays, though shops can choose another regular day. Each week links loosely to the last, so you can join at any point without feeling lost. Wizards has also been widening early access to new books for Wizards Play Network stores around the world, which makes launch weeks a lively time to visit.
The D&D Beyond group finder
D&D Beyond’s official group finder has a Find Events button. Enter your location and it lists official D&D events and stores in the Wizards Play Network near you, with details for each event. It focuses only on D&D, so it is a quick way to see what is running locally.
Online groups
If you would rather play from home, or want to play more often, online groups are easy to join:
- The official D&D Discord. Its Find a Game area lets you browse open games or post what you are looking for using a bot. Include your time zone, availability, preferred edition, experience and the kind of game you want (a one-shot or a long campaign). You need a Discord account and must follow the server’s age and community guidelines.
- Maps on D&D Beyond. D&D Beyond’s own virtual tabletop, Maps, is free for registered users to run games, so a DM can share a map and tokens with everyone online.
- Professional DMs. The group finder links to StartPlaying, where paid games are run by professional Dungeon Masters. Prices are set in US dollars and vary by DM, so check the listing.
Getting ready to play
The rules
The current rules are the 2024 update to fifth edition, labelled 5.5e on D&D Beyond. The free 2024 rules on D&D Beyond include all twelve base classes, each with one subclass, plus four species, four backgrounds, spells and monsters. That is plenty to make a character and play for a long time. The older 2014 rules are still supported and work alongside the new ones.
A starter set
If you would like to run a game for friends, the Heroes of the Borderlands starter set, released in September 2025, is the newest beginner box and the largest D&D starter set so far. It plays a little like a board game, with class boards, more than 200 cards and tokens, fold-out maps and a full set of dice. It covers four classes (Fighter, Rogue, Cleric and Wizard), and each session is designed to run in a couple of hours, which makes it good for families and new groups. UK shops sell it for around £38 to £47.
What to bring
- Dice. A standard polyhedral set: d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, d20 and a percentile die. Tables will often lend you some.
- A pencil and eraser. Your character sheet changes as you play.
- A character sheet. Shop events usually provide pre-made characters. For a campaign, you can make one on D&D Beyond or on a printed sheet.
- A snack or drink. Sessions can run for a few hours, so check what the venue allows or sells.
Session zero and safety tools
Before a new campaign begins, many groups hold a session zero. It is a conversation, not a game, where everyone shares what they want from the campaign. It can take fifteen minutes or a whole evening.
Topics often include:
- How much combat, exploration and roleplay people enjoy
- How often and where the group will meet
- House rules and how characters will be made
- Hard limits (subjects that should not appear at all) and soft limits (subjects that are fine in small doses)
- Which safety tools the group will use, so anyone can pause or steer away from a scene
- Table rules, such as phones and alcohol
Shop events rarely have a full session zero, but a good DM will still check in at the start. You are always welcome to mention a topic you would rather avoid.
What a typical session is like
A session usually begins with a short recap of what happened last time. The DM then sets the scene, and the players decide what to do, from talking to a suspicious innkeeper to searching a ruined tower. When the outcome is uncertain, the DM asks for a roll, usually a d20 plus a bonus from your character sheet.
Combat happens in turns. Everyone rolls for initiative, then takes a turn to move and act, such as attacking, casting a spell or helping a friend. Between fights there is plenty of conversation, puzzle-solving and laughter.
What a night at a UK shop is like
Shop D&D nights are usually held in the evening, most often from 6pm to 7pm in the listings we hold, with a few tables running side by side. Many shops ask you to book a seat in advance, and those that charge usually ask around £5 a session. Check the venue’s listing for details, then arrive a little early to meet your DM and pick a character.
Your first session checklist
- Find a beginner-friendly event near you and book a seat if needed
- Bring dice and a pencil (or ask to borrow them)
- Tell the DM you are new
- Listen to the scene and say what your character wants to do
- Ask questions whenever you are unsure; that is how everyone learns
If you enjoy games nights, you might also like our guides to getting into Warhammer and Friday Night Magic.
Common questions
How do I find a D&D group near me?
Start with local game shops, many of which run regular D&D nights and one-off adventures for new players. The official D&D Beyond group finder also lists events at stores in the Wizards Play Network near your location. Our city pages show venues that host D&D across the UK.
Can I join a D&D group as a complete beginner?
Yes. Shop events and one-shots are often set up for new players, with characters ready to use and a Dungeon Master who explains the rules as you go. Tell the table you are new and they will help you through your first few turns.
How long is a D&D session?
It depends on the group. The in-store D&D Encounters weekly sessions are designed to last 90 minutes to two hours, and the opening celebration event runs for about three hours. Home campaigns often meet for an evening at a time.
What edition of D&D should I learn?
The current rules are the 2024 update to fifth edition, which D&D Beyond now labels 5.5e. A free version of the rules is available on D&D Beyond, and the older 2014 rules remain compatible, so you can join most tables with either.
Can I play D&D online?
Yes. The official D&D Discord server has a Find a Game area for posting and answering adverts, and D&D Beyond has its own virtual tabletop called Maps. The D&D Beyond group finder also links to games run online by professional Dungeon Masters.
Do I need to buy anything before my first game?
Not usually. Shop events often provide pre-made characters, and many tables will lend you dice. A set of polyhedral dice and a pencil are the only things most players bring.