There are astronomical societies in every corner of the UK who will happily invite you to join them to learn about the night sky, what you can expect to see or even try out a few different scopes to help you decide what you'd like to get before you buy.
Of course, you don't need to buy your own telescope; many people go along to local societies for years to enjoy their facilities without getting a scope of their own. This is not frowned upon.
Below is a list of the UK's astronomical societies. If you would like me to include yours - UK or overseas - feel free to send me the name of your society and a web address (& your twitter name if you want a shout out) to admin@activeastronomy.org and I'll get your organisation listed here:
England
Bristol
Bedfordshire
Berkshire
- Herschel Astronomical Society
- Maidenhead Astronomical Society
- Newbury Astronomical Society
- Reading Astronomical Society
Buckinghamshire
Cambridgeshire
- Cambridge Astronomical Association
- Papworth Astronomy Club
- Peterborough Astronomical Society
- Sawtry And District Astronomical Society
- St. Neots Astronomy Association
Cheshire
- Altrincham And District Astronomical Society
- Chester Astronomical Society
- Macclesfield Astronomical Society
- Mid-Cheshire Astronomical Group
- South Cheshire Astronomical Society
Cornwall
- Brannel Astronomy
- Callington Community Astronomy Group
- Cornwall Astronomy Society
- Roseland Observatory Society
- West Cornwall Astronomical Society
County Durham
Cumbria
- Cockermouth Astronomical Society
- Eddington Astronomical Society
- Furness And South Lakeland Astronomical Society
Derbyshire
- Derby & District Astronomical Society
- Ilkeston & District Astronomical Society
- White Peak Astro. Obs. Group
Devon
- Norman Lockyer Observatory Soc
- North Devon Astronomical Society
- Plymouth Astronomical Society
- Tavistock Astronomical Society
- Tiverton and Mid Devon Astronomy Society
- Torbay Astronomical Society
Dorset
East Yorkshire
East Sussex
- East Sussex Astronomical Society
- Eastbourne Astronomical Society
- Foredown Tower Astronomers
- Lewes Astronomers
- The Local Group
- Wadhurst Astronomical Society
Essex
- Castle Point Astronomy Club
- Clacton & District Astronomical Association
- Havering Astronomical Society
- Loughton Astronomical Society
- North Essex Astronomical Society
- Thurrock Astronomical Society
Gloucestershire
Greater Manchester
Hampshire
- Andover Astronomical Society
- Basingstoke Astronomical Society
- Cody Astronomical Society
- Hampshire Astronomical Group
- HantsAstro
- Solent Amateur Astronomers
- Southampton Astronomical Society
Herefordshire
Hertfordshire
- Hertford Astronomy Group
- Letchworth And District Astronomical Society
- South West Hertfordshire Astronomical Society
Kent
- Ashford Astronomical Society
- Cranbrook and District Science and Astronomical Society
- Herne Bay Amateur Astronomical Society
- Mid Kent Astronomical Society
- Orpington Astronomical Society
- South East Kent Astronomical Society
Lancashire
- Astronomy Centre
- Blackpool & District Astronomical Society
- Bolton Astronomical Society
- Earby Astronomical Society
- Preston & District Astronomical Society
- Southport Astronomical Society
Leicestershire
Lincolnshire
London
- Central London's Astronomical Society
- Baker Street Irregular Astronomers
- Croydon Astronomical Society
- Flamsteed Astronomical Society
- Hampstead Garden Suburb Astronomical Society
- West Of London Astronomical Society
Merseyside
Norfolk
- Breckland Astronomical Society
- King's Lynn & District Astronomy Society
- North Norfolk Astronomical Society
- Norwich Astronomical Society
North Yorkshire
- Sawdon (Astronomy Wise) Astronomical Society
- Scarborough & Ryedale Astronomical Society
- York Astronomical Society
Northamptonshire
Northumberland
- Kielder Observatory Astronomical Society
- Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Astronomical Society
- Northumberland Astronomical Society
Nottinghamshire
- Bassetlaw Astronomical Society
- Mansfield And Sutton Astronomical Society
- Nottingham Astronomical Society
Oxfordshire
Shropshire
Somerset
- Beckington Astronomical Society
- Crewkerne And District Astronomical Society
- William Herschel Society
South Yorkshire
- Doncaster Astronomical Society
- Mexborough & Swinton Astronomical Society
- Sheffield Astronomical Society
Staffordshire
Suffolk
- Lowestoft & Great Yarmouth Astronomical Society
- Orwell Astronomical Society
- Stour Astronomical Society
Surrey
Tyne & Wear
Warwickshire
West Midlands
- Birmingham Astronomical Society
- Coventry & Warwickshire Astronomical Society
- Heart Of England Astronomical Society
- Knowle Astronomical Society
- Midlands Spaceflight Society
- University Of Birmingham Astronomical Society
- Walsall Astronomical Society
- Wolverhampton Astronomical Society
West Sussex
- Adur Astronomical Society
- Crawley Astronomical Society
- Horsham Astronomy Group
- Worthing Astronomical Society
West Yorkshire
- Batley and Spenborough Astronomical Society
- Bradford Astronomical Society
- Hebden Bridge Astronomy Society
- Huddersfield Astronomical & Philosophical Society
- Keighley Astronomical Society
- Leeds Astronomical Society
- West Yorkshire Astronomical Society
Wiltshire
Worcestershire
- Bromsgrove Astronomical Society
- Carolian Astronomy Society
- Redditch Astronomical Society
- Worcester Astronomical Society
Isle of Wight
Isle of Man
Channel Islands
Guernsey
Jersey
Wales
Clwyd
Gwent
Gwynedd
Mid Glamorgan
Monmouthshire
Powys
South Glamorgan
West Glamorgan
Scotland
Aberdeenshire
Argyll & Bute
Ayrshire
Caithness
Dumfries & Galloway
Dunbartonshire
Fife
Inveraray
Lanarkshire
Lothian
Shetland Islands
South Lanarkshire
Stirling & Falkirk
Strathclyde
Northern Ireland
USA
Texas