As all of us students know, money is incredibly tight right now, with the average maintenance loan barely covering students’ rent! While it is important to relax and spend time with your friends in between studying, it often feels like all the fun things to do out and about cost so much money, and sliding into your overdraft is definitely not fun. Yes, it’s great to stay in and have movie nights with your housemates, but sometimes getting out of the house is what you need after spending all day locked up in the library. Read on for the best free things to do in Exeter – great for a study break or a day out with friends!
1. Museums
I don’t know about you, but I think there’s something so relaxing about museums, and that’s certainly needed when you’re a university student, whether you’re a first-year overwhelmed by your first lecture or a third-year battling dissertation deadlines. I like museums even more when they are free, because who doesn’t love a bargain?
When it comes to free museums, Exeter has a wide range of them, so read on for some of the best free ones…
RAMM museum
The Royal Albert Memorial Museum, also known as RAMM, is Exeter’s main museum and has collections showcasing history from Exeter and Devon as well as the rest of the world.
Entry to the museum is free, and it is located close to many student-loved restaurants such as Brody’s if you do fancy splashing the cash on a meal afterwards.
Open every day except Mondays, RAMM is a great choice for a post-lecture wind-down or a weekend day out (although the stuffed giraffe exhibit does scare me a little bit).
Bill Douglas Cinema Museum
This one’s for the film students! Based on the University of Exeter’s Streatham campus (so great if you’re a student living on campus), this museum has many different collections all about cinema (as the name suggests!). Once again, it’s completely free to enter and is open every single day.
There’s something for everyone here, with collections featuring posters, toys, books and so on all about the history of cinema. There is even a massive collection of Disney memorabilia – one of the largest collections in the country! Disney Society, you might want to start planning a visit here…
Custom House Visitor Centre
The last museum on this list is the Custom House down by the Quay. Exeter Quay is always worth a visit anyway, but this gem often gets overlooked. The Custom House is free to enter and hosts a museum that displays Quay’s history, so you can see how it got to be as beautiful as it is today.
If you do have some extra cash, there are always plenty of events and shows on at the Custom House to explore too!
2. Green spaces
It’s well known that getting out in the fresh air and exploring green spaces comes with many mental health benefits (and apparently stronger immune systems – definitely needed to ward off fresher’s flu at this time of year!) and one of the best parts of the university campus is that beautiful green spaces are readily available – and free to use!
A personal favourite place of mine is the Reed Pond. Located by Reed Hall, the ponds are peaceful and a truly gorgeous place to take a post-lecture walk and relax. If you look carefully, you might even be able to spot some ducks!
If you’re a University of Exeter student, why not try the Guild’s Give It a Go events while you’re on campus? Many of these events are free, and there are so many different things to get involved with, from art and craft workshops to free snacks to trips around the UK (though these may cost extra money).
If you live in the city and can’t be bothered to trek to campus for a glimpse of some greenery (don’t worry, I feel the same), there are many walks around the city centre, such as the Exeter Green Circle walks. These treks are free and are accessible from different parts of town, such as Stocker Road, Topsham Road, and Stoke Hill, so they’re easy to access no matter where in town you live!
3. Exploring the city
Although the hills of Exeter often tempt me to take the bus (because walking up Forum Hill for an early morning lecture is not for the weak), the city can be quite a nice place to walk around!
For example, while it’s full of paid activities you can do, the Quay is a wonderfully relaxing place to just take a walk around. There are also many lovely shops to browse, such as Exeter’s Antique Centre, where I could happily spend many hours (and I definitely have before!).
If you want to continue window shopping, the city centre has many cute independent shops to look around (especially if you’re tired of just going around Urban Outfitters and H&M). Try famous streets such as Fore Street and Gandy Street for lots of interesting independent shops.
Fore Street boasts shops like Rooster Records for all you music lovers, as well as Helen of Troy if you’re looking for a truly unique gift. Gandy Street features Sobey’s Vintage for the fashionistas reading this article, and also gift shops like Maker Mart.
Exeter Craft Hub
The two streets I’ve mentioned above are known for their shopping, but there are many cool shops dotted throughout the city centre. My personal favourite is Exeter Craft Hub on Sidwell Street, selling merchandise from local vendors. The sticker tables in there have done some damage to my bank account.
If you’re missing your family pet back at home, Exeter Craft Hub has something for that too! A big white dog named Orsa can often be seen setting up shop behind the counter and manning a table of her own merchandise! She certainly brightens up everybody’s day and is always ready for attention. You can check out Orsa’s adventures on the Exeter Craft Hub Instagram page, too!
Book Cycle
Another shop – and one that is pay what you can – is Book Cycle on West Street. This shop is heaven for book lovers – it is filled with second-hand books of all genres and ages! As the shop lets you pay what you can, customers are limited to three books a day. Personally, though, I think the number of books on offer here is so diverse that I can spend hours just browsing.
As you can see, while Exeter has a bit of a reputation for being an expensive place to live, there are still plenty of fun free things to do, either by yourself or with your friends. So enjoy some of the activities on this list and keep your money for when you just need that atrociously expensive Timepiece Wednesday ticket. You’ll thank me for it!
If you still need to make some money, be sure to check out our other article about creative ways to make money if you’re a student. And if you’re not living in Exeter, read some of our other articles about free things to do in London or Bath.
Last Updated on December 15, 2024
Published on October 29, 2024
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Hi, my name is Lili and I am currently studying for a Psychology degree! When I'm not studying, I love swimming, reading and writing.
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Hi, my name is Lili and I am currently studying for a Psychology degree! When I’m not studying, I love swimming, reading and writing.