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Gyms in Exeter

A young university city with a Passivhaus leisure centre, the South West's largest indoor climbing centre and a canal towpath out to the Exe estuary. Here's where to train in Exeter and who to train with.

Gyms and venues
64
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Showing 1–24 of 64 gyms

Neighbourhoods in Exeter

From the trading estate gyms of Marsh Barton to the playing fields of Whipton.

Training in Exeter

The South West's most active place, and one of its youngest.

Exeter had around 130,700 people at the 2021 Census, up 11.0% since 2011, and a median age of 35, the second-lowest in the South West after Bristol. One resident in eight (12.5%) is aged 20 to 24. It's also the most active place in the region: in Sport England's Active Lives survey for Nov 2024–25, 76.8% of adults did at least 150 minutes of activity a week, against 64.6% for England.

The council's Exeter Leisure runs the public venues. St Sidwell's Point, built to the Passivhaus standard, has an eight-lane 25 m pool and a 100-station gym; Riverside Leisure Centre by Exe Bridges has a 25 m pool, another 100-station gym and squash courts; Wonford Sports Centre has a heavy weights room; and the Isca Centre sits beside Exeter Arena's eight-lane track. Around them are chain gyms on Marsh Barton, jiu-jitsu and kickboxing gyms, Topsham's heated outdoor pool and the Quay Climbing Centre.

Whether you're here for a degree or for good, training is easier with the right people. Gymist is how you find them.

Where to train in Exeter

Exeter Leisure's centres first, then pools and climbing, the chain and independent gyms, and the fight gyms.

Public leisure centres (Exeter Leisure)

Pools and climbing

Chain and independent gyms

Martial arts and combat

Find a training buddy in Exeter

A lane partner at St Sidwell's Point, a belayer at the Quay Climbing Centre, someone to run the canal towpath with after work: find people nearby who train when you do.

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Start an Exeter training group

A Saturday ride down the Exe Estuary Trail from the Quay, a track session at Exeter Arena, a summer swim group at Topsham pool: set it up in minutes and we'll help locals find it.

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Train outdoors

Free places to train in Exeter.

  • Exeter Ship CanalOne of the UK's oldest artificial waterways, with a towpath on both sides from the Quay to Turf Lock. The basin is used for canoeing, rowing and kayaking.
  • Exe Estuary Trail22.5 miles (36.1 km) on National Cycle Network route 2, round both sides of the estuary from Exmouth to Dawlish Warren via Topsham. 71.9% of it is traffic-free.
  • Exe Valley WayA 45-mile (72 km) footpath following the River Exe from its source to the sea; the canal's western towpath is part of it.
  • Exeter's valley parksSix valley parks, among them Ludwell, Riverside, Mincinglake and Duryard and Belvidere, cared for by Devon Wildlife Trust.

Getting around

Rail and cycle routes to Exeter's gyms.

Rail

  • Exeter St Davids is the main station, served from London Paddington and London Waterloo, with trains on to Plymouth and Penzance
  • Exeter Central sees more people enter and leave than any other station in Devon
  • Marsh Barton station opened in 2023, beside the trading estate

Avocet Line

  • trains to Exmouth run about every 30 minutes in the daytime, stopping at St James Park, Polsloe Bridge, Digby & Sowton and Newcourt
  • Digby & Sowton is the station for Sandy Park, home of the Exeter Chiefs

Cycle

  • the Exeter Ship Canal's left-bank towpath is part of National Cycle Network route 2
  • the Exe Estuary Trail, also on route 2, passes Topsham on its way round the estuary, 71.9% traffic-free

Who trains here

What the census and Sport England say about the people you'll train alongside.

  • 35Median ageUnchanged since 2011, the second-lowest in the South West after Bristol, against 40 for England. 12.5% of residents are aged 20 to 24.Census 2021
  • 11.0%Population growth since 2011To around 130,700, faster than the South West (7.8%) and England (6.6%).Census 2021
  • 76.8%Adults active 150+ min a weekThe highest share in the South West, against 64.6% for England. 14.7% are inactive, doing under 30 minutes a week.Sport England Active Lives, Nov 2024–25

Exeter gym questions

What people ask before they train here.

How many gyms are there in Exeter?

Gymist lists 64 gyms, leisure centres, pools, studios and sports venues in Exeter, from the Exeter Leisure centres to chain gyms on Marsh Barton, martial arts gyms, yoga and Pilates studios and Topsham's outdoor pool.

Which leisure centres are in Exeter, and who runs them?

Exeter Leisure, linked to Exeter City Council, runs St Sidwell's Point on Paris Street, Riverside Leisure Centre on Cowick Street, Wonford Sports Centre on Rifford Road, and the Isca Centre and Exeter Arena on Summer Lane. Exeter Arena is owned by the city council and has a 400 m eight-lane athletics track.

Where can I swim in Exeter?

St Sidwell's Point has an eight-lane 25 m competition pool, a 20 m learner pool and a splash pool. Riverside Leisure Centre has a 25 m pool, a learner pool and a health suite with sauna, spa pool and steam room. In Topsham, Topsham Swimming Pool is a 25 m outdoor pool, heated to at least 26 degrees and open from spring to September, run as a registered charity.

Where can I train outdoors for free in Exeter?

The Exeter Ship Canal has a towpath on both sides, and the left bank is part of National Cycle Network route 2. The Exe Estuary Trail, also on route 2, runs 22.5 miles round the estuary between Exmouth and Dawlish Warren via Topsham, and 71.9% of it is traffic-free. The city's six valley parks, including Ludwell, Riverside and Mincinglake, are cared for by Devon Wildlife Trust.

How do I get to gyms in Exeter without a car?

Exeter St Davids is the main station, and Exeter Central sees more people enter and leave than any other station in Devon. The Avocet Line to Exmouth stops at St James Park, Polsloe Bridge, Digby & Sowton and Newcourt, and Marsh Barton station opened in 2023 beside the trading estate's gyms.

How do I find a gym buddy in Exeter?

Join Gymist free, add the gyms you use and when you train, and browse members nearby. If there isn't a group for your kind of training yet, you can start one.

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