FAQ's
If you can't find the answer here, get in touch below!
About Hobby Republik
What is Hobby Republik?
Hobby Republik is an online hub for activities, classes, workshops and clubs in St Albans and Hertfordshire. We list over 300 activities from more than 65 local businesses — from aromatherapy workshops and yoga classes to trapeze, microlight flying and life drawing. You can browse, compare and book directly through the website.
How Does Hobby Republik Work?
Simple. Browse activities by category (Be Creative, Get Physical, Mind & Soul, Kids, Free, Groups) or use the search bar to find something specific. When you find something you like, click through to the activity page, choose your session and book online. All payments go directly to the supplier.
Is Hobby Republik Free To Use?
Yes - browsing and booking through Hobby Republik is completely free. There's no membership fee and no booking surcharge. You pay the activity price directly to the supplier.
What areas does Hobby Republik cover?
We primarily cover St Albans and the surrounding areas of Hertfordshire, including Harpenden, London Colney, Radlett and nearby villages. Most activities are based in or very close to St Albans city centre.
Do You Offer Gift Cards?
Yes. Hobby Republik gift cards can be used to book any activity on the website - and that's a choice of over 300 activities from more than 65 local businesses. They're available to buy online and make an excellent present for anyone who lives in or around St Albans.
How Do I Sign Up ForThe Newsletter?
You can sign up for our free monthly newsletter on the website. It includes our What's On Guide, the latest activity offers and our favourite blog posts — plus a 10% discount on your first booking.
Can I Book Activities For A Group?
Yes. Many of our suppliers offer group bookings, and we can help you find the right activity for a team event, hen party, birthday celebration or corporate outing.
Activities in St Albans
What activities are available in St Albans?
A lot more than most people realise. Through Hobby Republik you can book yoga, Pilates, trapeze, aerial arts, dance classes, Zumba, boxing, fencing, microlight flying, aromatherapy workshops, sound baths, floristry, mosaic making, photography courses, forest bathing, life drawing, skateboarding, swimming, football coaching, drama classes and much more. There are over 300 activities in total, with plenty more to come!
What are the best activities to try in St Albans?
That depends on what you're after. For something physical, trapeze at St Albans Trapeze & Aerial Arts or Reformer Pilates at WOW Pilates are both excellent. For something creative, mosaic workshops at Montet Designs or floristry at Your Flower School are very popular. For wellness, aromatherapy workshops with The Fragrant Dispensary or sound baths with Haelan are brilliant. And if you want something completely different, a microlight trial flight from Plaistow Airfield is hard to beat.
Are there free activities in St Albans?
Yes, plenty. Free options on Hobby Republik include learn-to-fish sessions with Verulam Angling Club, guided walks, free tours of St Albans Cathedral, Tai Chi on Saturdays, and various free running sessions. Browse the Free section of the site for everything that costs nothing.
What activities are available for kids in St Albans?
There's a strong range of kids' activities in St Albans. Popular options include dance classes at Tappy Toes (18 months to 5 years), drama and performing arts at Jigsaw Performing Arts, football coaching at Edge FA, art classes at Art-K, and swimming crash courses at Dolphin Swim School. Browse the Kids section for all children's activities.
Are there activities suitable for complete beginners?
Almost everything on Hobby Republik is open to beginners, that's part of the brief we set for our suppliers, as we think it's great to try new things to find the activity that really floats your boat. So whether it's your first yoga class, your first time on a trapeze or your first time holding a paintbrush as an adult, our suppliers are experienced at welcoming people who've never tried their particular activity before.
Are there activities for adults over 50 in St Albans?
Absolutely. Many of the most popular activities on the site are particularly well-suited to people over 50. For example, yoga, Pilates (both matwork and Reformer), Tai Chi, sound baths, walking groups, floristry workshops, photography courses and more. Gymtro's nano training programme is also specifically designed to be accessible and effective for people returning to fitness at any age.
What wellness activities are available in St Albans?
St Albans has an excellent range of wellness activities. These include yoga (Clarity Yoga Shala), aromatherapy workshops (The Fragrant Dispensary), sound baths (Haelan), forest bathing/Shinrin-Yoku (Heart & Earth), restorative breathwork sessions (Balanced With Becs), Reformer Pilates (WOW Pilates) and Tai Chi. Browse the Mind & Soul section for all wellness activities.
How do I find out what's on in St Albans this weekend?
The best places to start are the Hobby Republik website. Use the calendar to see what's running, and our monthly newsletter, which includes a full What's On Guide. You can also follow us on Instagram and Facebook for regular updates.
Hobbies and Wellbeing
Which hobbies are good for mental health?
Research consistently shows that hobbies improve mental health by reducing stress, creating routine, building social connection and giving your brain something absorbing to focus on. Activities that are particularly well-evidenced for mental wellbeing include yoga, mindfulness-based movement like Tai Chi, creative activities (art, music, craft), time in nature, and social sports or classes. The most important thing is finding something you genuinely enjoy - the mental health benefit comes from engagement, not just the activity itself.
What are the best hobbies for adults?
The best hobbies are the ones that give you something to learn, something to look forward to, and ideally a reason to leave the house. Good options for adults include yoga or Pilates (for physical and mental benefits), a creative skill like photography, floristry or mosaic making, a social sport like dance or a running club, or something completely different like trapeze or fencing. The Hobby Republik blog has a guide to finding a new hobby as an adult if you're not sure where to start.
How do I find a new hobby?
Start by thinking about what appeals to you, not what you think you should do, but what genuinely sounds interesting or fun. Then try it. Most activities on Hobby Republik are one-off sessions or short courses, so there's very little commitment involved. The best way to find a new hobby is simply to try a few things and see what sticks.
Which activities are good for stress relief?
For stress relief specifically, activities that involve focused physical movement and breathing tend to be most effective. Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, forest bathing and sound baths are all specifically designed with stress reduction in mind. But almost any absorbing activity - photography, life drawing, floristry, even fencing - creates a mental state where everyday worries recede. The key is finding something that demands enough concentration to take you out of your own head.
Is exercise good for mental health?
Yes and the evidence is very strong. Regular physical activity reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression, improves sleep, boosts mood and increases self-esteem. You don't need to do intense exercise to get the benefit; activities like yoga, Pilates, dance and Tai Chi all count, and the social aspect of group classes adds an additional mental health benefit on top of the physical one.
For Suppliers
How do I get my activity listed on Hobby Republik?
We're always looking for new, high-quality activity providers in St Albans and Hertfordshire. If you run classes, workshops, courses or events and you'd like to be listed on Hobby Republik, we'd love to hear from you. Apply to become a supplier here. We review all applications and will be in touch to discuss whether your activity is a good fit for the platform.
What types of activities do you list?
We list activities across five main categories: Be Creative (art, music, craft, photography etc), Get Physical (fitness, sport, dance, aerial arts etc), Mind & Soul (yoga, meditation, wellbeing, therapy etc), Kids (children's classes and clubs), and Free (no-cost activities). If your activity fits one of those categories and is based in or near St Albans, get in touch.
Is there a cost to list on Hobby Republik?
Please get in touch for details on our supplier model. We work with local businesses on terms that work for both sides.
What makes a good Hobby Republik supplier?
We look for local businesses that offer high-quality, bookable experiences - ideally activities that are welcoming to beginners, clearly priced, and easy to book online. We also try out activities ourselves and write about them on the blog, so we look for suppliers who are happy to open their doors to us and share what they do.