Bookbinding courses in London
City Lit bookbinding provides a comprehensive range of traditional and contemporary taught and workshop-based courses at all levels from beginner to advanced. Students studying on our courses can develop skills in traditional bookbinding, gold tooling, paper marbling, historic and experimental book structures and contemporary fine binding.
Students interested in book arts can explore both classic and innovative techniques and structures to produce unique books and editions. For students who wish to study conservation and repair, we have classes covering paper repair, the conservation and repair of cloth, leather and vellum books, hand tooling and machine blocking.
We run evening, daytime and weekend classes in our purpose-built studio that is well equipped with presses, guillotines, and hand tools and our courses are taught by tutors, who are skilled practitioners, industry specialists and experts in the fields of bookbinding, book arts, fine design binding, conservation and repair.
Browse our range of bookbinding courses in London below to choose your perfect option.
- Bookbinding improvers’ workshop
Course start date: Mon 12 May 2025Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Gavin MoorheadThis one term course is designed to help students to develop their bookbinding skills. You will already have some experience of binding techniques and some knowledge of tools, materials and equipment in order to benefit from this workshop-style class. There will be the opportunity to work on your own projects, or to practice skills in which you feel less confident in order to enable you to progress to higher level courses. Not suitable for beginners.Full fee £399.00 Senior fee £319.00 Concession £259.00 - Bookbinding: rare book design drop-back box Course start date: Mon 2 Jun 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Nesta DaviesCut, construct and cover a standard Rare Book design drop-back box to protect and conserve books, archival material or precious objects and artefacts. Great for artwork presentation too! - Beginners' bookbinding Course start date: Fri 6 Jun 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Alessia TumbioloCome and immerse yourself in the art of bookbinding with this 6-week, accessible introduction. Whether you're taking your first steps or picking up the craft again, this course will equip you with essential techniques that will enable you to start creating your own handcrafted books and containers. Beginners will build strong foundational skills, while returners can refresh their skills and explore new creative possibilities. - Bookbinding: experiments in paper folding Course start date: Sat 14 Jun 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ina BaumeisterExplore colour, structure, and layering to produce exciting sculptural forms. By combining and extending techniques such as origami and concertina folding, cutting, piercing and slotting, you will create your own unique books. - Fine binding masterclass III: creative approaches to design binding Course start date: Thu 17 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sue DoggettIf you already have technical bookbinding skills but want to kickstart, or develop your creative and design skills then this course will help you to develop ways of engaging visually with the content of the book. Through a series of practical excercises and activities, you will learn a range of creative thinking skills and ways to apply them to design for bookbinding. This course is aimed at bookbinders interested in design binding but would benefit anyone working in book arts who is interested in exploring a text visually. - Bookbinding: lettering with foils Course start date: Thu 24 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Royston HawardThis course is a basic introduction to lettering for the bookbinder using individual handle letters and gold foil as a transfer medium. - Bookbinding weekend: notebooks and folders Course start date: Sat 26 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ina BaumeisterLearn to make single sheet folded books, a simple multi-section sewn book and a folded slipcase. This weekend course is an opportunity to make an exciting range of notebooks and folders and learn some useful bookbinding techniques. Suitable for beginners.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £169.00 Concession £169.00 - Book arts drop-in Course start date: Tue 29 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sue DoggettA one-day, tutor supported book arts workshop. This short course is ideal for students who would like some technical or conceptual advice and the space to work on a personal project. Students will work independently with one to one support.Full fee £89.00 Senior fee £89.00 Concession £89.00 - Try it out: bookbinding Course start date: Sat 9 Aug 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Kate RochesterDip your fingers into bookbinding. Learn a little about the materials and craft of bookbinding while making an attractive book to take home. A chance to discuss further study in bookbinding at City Lit.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £129.00 - Book conservation and repair: paper and cloth-bound books Course start date: Wed 17 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Peter SpainLearn about the cleaning, repair and conservation of paper in flat documents and in book format, and the repair and conservation of paper and cloth-bound books. For those with some bookbinding experience. - Book conservation and repair workshop: intermediate Course start date: Wed 17 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Gavin MoorheadThis course is deal if you have some bookbinding conservation experience and want to develop your skills further by working on your own projects with advice and guidance. Each term will include demonstrations that focus on a different aspect of book conservation.Full fee £549.00 Senior fee £439.00 Concession £357.00 - Bookbinding: gold tooling on leather Course start date: Thu 18 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Tracey RowledgeThis course is a great introduction to gold-tooling and the creative use of the medium. Learn how to gold tool on leather with various hand tools, using BS Glaire and gold leaf. All levels welcome. - City Lit bookbinding: intermediate Course start date: Mon 22 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Gavin MoorheadAn intermediate-level course for students with some experience. Learn new skills and techniques. Develop and build on existing knowledge in traditional and contemporary bookbinding, including leather paring and fine binding.
Term 1 22/09/2025 – 20/10/2025 (half-term week 27/10) 03/11/2025 – 01/12/2025
Term 2 12/01/2026 – 09/02/2026 (half-term week 16/02) 23/02/2026 - 30/03/2026. - City Lit bookbinding Course start date: Tue 23 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Kate RochesterStep into bookbinding with this three-term course. Learn essential techniques and develop skills in using tools and materials to produce your own work. A stimulating, challenging and comprehensive introduction for beginners.
Term 1 23/09/2025 – 21/10/2025 (half-term week 28/10) 04/11/2025 - 09/12/2025
Term 2 06/01/2026 – 10/02/2026 (half-term week 17/02) 24/02/2026 - 31/03/2026
Term 3 14/04/2026 – 19/05//2026 (half-term week 26/05) 02/06/2026 - 14/07/2026. - Bookbinding: Japanese books and boxes Course start date: Thu 2 Oct 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Kate RochesterExplore the elegant sewing patterns found in Japanese binding. Learn how to make books, make a fold-out case, sew traditional and contemporary designs, and experiment with creating your own. This course is suitable for beginners.
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