Bookbinding Courses in London & Online
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.
Many of our courses are delivered online. For more information about our live online courses, please see our guide to online learning.
Browse our range of bookbinding courses in London below to choose your perfect option.
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Try it out: bookbinding
Course Date: Sat 20 Mar 2021 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: OnlineDip your fingers into bookbinding. Learn a little about the history, materials and craft of bookbinding over two Saturday mornings while you are guided through making some bindings of your own.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £79.00Senior fee: £79.00Concession: £79.00 -
Artist talk: Kathy Abbott - From hats to headcaps
Course Date: Tue 13 Apr 2021
Location on this date: OnlineA chance discovery of the craft of bookbinding changed Kathy Abbott's career path. She will talk about her journey and the wide range of work she undertakes, encompassing Shakespeare's First Folio, Islamic manuscripts, and the inspiration she gets for her Fine Bindings from her love of the written word.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee: £5.00Senior fee: £5.00Concession: £5.00 -
Start bookbinding
Course Date: Sat 17 Apr 2021 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: KS - Keeley StreetDiscover the art of handmade books! Three days of progressive projects will guide you through core techniques and prepare you to experiment, design and craft your own unique books.
This course takes place in the classroom, please follow this link to find out what we are doing to keep you safe: Staying COVID-19 secure at City Lit
Full fee: £149.00Senior fee: £119.00Concession: £75.00 -
Book arts: bindings in acrylic, acetate and plastic
Course Date: Mon 19 Apr 2021
Location on this date: KS - Keeley StreetTry something new by working with a range of materials not commonly associated with bookbinding. Discover the potential of strong, translucent yet colourful plastics and transform them into a range of exciting books.
This course takes place in the classroom, please follow this link to find out what we are doing to keep you safe: Staying COVID-19 secure at City Lit
Full fee: £249.00Senior fee: £199.00Concession: £125.00 -
Book conservation and repair workshop: intermediate and higher
Course Date: Wed 21 Apr 2021
Location on this date: KS - Keeley StreetIdeal 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.
This course takes place in the classroom, please follow this link to find out what we are doing to keep you safe: Staying COVID-19 secure at City Lit
Full fee: £349.00Senior fee: £279.00Concession: £213.00 -
Working with leather: decorative techniques
Course Date: Thu 22 Apr 2021
Location on this date: KS - Keeley StreetA four day introduction into traditional and contemporary leather decorating techniques. Are you working with leather in the context of bookbinding, fashion, textiles, fine art or jewellery? This course will broaden your expertise.
This course takes place in the classroom, please follow this link to find out what we are doing to keep you safe: Staying COVID-19 secure at City Lit
Full fee: £199.00Senior fee: £159.00Concession: £121.00 -
Bookbinding: 10 projects for beginners
Course Date: Thu 22 Apr 2021 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: KS - Keeley StreetAn exciting range of graded projects to introduce you to bookbinding. Come armed with enthusiasm and walk away with a stack of small books and a heap of information on materials, tools and techniques.
This course takes place in the classroom, please follow this link to find out what we are doing to keep you safe: Staying COVID-19 secure at City Lit
Full fee: £299.00Senior fee: £299.00Concession: £150.00 -
Book arts drop-in
Course Date: Fri 23 Apr 2021 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: KS - Keeley StreetA 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.
This course takes place in the classroom, please follow this link to find out what we are doing to keep you safe: Staying COVID-19 secure at City Lit
Full fee: £49.00Senior fee: £49.00Concession: £49.00 -
Paper marbling
Course Date: Sun 30 May 2021
Location on this date: KS - Keeley StreetGet your hands messy investigating the history and techniques of decorative paper marbling. From Japanese Suminagashi and Ebru to traditional Western marbling on carrageen moss size, try out re-creating some historical patterns. Suitable for all levels.
This course takes place in the classroom, please follow this link to find out what we are doing to keep you safe: Staying COVID-19 secure at City Lit
Full fee: £189.00Senior fee: £151.00Concession: £115.00 -
Bookbinding: experiments in paper folding
Course Date: Sat 5 Jun 2021
Location on this date: KS - Keeley StreetExplore 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.
This course takes place in the classroom, please follow this link to find out what we are doing to keep you safe: Staying COVID-19 secure at City Lit
Full fee: £129.00Senior fee: £103.00Concession: £65.00 -
Bookbinding: learn to bind artists' books
Course Date: Mon 7 Jun 2021
Location on this date: KS - Keeley StreetExplore the world of artists’ books and create your own one-off or small edition. Combine text, image and bookbinding to bring your interests to life; this course will help you develop your ideas through the structure of the book.
This course takes place in the classroom, please follow this link to find out what we are doing to keep you safe: Staying COVID-19 secure at City Lit
Full fee: £389.00Senior fee: £311.00Concession: £195.00 -
Bookbinding: crossed-structure and criss-cross bindings
Course Date: Thu 17 Jun 2021
Location on this date: KS - Keeley StreetImmerse yourself in contemporary sewing techniques to create two attractive multi-section books using leather and decorative paper. These flexible books are unglued so that the pages open completely flat so as well as looking good, they are also excellent for use as sketchbooks, diaries and notebooks.
This course takes place in the classroom, please follow this link to find out what we are doing to keep you safe: Staying COVID-19 secure at City Lit
Full fee: £149.00Senior fee: £119.00Concession: £75.00 -
Bookbinding: limp vellum binding
Course Date: Fri 18 Jun 2021
Location on this date: KS - Keeley StreetThis course will introduce you to the techniques for making a flexible and versatile limp vellum binding and equip you with the skills needed to produce a beautiful binding of your own. Some bookbinding experience required.
This course takes place in the classroom, please follow this link to find out what we are doing to keep you safe: Staying COVID-19 secure at City Lit
Full fee: £149.00Senior fee: £119.00Concession: £75.00 -
Creative arts for bookbinding II: leather dyeing techniques
Course Date: Sat 19 Jun 2021
Location on this date: KS - Keeley StreetSpend a day experimenting with leather dye and dyeing techniques. You will be introduced to different dye types, methods of applying dye and a range of creative techniques such as resist, crackle and speckling, to use on bookbinding and other leather projects. Suitable for beginners.
This course takes place in the classroom, please follow this link to find out what we are doing to keep you safe: Staying COVID-19 secure at City Lit
Full fee: £79.00Senior fee: £63.00Concession: £48.00 -
Bookbinding weekend: notebooks and folders
Course Date: Sat 26 Jun 2021
Location on this date: KS - Keeley StreetLearn 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.
This course takes place in the classroom, please follow this link to find out what we are doing to keep you safe: Staying COVID-19 secure at City Lit
Full fee: £129.00Senior fee: £103.00Concession: £65.00
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