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.
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.
- Bookbinding: 10 projects for beginners
Course start date: Sun 26 Sep 2021Location on this date: Online
An 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 will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £299.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £182.00 - City Lit bookbinding: intermediateCourse start date: Mon 11 Oct 2021
Location on this date: KS - Keeley Street
An 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.
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 LitFull fee £649.00 Senior fee £519.00 Concession £396.00 - City Lit fine binding higher level: vellumCourse start date: Tue 19 Oct 2021
Location on this date: KS - Keeley Street
Learn how to make a stiff-boarded binding in full vellum. Practise ‘pulling’ (disbinding) a book, preparing it for rebinding, making endpapers, edge-gilding, sewing multi-coloured end-bands, and preparing and covering with vellum. Suitable for advanced level students.
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 LitFull fee £1,099.00 Senior fee £879.00 Concession £670.00 - Bookbinding: bradel bindingCourse start date: Thu 21 Oct 2021
Location on this date: KS - Keeley Street
The bradel binding can be traced back to the eighteenth century and although it resembles an ordinary case binding, the techniques used to construct the book make it much more durable. This structure can be adapted for use with paper, cloth and leather. 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 LitFull fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £121.00 - Hand marbled paperCourse start date: Fri 22 Oct 2021
Location on this date: KS - Keeley Street
Get creative whilst discovering the history and mystical techniques of decorative paper marbling from 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 LitFull fee £249.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £152.00 - Bookbinding: box makingCourse start date: Mon 25 Oct 2021
Location on this date: KS - Keeley Street
Learn how to make slipcases and clamshell boxes. Get creative with decorative and plain papers, cloth, board and fastenings and complete beautiful containers to house your books and objects.
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 LitFull fee £299.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £182.00 - Bookbinding: Japanese books and boxesCourse start date: Thu 18 Nov 2021
Location on this date: KS - Keeley Street
Explore the elegant sewing patterns found in Japanese binding. Learn how to fold books, make a fold-out case, work traditional designs and experiment with creating your own. This course is 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 LitFull fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £121.00 - Creative arts for bookbinding I: decorative paper techniquesCourse start date: Sat 11 Dec 2021
Location on this date: KS - Keeley Street
Try out a range of decorative techniques for paper including paste papers, dip dyed papers, rubber stamps and Japanese marbling for bookbinding use or as individual pieces. All levels welcome.
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 LitFull fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £79.00 - Introduction to gold toolingCourse start date: Tue 14 Dec 2021
Location on this date: KS - Keeley Street
This 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.
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 LitFull fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £156.00 - Gold tooling on paperCourse start date: Thu 6 Jan 2022
Location on this date: KS - Keeley Street
Develop your knowledge and experience of gold tooling on paper using hand finishing tools, BS Glaire and loose gold leaf. For those with experience in gold tooling using hand finishing tools and gold leaf.
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 LitFull fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £121.00 - Beginners' bookbindingCourse start date: Mon 13 Sep 2021
Location on this date: KS - Keeley Street
Start your bookbinding journey with this accessible, 6 week introduction to techniques and structures. Learn how to make simple folded books progressing to a more complex stitched binding and explore the world of handmade 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 LitFull fee £299.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £182.00 - Book conservation and repair workshop: intermediate and higherCourse start date: Wed 22 Sep 2021
Location on this date: KS - Keeley Street
Ideal 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 LitFull fee £349.00 Senior fee £279.00 Concession £213.00 - Book conservation and repair: paper and cloth-bound booksCourse start date: Wed 22 Sep 2021
Location on this date: KS - Keeley Street
Learn 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.
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 LitFull fee £549.00 Senior fee £439.00 Concession £335.00 - Book conservation for beginners ICourse start date: Thu 23 Sep 2021
Location on this date: KS - Keeley Street
Understand the structure, collating and pulling of a book. Practise paper cleaning and repair. Learn how to re-sew a text-block, mend damaged corners and re-hinge boards.
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 LitFull fee £349.00 Senior fee £279.00 Concession £213.00 - City Lit bookbindingCourse start date: Tue 28 Sep 2021
Location on this date: KS - Keeley Street
Step 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.
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 LitFull fee £1,059.00 Senior fee £847.00 Concession £720.00
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