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.
34 courses available
Print, design and bindExplore simple printmaking and bookbinding techniques to create handmade artists’ books. This practical four-day course encourages playful and creative approaches to print, paper and folded book forms. Suitable for beginners and those with some experience.
Keeley Street
Sat 17 Oct 2026Lorenzo DavittiFull fee £349.00 Senior fee £279.00 Concession £227.00- Bookbinding: notebooks and folders
Learn how 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.
Keeley Street
Sat 31 Oct 2026Kate RochesterFull fee £179.00 Senior fee £143.00 Concession £116.00 - Beginning miniature bookbindingExplore the charm of tiny books in this introduction to miniature bookbinding. You will discover the history and appeal of this unique style and make three adorable miniature books to take home. Suitable for beginners.
Keeley Street
Thu 5 Nov 2026Royston HawardFull fee £349.00 Senior fee £279.00 Concession £227.00 - Bookbinding: box makingLearn how to make slipcases and clamshell boxes. Get creative with decorative and plain papers, cloth and board to complete beautiful containers to house your books and objects.
Keeley Street
Fri 6 Nov 2026Ina BaumeisterFull fee £449.00 Senior fee £359.00 Concession £292.00 - Book conservation for beginners I
This course will introduce some of the basic principles and techniques used in book conservation. You will learn about the structure, collating and pulling of a book, practise paper cleaning and repair and learn how to re-sew a text-block, mend damaged corners and re-hinge boards. You will need to bring a cloth-covered book to work on so please read the course outline in full before the course starts.
Keeley Street
Thu 12 Nov 2026Full fee £299.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £194.00 - Try it out: bookbindingDip your fingers into bookbinding. Learn a little about the tools, 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 £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £149.00
- Book conservation and repair workshop: intermediateThis course is 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.Full fee £569.00 Senior fee £455.00 Concession £370.00
- Beginners' bookbinding II
Come 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.
Keeley Street
Fri 8 Jan 2027Alessia TumbioloFull fee £449.00 Senior fee £359.00 Concession £292.00 - Hand marbled paper
This course introduces the fascinating art of marbling. You will learn how to create beautiful papers that can be used on a range of craft projects, around the home or just enjoyed for their endless variations. You will learn about the materials, tools and techniques historically associated with Turkish, European and Japanese marbling and you can experiment with pattern and colour to create your own responses to this ancient craft.
Full fee £399.00 Senior fee £319.00 Concession £259.00 - Bookbinding: artists' book projectsDevelop your creative and practical book arts skills on this intermediate course. Expand on your ideas about the relationship between the structure and the concept of the book and engage in in-depth research and development of your intended project proposal with one-to-one tutorial support and lively critical group discussion. Not suitable for beginners.Full fee £719.00 Senior fee £575.00 Concession £467.00
- Beginners' bookbinding: bind a letterpress printed bookExplore the exciting world of craft bookbinding in this comprehensive introduction to the letterpress book. Learn about the tools and techniques required to bind a book with unique hand decorated papers.
Keeley Street
Thu 14 Jan 2027Royston HawardFull fee £449.00 Senior fee £359.00 Concession £292.00 - Bookbinding intermediate three-part binding with leather spine
This one-term course explores the Bradel-style binding, a versatile structure that offers exciting opportunities for combining leather with handmade paste papers. Through a series of traditional bookbinding techniques, you will create a unique hand-bound book that reflects your own creative design choices.
Keeley Street
Thu 14 Jan 2027Kate RochesterFull fee £719.00 Senior fee £575.00 Concession £467.00 - Book conservation for beginners II
This course will introduce some of the basic principles and techniques used in book conservation. You will learn about the structure and repair of paper, of cloth-bound books and there will be an introduction to the structure of leather bindings. You will need to bring a suitable book to work on so please read the course outline in full before the course starts. This course is suitable for beginners and returning students.
Keeley Street
Fri 19 Feb 2027Full fee £299.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £194.00 - Print into book
Explore simple printmaking and bookbinding techniques to create handmade artists’ books. This practical four-day weekend course encourages playful and creative approaches to print, paper and folded book forms. Suitable for beginners and those with some experience.
Keeley Street
Sun 21 Feb 2027Lorenzo DavittiFull fee £349.00 Senior fee £279.00 Concession £227.00 - Sewn boards and drum leaf bindings for book artsThese book forms are great for making artists’ books and books with content, as they both open flat with little or no restriction at the spine fold. Come and make some models to experiment with, or bring some artwork with you and use this to produce two versatile and creative structures. Some experience of sewing multi-section books will be helpful but not essential.
Keeley Street
Mon 22 Feb 2027Sue DoggettFull fee £299.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £194.00
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