10 Alternative Workshops To Attend In London

Summer is drawing to an end making it the perfect time to learn a new skill or take on a new challenge, and with so many weird and wonderful workshops running in London there’s no end of choices for you! From knitting to calligraphy, flower arranging to tightrope walking, making your own cheese to carving home-made spoons, the options are endless.


1) Kintsugi Workshop at The Lab E20

We found this intriguing workshop on offer as part of Get Living’s community programme in London’s East Village. Hosted at The LAB E20, a creative hub designed by Christopher Raeburn, founder of RÆBURN, the 3,500sq ft and double-heighted space in Stratford plays host to various events and experiences.

At this workshop you can learn how to mend once loved China and earthenware in a mindful introduction to the Kintsugi method. The visible repairs are seen as part of the history of an object, highlighting the cracks and symbolising fragility, strength, and beauty. 

The idea of this workshop is to repair a loved item, joining together the fractures using the Japanese Kintsugi method – applying the resin glue to the broken sections and making it whole once more. The imperfections aren’t to be hidden but embraced. 

Participants choose their broken porcelain (vase, bowl, plate or cup), and are then guided through the technique of mending each section piece by piece. This is very much a thoughtful and methodical process and one not to be rushed, where each piece is applied and repaired carefully.

All proceeds from ticket sales go towards the Disaster Emergency Committee’s Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

When: 18th October 2022, 7pm - 9pm 

Where: The Lab E20

Price: £3 per person

To find out more: https://www.getliving.com/events/event/makers-meet-kintsugi/




2) Flowers & Bowls Workshop

We unearthed another bloomin lovely offering from Get Living and the LAB E20, called Catharine’s Flowers & Bowls Workshop. 

In her next workshop at East Village, florist Catherine Foxwell will use seasonal flowers and participants will learn how to create their own unique flower bowls from a selection of seasonal flowers.

Catherine will showcase how to use everyday flowers to create beautiful arrangements to brighten your home as we move towards Winter. At the end of the session everyone will leave with a ceramic bowl filled with roses, carnations, chrysanthemums, foliage, and seasonal elements.

All proceeds from ticket sales go towards the Disaster Emergency Committee’s Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

When: 15th November 2022, 7pm - 9pm 

Where: The Lab E20

Price: £3 per person

To find out more: https://www.getliving.com/events/event/makers-meet-ceramic-bowls/



3) Playing Up - Free Creative Play Workshop

Playing Up is a series of drama workshops for parents and their children aged 0 to 4 run by Blue Elephant Theater in association with PACT. 

These workshops aim to empower and enable parents to play with their children and understand the power of play in learning and development. The aim of the workshop is to generate a safe space for parent/adult peer support and improve the physical and mental well-being of parents and children alike. Each workshop is led by a trained facilitator but parents/guardians are the main focus for their children and will lead them through a story during the workshops.

When: 9th September 2022 09:00 - 23rd September 2022 10:30

Where: Salvation Army, 105 Lomond Grove , SE5 7HG

Price: Free

To find out more: http://www.blueelephanttheatre.co.uk/whatson

https://www.southwark.gov.uk/events-culture-and-heritage/46913/52898/46913?c=6


4) Terrarium Masterclass with Botanical Boys

The Botanical Boys have been featured on the BBC’s Great British Garden Revival, in The Sunday Times and won a gold medal at The Chelsea Flower Show. 

This September they will be at Coal Drops Yard for a terrarium building experience. Participants will get to build a self-sustaining living garden in a 3 ltr glass jar topped with a natural cork lid to take home with you.

A terrarium is a miniature environment of living plants that thrive off moisture. During this workshop you will learn the whys and how's for making a self contained living botanical environment. Ben and Darren from the Botanical Boys will teach you all the necessary steps on how to build your garden layer by layer and how to care for it afterwards.

When: Next available dates, 4th and 17th September

Where: Kings Cross, London

Price: £68

To find out more: https://www.botanicalboys.com


5) Design your Own Silver Ring with The Ringsmiths

The Ringsmiths, Ros Millar & Milena Kovanovic are two close friends and award winning jewelry designers & makers. They are passionate about sharing their jewellery making knowledge with enthusiastic students.

Their ring-making class has proved hugely popular since a student's TikTok documenting the experience went viral in the summer of 2021, with their classes selling out well into this year!

Each of their workshops begins with a short introduction to the lost wax process and its uses. Ros and Milena will inform you about basic tips and tricks on how to design a comfortable ring, showing you various techniques and tools that can be used. After the class your wax carved ring will be cast, finished and polished by Ros and Milena using recycled silver. You will then be contacted once it’s ready for collection.

When: Various dates available

Where: London Bridge, Waterloo

Price: Gemstones start from £20 and up and include setting costs, Gold plating ranges from £40-£60, Engraving starts from £45

To find out more: https://the-ringsmiths.widget.obby.co.uk/event/design-your-own-silver-ring-with-the-ringsmiths-at-oxo-tower-wharf-1644237140/dates



6) Introduction to Sewing Workshop with The Fashion Box 

If you want to be able to sew but have absolutely no idea where to start, this workshop is for you (also heads up - it’s currently on offer!)

You can find it at The Fashion Box which is a Fashion School for people who want to build a solid foundation of skills, in manageable, affordable, bitesize sessions. 

The workshop is run by Craig, the creator of The Fashion Box, who writes all of the workshop content. He is a fully qualified university lecturer, who writes and develops HND, BA and MA Fashion programmes for colleges and universities. He also works within the industry as a pattern cutter and sampler. Craig also specializes in working with new designers who require coaching on how to launch their own fashion label. 

You can join Craig and the rest of The Fashion Box team for a two-hour class offering an introduction to domestic sewing machines. After getting to grips with threading, you'll also have the opportunity to explore different stitching techniques and seams, all with the guidance of your fashion host. 

When: Multiple dates available 

Where:The Fashion Box, Unit 4, 718-722 Seven Sister Road, London, N15 5NH

Price: Usually £60, on offer for £36

To find out more: https://www.thefashionbox.co.uk/product-page/introduction-to-sewing




7) Discover String Art Workshop with Funky String Art 

What on earth is String Art? We hear you cry. Well unless you grew up in the 1970s, why would you know. In actual fact, even if you did grow up in the 70’s you wouldn't be blamed for not knowing as only a handful of people in the UK are engaged in this little-known craft.

String Art essentially involves creating beautiful artwork with colourful thread and card. In this 3-hour workshop, you will be introduced to string art and shown examples of a variety of exquisite designs and then let loose to create up to five greetings cards that family and friends will love – if you can bear to give them away.

The host of this workshop, Laurie, is a teacher by profession, and has over the last twenty-five years, worked as a tutor and workshop facilitator with children as young as four years old to adults. Since rediscovering string art in 2014, she has sold her cards in small art outlets and craft markets, and taught string art classes to all ages in the West London area. Her work has been shown at art exhibitions curated by UThinkPDP and Open Ealing.

Classes take place at the Côte Brasserie café away from the main area and complimentary pastries and a beverage are thrown in.

When: Classes run regularly 

Where: Ealing, London

Price: £32

To find out more: https://obby.co.uk/classes/crafts/other-crafts-classes/discover-string-art-1644426449


8) The Art of Dried Flowers Workshop with The Flower Factory LDN

The Flower Factory LDN is a unique floral studio that is inspired by seasonal blooms, located in the heart of Shoreditch/Hoxton where they teach their passion to budding florist enthusiasts.

They create natural and bespoke floral arrangements with a Scandinavian flair by using fresh flowers and foliage. Although, they also love dried, everlasting arrangements and their sustainable and gorgeous benefits. 

In this dried flower workshop carefully selected dried blooms and foliage will be used, to make a wild and wonderful bouquet. A professionally qualified teacher will guide you through the process and always be on hand with useful tips and tricks to help you make an amazing floral arrangement to take home. 

We particularly love this workshop because dried flowers are sustainable and eco friendly. 

When: Classes run regularly 

Where: 12-18 Hoxton Street, unit 102b, London, N1 6NG 

Price:  Starting from £42

To find out more: https://classbento.co.uk/the-flower-factory-ldn#classes

10) Castle Square Creative Club

We found a great workshop for South East London families hosted by the Elephant & Castle Creative Club, which is part of the Elephant & Castle Virtual Community Hub that launched in March 2020. The hub hosts free virtual and physical wellness activities, fitness classes and arts & crafts workshops for local people, with Creative Workshops every Wednesday in October. Activities range from the Elephant and Castle Community Hub choir to a Latin Dance Aerobics Workouts. 

Parents looking for a fun way to entertain their kids this October will be pleased to hear that the Creative Club plans to run activities both online and in person. Your little ones will be able to transform paper scraps into works of art, experiment with colour and composition and obtain exciting and unexpected results. 

Where: Castle Square, 40 Elephant Rd, London, SE17 1EU

Price:  Free

To find out more: https://www.elephantpark.co.uk/eat-drink-and-shop/events-and-fun/castle-square-creative-club/

11) East End: Street Art Walking Tour with Spray Painting Session

How cool does this workshop sound? In it, participants will walk through the vibrant areas of London’s East End to see the famous street art of the city, before taking part in a workshop and producing their very own street art piece.

This a great opportunity to wander through bohemian neighbourhoods with a local guide, and see pieces by famous artists such as Banksy, ROA, Shepherd Fairy, Jimmy C, Invader, Stik and many more.

Your workshop guide will teach you the unique techniques of graffiti-style art and you can take your masterpiece home with you!

When: Multiple dates available 

Where: White Goat Statue, Brushfield St, London E1 6AA

Price:  £35

To find out more: https://www.getyourguide.co.uk/london-l57/east-end-street-art-walking-tour-with-spray-painting-session-t390514/

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