Delve into history

Explore the events of the past, and how they’ve shaped the world we live in today. Immerse yourself in different eras, marvel at historic achievements, and examine how different things could have been.  

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All of our courses are designed to help develop your skills in historical research and analysis, encouraging you to look beyond the surface of key historical moments. From the history of King Arthur to World War I and II, you’ll develop a better understanding of key historic customs, beliefs, and ways of life.   

Whether you consider yourself a history buff with decades of experience, or someone just starting out that wants to learn more, you can choose from a wide selection of topics.   

Attend a WEA history course near you  

A variety of our history courses are taught in-person or are delivered online - it all depends on what suits your needs best. From the comfort of your own home to a space in your local community. Whichever option you choose, you’ll be taught by a talented tutor who is vastly experienced.   

The support you’ll receive on our history courses  

They'll help you develop an understanding that goes beyond just what's on the surface, all within a friendly and encouraging environment that ensures you attend each session with the excitement to learn.   

It’s our learning experience that sets us apart too, with many of those attending our courses going on to achieve incredible things. You’ll learn at a pace that’s comfortable for you too, with a friendly supportive tutor on hand to answer any questions you might have. 

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Art and About: Walking Radical London – The Strand & Fleet Street

This gentle walk down the Strand to Fleet Street from Charing Cross Station will concentrate on the sites the area’s radical past. From the meeting places of the London Corresponding Society, to the Chartists & their Six Point Charter, Sylvia Pankhurst’s Communist Party of Great Britain’s headquarters, radical booksellers and publishers – all will be pointed out. We will take regular pauses to look at some of the evidence for what was once a hotbed of radical and revolutionary politicking. We will discuss the contribution and achievement of these movements and individuals and ask what their legacy is. Meet at the Eleanor Cross, Charing Cross Station, London.

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 20/06/2025 -
Fri 20/06/2025
Times:
10:30am - 1:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Meeting Place:Charing Cross Railway Stat
Charing Cross Station
Strand
London
WC2N 5HS
Tutor:
Laurie Johnston
Course code:
Q00019142
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
7 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £12.60

History: 3 Remarkable Norfolk Women

This day school offers a unique exploration of local history by examining the lives and contributions of 3 remarkable women who left indelible marks on society, culture, and politics. From ancient warriors to a mystic and an influential writer, each woman represents a distinct era in British history, shedding light on the struggles, achievements, and societal changes of their times. Throughout the day, we will delve into the lives of these extraordinary women, analysing their impact on local and British society and their enduring legacies. By studying their stories, learners will gain a deeper understanding of key historical events, social movements, and cultural shifts that have shaped the fabric of Britain.

Course Information

Dates:
Sat 05/07/2025 -
Sat 05/07/2025
Times:
10:30am - 4:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Friends Meeting House (King's Lynn)
38 Bridge Street
King's Lynn
PE30 5AB
Tutor:
Kate Antoniou
Course code:
Q00021985
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £30.00

History: 'You've Never Had It So Good'- Britain in the 1950's

Harold Macmillan famously claimed in 1957 that the majority of British people had ‘never had it so good’ What did he mean by this and was this true? This thought provoking course will examine through contemporary evidence, films and through discussion the evidence for this. We will focus on the social, political and economic factors which applied in the lead up to the period and also the challenges which Macmillan himself identified. Lastly we will transition to the present day, and consider whether we are better off today, and if not why not?

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 16/07/2025 -
Wed 16/07/2025
Times:
10:00am - 1:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Kate Antoniou
Course code:
Q00022517
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £11.10

History: Post War Britain: The Thatcher Years

This course continues our look at post war Britain. It also stands alone as a separate offer and new students are most welcome. As before we will take a thematic rather than strictly narrative approach to the period. We will examine four key areas: politics during these years; Britain’s place in the world; the economy; and social change. Students will be encouraged to share their own memories of the period through discussions and questions. Margaret Thatcher was a conviction politician and accepted that many of her policies were divisive. As we look at her time as Prime Minister, we will adopt a non-partisan approach. As with any long serving Premier she had both successes and failures. We will approach both with an open mind.

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 09/01/2026 -
Fri 13/02/2026
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Bourne Hall (Epsom)
Spring Street
Ewell
Epsom
KT17 1UF
Tutor:
Julian Roberts
Course code:
Q00022873
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £50.40

WEA Membership

WEA membership is changing: more information is coming soon!

Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
£15

History: Empire of Many Nations: The Habsburg Monarchy from 1848 to 1919

This ten-week course explores the final decades of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, from the revolutions of 1848 to its dissolution at the end of World War I. It examines how the Habsburg monarchy navigated nationalism, liberalism, industrialization, and imperial reform in a multi-ethnic empire under constant pressure. Key topics include the 1867 Ausgleich, the empire’s complex governance, cultural life in Vienna, rising nationalist movements, and the road to Sarajevo and war. Through political analysis, primary sources, and cultural history, students will gain a deeper understanding of how this vast and diverse empire both shaped and was undone by the forces of modernity.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 12/01/2026 -
Mon 23/03/2026
Times:
10:15am - 12:15pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Christ Church United Reformed Church (Or
Willett Way
Petts Wood
Orpington
BR5 1LH
Tutor:
Laurie Johnston
Course code:
Q00022396
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £84.00

History: The Wars of the Roses: The Fall of the House of York, 1460–1485

This ten-week course delves into the final phase of the Wars of the Roses, charting the turbulent decline of the House of York from its height under Edward IV to its destruction at Bosworth in 1485. Through detailed case studies of battles, political intrigues, and key personalities—including Warwick the Kingmaker, Richard III, and Henry Tudor—we examine how factionalism, betrayal, and ambition shaped England’s destiny. Each session explores a pivotal moment, revealing the fragility of monarchy and the emergence of Tudor power. Primary sources, historiography, and modern interpretations illuminate this dramatic period of dynastic conflict and national transformation

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 13/01/2026 -
Tue 24/03/2026
Times:
2:15pm - 4:15pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
The Drive Methodist Church (Redbridge)
Eastern Avenue
Redbridge
IG4 5AB
Tutor:
Laurie Johnston
Course code:
Q00022300
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £84.00

History: Empire Incorporated: The Rise and Rule of the East India Company 1600-1874

This course explores how a private trading corporation became one of the most powerful imperial forces in history. Over ten lectures, students will trace the Company’s evolution from a 17th-century merchant venture to the de facto ruler of India, examining its economic strategies, military conquests, political scandals, and cultural impact. The course also considers resistance within India, reform efforts in Britain, and the Company’s enduring legacy. Combining global history, political economy, and postcolonial analysis, this course offers a critical understanding of corporate empire-building and its lasting consequences.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 14/01/2026 -
Wed 25/03/2026
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Ripley Arts Centre (Bromley)
24 Sundridge Avenue
Bromley
BR1 2PX
Tutor:
Laurie Johnston
Course code:
Q00022496
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £84.00

Archaeology: Highlights of British Archaeology: Viking (80 AD) To High Middle Ages

Highlights of Medieval Archaeology will feature - recent work on Castles, from Hen Dolmen on the Welsh border to the Royal castle at Launceston, both have been extensively excavated and published in recent years. Recent work on Monastic sites; Fountains Abbey, Merton Priory and the Friaries in Hull and Cambridge all subject to recent excavation or geophysical survey. Look at Medieval coastal flooding around the North Sea basin. Examine the Bremen Cog, a 14th century North Sea trading ship, other recent cog finds and the cargos they can be shown to have carried. Introduce the late medieval books of Hours and the rare black variety. Feature the Voynich Manuscript- an undeciphered late medieval illustrated manuscript. By request, give an update on the recently excavated Melsonby Hoard of Late Iron Age metalwork from North Yorkshire.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 19/01/2026 -
Mon 23/03/2026
Times:
1:45pm - 3:45pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Grimsby Central Hall & Arts Community Ce
Duncombe Street
Grimsby
DN32 7EG
Tutor:
Simon Tomson
Course code:
Q00022428
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £84.00

History: Radical England: Wat Tyler to George Orwell

This five-week course explores the tradition of radical thought and protest in England, from the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 to the writings of George Orwell. It examines how individuals and movements challenged authority, demanded rights, and imagined alternative societies across six centuries. From medieval uprisings and Civil War radicals to 19th-century reformers and 20th-century critics of fascism and empire, we trace the evolution of dissent in politics, literature, and popular action. Using primary texts and historical analysis, the course reveals how radical voices—often suppressed or overlooked—helped shape England’s political and cultural landscape in enduring and provocative ways.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 14/04/2026 -
Tue 12/05/2026
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Enfield Baptist Church (Enfield) (Enfiel
Cecil Road
Enfield
EN2 6TG
Tutor:
Laurie Johnston
Course code:
Q00022412
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £50.40



The courses below have already started, but are still available to book.

History: Wish You Were Here- A History of Holidays Through The Ages.

What did it feel like to be a holiday maker in the past? Originally holidays are just Holy Days and a chance to make merry but they didn’t involve you leaving home. Travel for leisure really does not start until the 17th century with trips to a spa or seaside town for health reasons and to enjoy the social life. Later the Grand Tour is available for the wealthy. Change comes with the railways and cheap day trips, and in the 20th century paid holidays, seaside towns and holiday camps. Over the last 50 years overseas holidays, have been within the reach of many but what do current environmental and social concerns mean for the future? Join the class to find out more.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 04/06/2025 -
Wed 09/07/2025
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Kate Antoniou
Course code:
Q00021497
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
In progress
Fee range
Free to £44.40