Learning about the world around us

Here at the WEA we offer a huge range of humanities and science courses, with something for everyone.  

Skip to courses

If you’re interested in the natural world, our geography and environment courses are the perfect choice. Our packed curriculum explores some of the biggest issues facing society, such as climate change and the fight against the destruction of some of Earth’s most precious resources. The option to learn in person or online means that our geography courses can whisk you away to a far-flung corner of the globe, all without you ever having to leave your own home. 

Studying a science

If you choose to take one of our psychology courses you’ll be immersed in the study of the human mind. With options to learn about memory and identity, you’ll get the chance to explore and debate some of the most famous psychological experiments.  

There’s also Sociology too, a subject that focuses on human behaviour, interaction, and relationships. If you’d like to explore some of the biggest questions in life, then our philosophy courses are for you. Small class sizes mean that you’ll get to discuss and debate in a supportive environment, all with an experienced tutor on hand.  

Attend a Humanities and Science course near you  

Whether you choose to learn from the comfort of your own home or opted for face-to-face learning at a local community venue, you’ll be taught by a talented tutor who is an expert in their subject. Our learning experience sets us apart from other providers, with learners regularly highlighting the difference that an encouraging environment makes. 

Please enter your postcode

In order for us to give you accurate results for your courses, please click on the Search options and enter your postcode and the mile radius for your search.

Refine search

How you'll learn

Your location

Please enter your postcode or town for your search in the boxes below.

We have defaulted the search to ten miles, but you can change this number in the box as you wish.

Sort by start date

Choose to sort the course start date in ascending order (furthest away dates first) or descending (most recent dates first)

Results per page

Days

Other Filters

Part of day
Level of study
Availability
Search for the branch name/location, without adding branch e.g. Barnet

History: Early C20 Literature and War

The First World War, the rise of fascism and the Second World War between them reshaped global history in the early C20. Dr Simon Gregor, as a historian, has spent years studying these dark years of European (and indeed global) history. At the same time, Simon's first degree was in literature, and in this course he will examine how this period of history also reshaped the way in which people thought about, and wrote about, the world.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 10/06/2025 -
Tue 01/07/2025
Times:
3:00pm - 4:30pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Guest Speaker
Course code:
Q00021667
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £30.00

Art and About: From Trafalgar Square to Westminster Bridge

In central London there is a plethora of art which is visible in the streets. There are self-standing statues, statues carved on many buildings, ornamentations on buildings in every style – Gothic, classical, Baroque. Starting from Trafalgar Square we will enjoy the buildings starting with the National Gallery and Saint Martin-in-the-Field. From the square itself the route is down Whitehall, past many government buildings, to the sculptures in Parliament Square, Westminster Abbey, Saint Margaret’s, the Palace of Westminster. The tour will finish on Westminster bridge, enjoying the splendid views of old and new buildings. On the tour you will learn about architectural styles and many famous people.

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 13/06/2025 -
Fri 13/06/2025
Times:
10:30am - 1:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Meeting Place:The National Gallery
Trafalgar Square
London
WC2N 5DN
Tutor:
Colin Lomas
Course code:
Q00019129
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £12.60

History: Anglo-Saxon & Norman England 1066-1100

This short course tells the epic story of the Norman Conquest and the end of Anglo-Saxon England in the 11th Century. We will consider the reasons for the Norman invasion and its impact on landscape, government, language and culture amongst other things. We will discuss its lasting legacy and the ways in which it continues to affect our own times. The course will draw on current academic writing as well as contemporary source material including the Bayeux Tapestry, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and Domesday Book among many others. Throughout we will use study of sources and discussion to draw conclusions and ask further questions.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 17/06/2025 -
Tue 15/07/2025
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Enfield Baptist Church (Enfield) (Enfiel
Cecil Road
Enfield
EN2 6TG
Tutor:
Laurie Johnston
Course code:
Q00021550
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £42.00

Art and About: Walking Anglo-Saxon London

This is a walk around the former site of Lundenwic, the Anglo-Saxon settlement of London of the 8th and 9th Century. Nothing remains in terms of building but there is much to learn from the archaeological and documentary record. Using the record and the existing street plan and a lot of imagination we can begin to reconstruct something of what the settlement was like. The site of the former settlement encompasses Charing Cross, Covent Garden and the Strand and that will be the area of this very gentle and easy stroll. We will take frequent pauses to consider the evidence and consider the nature and legacy of this ancient settlement. Meet Eleanor Cross, Charing Cross Station.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 18/06/2025 -
Wed 18/06/2025
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:
Q00019143
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £12.60

WEA Membership

WEA membership is changing: more information is coming soon!

Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
£15

Archaeology: World Archaeology Extraordinary Excavations

This online day school will provide an introduction to archaeology. We will be uncovering a selection of archaeological sites from different places and from a range of time periods.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 18/06/2025 -
Wed 18/06/2025
Times:
10:00am - 4:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Jo Shoebridge
Course code:
Q00022162
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £22.20

Art and About: Explore the Southbank as it gets Greener

Join us for a guided heritage walk as part of the WEA London Festival Art and About. Meeting at 11 AM on 19th June by the ticket barriers at Blackfriars Station (south side of the Thames), we’ll explore the Southbank—an area renowned for its vibrant culture and tourism. Once one of London’s most polluted neighbourhoods, Southbank has transformed into a beloved, tree-lined riverside destination visited by millions each year. Discover the area’s rich history, uncover the forces that shaped its evolution, and see firsthand how it became the cultural landmark it is today. The walk will conclude near Waterloo Station.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 19/06/2025 -
Thu 19/06/2025
Times:
11:00am - 2:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Meeting Point: Blackfriars Station
Southside
Southside
London
SE1 9UD
Tutor:
Selina Rice
Course code:
Q00019132
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £12.60

Art and About: The Cato Street Conspiracy – A Walk

We will take a gentle stroll through a historic part of London focusing on the Cato Street Conspiracy of 1820. Starting at Edgware Road Underground Station and finishing at Grosvenor Square, we will take in the sites of the plot including the miraculously surviving hayloft in which the plotters met. We will consider the evidence for the plotter’s intentions and the many theories that have been advanced over the involvement of the government, the police and the military. We will consider the men involved and the political atmosphere, culture and setting in which they operated. Meet at Edgware Road Underground Station, Chapel St, London NW1 5DH

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 19/06/2025 -
Thu 19/06/2025
Times:
10:30am - 1:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Edgware Road Underground (London)
Chapel Street
London
NW1 5DH
Tutor:
Laurie Johnston
Course code:
Q00019141
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £12.60

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:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £12.60

Art and About: Explore the Hidden Gems of Lambeth

Join us for a guided walk as part of the WEA London Festival Art and About, uncovering the hidden gems of Lambeth. Meeting at 11 AM on 26th June at Lambeth North Station, this fascinating journey will take you beyond the well-known riverside to explore the streets and stories tucked just behind the Thames. Once marshland, this was the first part of the borough to be developed—what traces of its past remain? Who shaped its transformation? Discover the rich history and overlooked corners of Lambeth on this flat walk, which ends near Lambeth Bridge.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 26/06/2025 -
Thu 26/06/2025
Times:
11:00am - 2:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Meeting Point: Criterion Theatre
218-223 Piccadilly
St. James's
London
London
W1J 9HR
Tutor:
Selina Rice
Course code:
Q00019131
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £12.60

Textiles and Fashion: Upcycling Fabric, Learn how to make fabric twine and shabby chic tassels

Would you like to learn quick and easy projects that are great for upcycling scraps of fabric and old clothing? This single session course is for you. Aimed at any learners no matter what your level of experience you will be able to take part in the session and learn how to make fabric twine and a shabby chic fabric tassel, you will also learn about the importance of upcycling and why keeping fabric out of landfill is important to the environment and saves money!

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 02/07/2025 -
Wed 02/07/2025
Times:
11:00am - 1:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Trudi Price
Course code:
Q00021879
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £7.40