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.  

Skip to courses

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. 

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: The 12th Century Civil War for the Crown of England

This course looks at the troubled years after 1140, when England was ravaged by civil war and had two rival monarchs: the Empress Matilda, the daughter of King Henry I and her cousin, King Stephen. The Empress spent 17 years trying to secure her birthright. These years were called ‘The Anarchy’ by historians because of the destruction wreaked by both sides on villages and towns across southern England and the breakdown of law and order. The course explores the reasons why William Adelin’s sister, the Empress Matilda never achieved the Crown.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 08/10/2024 -
Tue 19/11/2024
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Michael Long
Course code:
Q00017706
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
8 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £51.80

History: Smuggling in Essex: The Romance & Reality

How do the popular representations of smuggling in novels, songs, poems, paintings and film match up to the reality? We will look at some of the enduring romantic depictions alongside official records to consider the reality of life for people up and down the Essex coast in the 18th century engaged in smuggling or the fight against it.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 08/10/2024 -
Tue 08/10/2024
Times:
10:00am - 1:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Maldon Little Ship Club (Maldon)
Maldon Little Ship Club
The Hythe
Maldon
CM9 5HN
Tutor:
Claire Parker
Course code:
Q00018004
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £12.60

History: Brushstrokes of History

To gain and understanding of times past from a selection of great artworks.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 08/10/2024 -
Tue 26/11/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
8 sessions
Location:
Kegworth Village Hall (Kegworth)
Nottingham Road
Kegworth
DE74 2FH
Tutor:
David Price
Course code:
Q00010241
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £58.80

History: The Decline of the Ottoman Empire 1800-1892

The once mighty Ottoman Empire lost some of its lustre during the 18th Century. After its armies reached the walls of Vienna in 1683 the boundaries of the Sublime Porte contracted in a series of military, diplomatic and economic reverses. This course considers the ways in which the Ottomans responded to a changing world in the 19th century, seeking to preserve their position within it. We examine questions of politics, religion, language, culture and economics whilst all the while having an eye towards the consequences for the region, Europe and the world then and now

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 09/10/2024 -
Wed 27/11/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
8 sessions
Location:
Ripley Arts Centre (Bromley)
24 Sundridge Avenue
Bromley
BR1 2PX
Tutor:
Laurie Johnston
Course code:
Q00017441
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
3 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £80.00

WEA Membership

For just £15 a year, you can:

  • Join our popular, award-winning weekly lecture series,
  • Access an archive of over 100 past lectures,
  • Get priority online and phone booking for autumn courses (England only),
  • Receive our Highway magazine and access back issues,
  • Attend our members’ annual conference.

Just add us to your basket to sign up today!

Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
£15

Architecture: The Architecture of the Greenhouse

We will look into the design of greenhouses and glasshouses – a diverse subject that embraces the Crystal Palace in London, the Eden Project in Cornwall and a recently completed spectacular project in Singapore. The development will take us from Oxford’s Botanic Garden to Paxton’s “Great Stove” at Chatsworth and the Temperate and Palm Houses of Kew.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 17/10/2024 -
Thu 17/10/2024
Times:
10:00am - 4:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
The Christ Church Centre (Henley-on-Tham
46 Reading Road
Henley-on-Thames
RG9 1AG
Tutor:
Keith Hasted
Course code:
Q00017601
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
£25.20

History: A Cultural Tour of Istanbul

Settled by the Greeks in the 7th century BC, the city which is now called Istanbul, became Emperor Constantine’s ‘New Rome’ in AD 330 and it was named Constantinople. In 1453 the city was overrun by Mehmed II and it became the capital of the Ottoman Empire. The study day explores the rich architectural and artistic legacy left by both Byzantine and Ottoman rulers in a city which was shaped by being for centuries the meeting point of Europe and Asia.

Course Information

Dates:
Sat 19/10/2024 -
Sat 19/10/2024
Times:
10:00am - 4:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
The Cornerstone (Wokingham)
Norreys Avenue
Wokingham
RG40 1UE
Tutor:
Guest Speaker
Course code:
Q00017281
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
9 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £25.20

History: My Virtual Museum; a collection of elite, local images

The story of my journey into collecting old postcards, vintage photographs, and interesting artefacts/ephemera, and the motivation behind establishing a virtual museum, with the generous assistance from others. Throughout, numerous images depicting each stage of my collecting will be displayed, categorised by subject matter. Predominantly featured will be vintage photographs depicting scenes and people from northern Lincolnshire, particularly Grimsby and Cleethorpes. Additionally, there will be recent photographs showcasing intriguing collectibles mainly associated with this region. Lastly, I will outline my future thoughts and plans for this venture.

Course Information

Dates:
Sat 19/10/2024 -
Sat 19/10/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 4:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
The Minster (Grimsby)
St James Square
Grimsby
DN31 1EP
Tutor:
Guest Speaker
Course code:
Q00018658
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £15.00

History: Origin and Development of Norfolk Parish Churches, Churchwardens' accounts in 16th Century

A Medieval Recipe: Take 600 Norfolk Parish Churches, mix in a handful of 16th century Churchwardens’ Accounts and just add water! Through a triptych of subjects, we’ll whet your appetite with a three-course menu which, for starters, reveals the origins and development of Norfolk’s iconic architectural masterpieces - its ancient parish churches - investigating their oft-times pagan roots through to the Christianity of the late medieval period. Churchwardens were key players in implementing and recording the changes which affected these churches as they grew in size and complexity, particularly in the devastating years surrounding the Reformation and their accounts provide fascinating details of those changes. This Day School bill of fare finishes with an esoteric analysis of the importance of the Water of Life in medieval monasteries both in its symbolic, ritual use and its practical life-supporting function. This is no dry subject!

Course Information

Dates:
Sat 26/10/2024 -
Sat 26/10/2024
Times:
10:00am - 3:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Swaffham Community Centre (Swaffham)
Iceni Partnership
Campingland
Swaffham
PE37 7RB
Tutor:
Guest Speaker
Course code:
Q00017996
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £21.00

History: Irish History in 10 documents

This day school looks at a thousand years of Irish history through ten important historical documents. Through close study of the sources, we will attempt to shed light on the momentous events, personalities and trends in this most fascinating story. We will start in the twelfth century and from there move forward until we reach the twentieth century. Throughout we will not only consider the sources themselves and the history they reveal but also consider issues of reliability, provenance and authenticity. By the end of the school, we should have deepened our knowledge and understanding of Irish history and our ability to interrogate historical records

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 29/10/2024 -
Tue 29/10/2024
Times:
10:00am - 1:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Enfield Baptist Church (Enfield) (Enfiel
Cecil Road
Enfield
EN2 6TG
Tutor:
Laurie Johnston
Course code:
Q00018859
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £18.00

Histoy: Irish History in Ten Documents

Delve into the key moments of Irish history through ten important documents. This course is ideal for history enthusiasts and anyone interested in learning more about Ireland's past.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 29/10/2024 -
Tue 29/10/2024
Location:
Enfield Baptist Church (Enfield) (Enfiel
Cecil Road
Enfield
EN2 6TG
Course code:
Q00018525
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £12.60