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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History: The History of the English Language

If you’re interested in finding out how the English language developed (and why we don’t all speak German, Danish or French instead of English) this course is for you. We look at the development of the English language through seven different lenses, starting with Old English (Anglo-Saxon) which built on Celtic languages and Latin. We explore the many influences on English including the Vikings through Old Norse, Norman French, Biblical English, Shakespearean English and Global English.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 01/05/2025 -
Thu 19/06/2025
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Rebecca Eliahoo Charles
Course code:
Q00018033
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £51.80

History: Crime and Punishment in Early Modern London

Crime and punishment in London have a long history. This course focuses on the period between the Tudors and the Georgians to explore the impact of dealing with criminal behaviour and how it left its mark on the history of the city and our legal system today.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 20/05/2025 -
Tue 10/06/2025
Times:
7:30pm - 9:30pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Peter House Community Centre (London)
122 Forest Rise
Walthamstow
London
E17 3PW
Tutor:
Anna Cusack
Course code:
Q00021262
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £33.60

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 03/06/2025 -
Tue 01/07/2025
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

History: When Peace Broke Out. The Austerity Years 1945 -1951

This is a repeat of the same popular course in Summer 2024: From the viewpoint of 80 years after the end of the second world war this six -week course will allow learners to revisit the immediate post war world. We will examine the transformation of Britain from May 1945 through to 1951. The course will cover the pivotal 1945 general election, the extensive social changes, (including the establishment of the NHS and the welfare state) and the economic challenges faced by the country during the austerity years. Through a combination of secondary and primary source analysis, and discussions, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of how the immediate post-war period shaped modern Britain.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 04/06/2025 -
Wed 09/07/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Kate Antoniou
Course code:
Q00021471
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £44.40

WEA Membership

WEA membership is changing: more information is coming soon!

Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
£15

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:
Available
Fee range
Free to £44.40

History: What do you know about Spain; its history and w

Spain away from the Costas. A brief history of Spain from prehistoric times to the present day and a look at the various regions that make up Spain Be able to describe an outline of Spain's history Be able to state some of the influences of the New World on Spain Be able to describe some aspects of the geographic and other differences of the Spanish regions Outline some of the food and culture of the regions Describe some aspects of modern-day Spain

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 04/06/2025 -
Wed 09/07/2025
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Billericay Reading Rooms (Billericay)
73 High Street
Billericay
CM12 9AS
Tutor:
Derek Robinson
Course code:
Q00021276
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £50.40

History: Architectural Pomp, Trauma & Resurgence, Berlin, 1800 to 2000

This course studies how the architecture of the dynamic Berlin that we see today has been shaped by the events of its troubled history and by the ambitions and styles of its leaders. From 1740 to 1945, Berlin saw a series of aggressive war leaders who sought to make Prussia and then Germany the dominant force in the world, eventually styling Berlin as the capital of the world. Utterly destroyed by 1945, Berlin was reborn as two distinct cities, one rebuilt in Western and the other in Communist styling. Since the Wall fell in 1989, the united city has flourished, embracing grand city plans and modern, hi-tech architecture.

Course Information

Dates:
Sat 07/06/2025 -
Sat 07/06/2025
Times:
10:00am - 4:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Reading International Solidarity Centre
35-39 London Street
Reading
RG1 4PS
Tutor:
Guest Speaker
Course code:
Q00018042
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £25.20

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 £22.20



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

History: Spreading like wild fire: news, rumours and conspiracy theories: The Great Fire of London

Join guest speaker Nicola Clarke in an exploration of news and information dissemination in the 17th Century! This short course will examine on how news of the Great Fire of 1666 was transmitted across London, the rest of the country and Europe. There will be a particular focus on the role that different media played during the crisis and how Londoners were able to assess the reliability of the information they were receiving and conduct their own personal newsgathering. It will introduce students to original print and manuscript sources for the events and it will also explore how to assess oral news transmission during the crisis.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 11/03/2025 -
Tue 25/03/2025
Times:
7:30pm - 9:30pm
Duration:
3 sessions
Location:
Peter House Community Centre (London)
122 Forest Rise
Walthamstow
London
E17 3PW
Tutor:
Guest Speaker
Course code:
Q00021190
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £25.20