Things to do · Arts and crafts
Take a beginners' woodworking course
A friend has invited you to do this with them.
Learn to cut a mortise and tenon by hand, then use the joints to build a stool or a small side table. Beginners' courses teach hand and power tools safely, and you take home what you build.
Moderate£100 to £500 / $130 to $650A few weeksIndoorsWith othersUK and US
What you learn
Some courses concentrate on hand tools. West Dean's side-table course teaches setting out and cutting mortise and tenon joints, sharpening and maintaining tools and oil finishing, and is aimed at those with little or no experience of fine woodworking.
Others bring in machines early. Seattle Central College's Level 1 class covers shop safety, the hand saw, block plane and chisel, and also the router, jointer, planer, table saw and band saw, and ends with a small project such as a three-legged stool. Buckinghamshire Adult Learning lets each learner plan and build a project of their own choice, with a cutting list and rough cost drawn up in the first session.
Ways in compared
| Where | Format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| Buckinghamshire Adult Learning | Ten weeks of Tuesday evenings, 7pm to 9pm (autumn 2026 run); your own project; you bring your own materials | £190.50, plus an annual £10.50 registration fee |
| West Dean College, West Sussex | Residential or non-residential short course; make a small side table with mortise and tenon joints | £959, plus about £95 for timber; accommodation extra |
| University of Utah Lifelong Learning, with Community Woodshop SLC | Weekly evening class, 6pm to 9pm; make a charcuterie board and a step-stool | $439 ($259 tuition plus a $180 fee for equipment and shop rental) |
| Seattle Central College | Wednesday evenings, 6pm to 9pm, for a term; a small project such as a three-legged stool | $899 |
Seattle Central asks students to bring a dust mask or respirator, hearing protection, safety glasses and sturdy closed-toe shoes. West Dean says covered footwear is essential, not sandals.
How to start
- Look for a beginners' woodwork or furniture-making course: an adult-education service, a community college or a craft school.
- Read what you will make and which tools are covered. Some courses are mostly hand tools, others include the table saw, planer and router.
- Check whether timber is in the fee, and arrive in sturdy closed-toe shoes with eye and hearing protection if asked.
Where to go
- Buckinghamshire Adult Learning: Woodwork for beginners and improvers (evening) UK
- West Dean College: Furniture making for beginners, a side table (West Sussex) UK
- Seattle Central College: Woodworking Level 1 US
- University of Utah Lifelong Learning: Beginning Woodworking (Salt Lake City) US
We opened these links on 11 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
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Plan it with dates
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
Do I need any experience to take a woodworking class?
No. West Dean's beginners' course is for people with little or no experience, and Buckinghamshire Adult Learning's evening course is suitable for all levels, taught individually at your own pace.
What should I wear to a woodworking class?
Sturdy closed-toe shoes and clothes without loose ends. The University of Utah class advises long trousers and no loose clothing or jewellery, and recommends a shop apron, safety glasses and hearing protection.
Is timber included in a woodworking course?
Not always. At West Dean timber costs about £95 extra, and Buckinghamshire learners bring their own materials, so the choice of wood affects the cost.
What will I make on a beginners' woodworking course?
Usually one small piece. Courses listed here make a side table, a three-legged stool, or a charcuterie board and a step-stool.
Where this comes from: Buckinghamshire Adult Learning, Woodwork for Beginners and Improvers; West Dean College, Furniture Making for Beginners – A Side Table with Tom Kealy; Seattle Central College Continuing Education, Woodworking - Level 1; University of Utah Continuing Education, Beginning Woodworking. Opened 11 November 2026.
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