Things to do · Arts and crafts
Try blacksmithing
A friend has invited you to do this with them.
Heating steel in a forge and hammering it into a twisted toasting fork teaches you how metal moves in a single day. The British Artist Blacksmiths Association suggests starting with a short taster course, and many of these suit people who just want to have a go.
Demanding£100 to £500 / $130 to $650An afternoonIndoorsWith othersUK and US
Someone who has done it
These are real people who did this, as reported by the outlets named. We opened each one before linking it. None of them is connected with this site.
What it's really like
A first day covers the basic moves: drawing out, tapering, twisting and forming hot steel. On West Dean's one-day taster you make a barbeque toasting fork, and a bottle opener if there is time. Longer courses give you your own forge and anvil and build up hammer control and how to strike the anvil.
It is hot, noisy work. The University of Utah course warns that it is hot and thirsty, West Dean and Brinsbury provide or lend eye and ear protection and other kit, while Utah asks you to bring leather gloves and safety glasses. West Dean makes steel-toe-capped boots compulsory and turns away anyone without them.
Clothing matters. Both West Dean and Brinsbury College rule out shorts, West Dean prefers cotton or wool to synthetics, Utah asks for natural fibres, and Brinsbury asks for denim rather than loose cotton.
Ways in and what they cost
| Where | Course/format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| West Dean College | Blacksmithing Experience: one day, 9:15am to 5pm; a toasting fork; fuel, steel and lunch included | £206 |
| Brinsbury College | Blacksmithing Short Course: six Saturday mornings of three hours; own forge, anvil and vice; up to 10 students | £750 |
| University of Utah Continuing Education, with Wasatch Forge | Blacksmithing, An Introduction: six weekly evening sessions of three hours | $345 tuition plus a $100 supplies and studio fee |
In the US, ABANA's list of schools includes residential craft schools such as the John C. Campbell Folk School, Penland School of Craft and Peters Valley School of Craft. ABANA asks prospective students to do their own checks before choosing a class.
How to start
- Book a one-day taster or a short beginners' course at a forge, a craft college or a continuing education programme.
- Read the kit list before you go; some forges will not let you work without steel-toe-capped boots.
- Wear natural-fibre clothes that are not loose, and long trousers rather than shorts, and take a large bottle of water.
Where to go
- British Artist Blacksmiths Association: education and training UK
- West Dean College: Blacksmithing Experience, barbeque fork and bottle opener UK
- ABANA: list of blacksmithing schools US
- University of Utah Continuing Education: Blacksmithing, An Introduction US
We opened these links on 7 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
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. The hard part of a day out is the timing: the right season, tickets and getting there. The plan watches the calendar for you.
Questions people ask
Can a complete beginner do a blacksmithing course?
Yes. West Dean's one-day experience is for complete beginners, and Brinsbury College's short course is designed for absolute beginners.
What should I wear to a blacksmithing class?
Natural-fibre clothes, long trousers and sturdy safety footwear. West Dean will not let you take part without steel-toe-capped boots, and the Utah course asks you to bring leather work gloves and safety glasses.
What will I make on a blacksmithing taster day?
A small item. West Dean's day produces a barbeque toasting fork, and a bottle opener if time allows.
How do I find blacksmithing classes near me?
In the UK, the British Artist Blacksmiths Association points beginners to short taster courses through its directory. In the US, ABANA publishes a list of schools offering classes.
Where this comes from: British Artist Blacksmiths Association, Education and Training; ABANA, List of Schools; West Dean College, Blacksmithing Experience: Barbeque Fork and Bottle Opener with Joe Tyler; Brinsbury College, Blacksmithing Short Course; University of Utah Continuing Education, Blacksmithing: An Introduction. Opened 7 November 2026.
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