Fun Ideas If You’re Interested In Learning A New Skill In 2026
Thinking about learning a shiny new skill for 2026? Check out these London workshops and classes, and take up a brand-new hobby this year. Whether it’s a newfound commitment to self-development, or you’re simply bored silly of watching Netflix documentaries for two weeks straight, January is a brilliant time to take on a quirky new hobby you’ve never tried before.
From pottery classes, aerial fitness, and painting, to bread baking, candle making and even horse riding – these are the best classes in London for learning something new, whether it’s indoors or out in the countryside.
Pottery
Learn the basics and test your skills with clay at Skandihus’s pottery classes. Their taster classes in London are designed for beginners, where you’ll get a short introduction to the studio and the materials and learn a hand-building technique before picking your favourite piece for them to glaze and fire for you. If, after this, you fancy becoming a bit of a pottery pro, they also offer six-week and twelve-week courses for learning new techniques, practising and experimenting with clay.
You’ll see the brand’s Scandinavian designs at high-end restaurants like The Connaught Hotel and Nobu, with Nigella Lawson, Anna Jones and Tom Kerridge amongst fans.
Website: www.skandihus.co.uk
Painting
Haven’t painted a pretty picture since primary school? Me neither, and my lockdown paint-by-numbers doesn’t count. However, going to one of Brush & Bubbles’ London workshops reminded me just how much fun painting can be.
Running in-person events all across London, you’ll be provided with everything you need for the workshop – paints, canvas, paintbrushes, apron, easel, plus a delicious glass of prosecco – to create your very own canvas painting that you can take home with you at the end of the 2-hour session.
The guided, step-by-step painting workshop means there’s no experience necessary – you don’t need to be ‘good’ at art. Just show up and relax, drink in hand, and let your inner creativity run wild.
Learn a shiny new skill for 2026.
Website: www.brushandbubbles.com
Terrarium making
Keep your plants alive (finally) with this terrarium workshop, where you’ll learn about these self-sustaining ecosystems before making your own terrarium with soil, pebbles, and small tropical plants such as fittonia, ferns, calathea, ivy and mosses. And you can even walk away with a mini garden to call your own.
Keep your plants alive this year with the help of this workshop.
Website: www.londonterrariums.com
Crochet
The team at Wild and Woolly are inviting you to take up crochet and knitting this year, with a host of exciting classes on offer for 2026. Catering for all abilities, from beginner to crochet connoisseur, its Hackney studio is opening its doors to the public to indulge in evenings of “hooking, chatting and working it all out.” If you have your heart set on making something in particular, you can sign up for bespoke classes, including “learn to knit your own socks” and “learn to knit your own hat.”
As well as this, Wild and Woolly run fortnightly Crochet Lates sessions. The late-night sessions invite attendees to bring something they are already working on, or start something new, with the promise of wine, tea and cake to help while you work!
Website: www.wildandwoolly.com
Cooking
Take your cooking from drab to delicious at Sauce by The Langham’s range of cookery courses. Learn trade secrets, learn new cooking skills or build on what you already know in a friendly, relaxed and super-stylish environment. Classes cover everything from breadmaking and proper puddings to kitchen confidence skills – you can even book a masterclass with two Michelin-starred chef Michel Roux Jr, as he guides you through making a three-course menu of his favourite seasonal dishes.
Website: www.saucebylangham.com
Meditation
Meditation is more challenging than it looks. Like any skill, you’re exercising a muscle that you’ve never really worked before, and it takes patience and practice. Thankfully, Re: Mind Meditation Studio offers a dedicated healing and community space with guided experiences, combining three powerful healing modalities: breathwork, sound therapy, and energy healing.
Led by expert teachers (who they refer to as “calmers”), you’ll feel rested and relaxed from the moment you enter the studio, before taking part in a restorative breathwork experience designed to soothe mental tension and relieve stress in the body; or a sound therapy class where you’ll learn to transform your state of mind and find relaxation through crystal singing bowls, Himalayan singing bowls, and therapeutic percussion.
Website:www.remindstudio.com
Candle-making
Learn to make your own eco-soy wax aromatherapy candle at London workshops based in Shoreditch or Deptford with Yougi, the cruelty-free, vegan, ethically sourced, and 100% natural candle brand.
Take a 1.5-hour workshop and learn about fragrance families and what top, heart, and base notes are, before heating the wax, adding the essential oil blend, setting up the wick, and pouring your candle to take home.
Website: www.yougibotanicals.com
Ceramics
If you are looking to dip your toes into the world of ceramics, this Brixton studio is offering weekend taster classes. The team at Earthworks Ceramics understand that taking up a new hobby can feel daunting, so is holding these classes to help ease you into the pottery world.
It welcomes all abilities and encourages visitors to learn, create and collaborate in a supportive and inclusive environment. In addition to weekend taster classes, the studio is also offers BYOB sessions, day retreats and ceramic masterclasses for those really hoping to hone their skills.
Try something new at this weekend taster class.
Website: www.earthworksceramicstudios.com
Aerial
Discover the art (and incredible skill) of aerial fitness this year with Flying Fantastic, the London-based classes that’ll help you experience the thrill of a life upside down.
Their dedicated flagship venues in London are fully kitted out with the best equipment and teachers available, and everyone is welcome – from absolute beginners to aerial professionals. Eager students can get involved in a range of London classes – from aerial hoop and aerial silks to aerial yoga and trapeze.
Take on a quirky new hobby you’ve never tried before.
Website:www.flyingfantastic.co.uk
Horse riding
Horse riding is a great hobby to get back to if you loved it as a child or even as an adult; it’s a wonderful way to connect with animals and spend some time outdoors. At the Wimbledon Village Stables, you can sign up for a membership and get access to fabulous, well-schooled horses and training from friendly, professional riding instructors. You’ll get to ride across the stunning landscape of Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park and it makes a wonderful day out.
website: www.wvstables.com
