The best pottery classes in London

Skandihus

You’ll want to quit your job and become a potter as soon as you enter one of Danish ceramicist Stine Dulong’s beautiful studios: two in Hackney and one in Walthamstow (she also holds classes at Camden Art Centre). If you’re a newbie to the wheel, then book a taster session first or, if you’re ready to fully commit, take a six, eight or 12-week course. You’ll soon be trying to recreate Dulong’s Scandal creations that have been coveted by the likes of Nigella Lawson and Ottolenghi.

Turning Earth

With studios in Hoxton, Highgate, and Leyton, Turning Earth offers regular classes, but is also a thriving open-access members’ studio for more seasoned potters who want to drop in regularly to work on their own projects. It’s the perfect place whether you’re a beginner who wants to see what it’s all about or are aiming to take your potting to the next level. My attempts at learning on the wheel might not have been overly successful, but I was able to pivot to hand building with clay during my eight-week starter class and made some rather fetching cowboy boot-shaped incense stick holders.

The Kiln Rooms 

If you haven’t picked up a piece of clay since school, fear not. The Kiln Rooms offers one-off four-and-a-half-hour taster sessions and five or 12-week beginners’ courses where you can learn all the basic techniques and see if pottery is for you. Or book a private session to master the basics one-on-one. Once you’re comfortable and can work on your craft unsupervised, sign up for a membership and create til your heart’s content.

Token Studio

The ethos at Token Studio is to help every potter really get to grips with their creativity and make imaginative designs full of personality. Open for 12 years in London Bridge, it’s the perfect place to enjoy a low-pressured pottery session with friends or try your hand at crafting designs you definitely won’t find anywhere else. 

Its BYOB pottery experience starts at just £23 and lets you bring a bottle, gather your friends and craft your own masterpiece in a relaxed, welcoming environment. 

Kana London

At Kana, the classes are small – we’re talking 3-5 people tops – which means you’ll never be fighting for attention from teacher Ana Kerin. In her five-week hand building course, you’ll get the chance to explore and master a range of different techniques, all while being guided by the master potter and receiving the full benefit of her mentorship.

Crown Works Pottery

If you want to get to grips with the devilishly difficult wheel, taking one of the weekend intensive throwing courses at this Bethnal Green studio should sort you out. Graduate to sessions teaching you how to make a vase or mug. You’ll soon be lining your house with your creations.

Ceramics Studio Co-op

This Deptford cooperative is collectively run by artists and dedicated to widening access to pottery education. As well as running 12-week courses, it teaches specific one-off workshops on throwing, glazing and using the kiln to help you hone your skills and build up your confidence. Perfect if you want to learn something new but can't commit to three whole months of classes. 

Hackney City Farm hosts drop-in pottery sessions multiple evenings a week, including kids workshops on weekends. In the laid back class you’ll be given a block of clay to mould something of your choice, and a go on the potters wheel with the guidance of the teacher, where you get to make a bowl or a vase. The staff will then paint in a colour of your choice and bake your creations, which can be picked up at a later date.

Clay Time 

If you’re better with a paintbrush than a pottery wheel, visit this not-for-profit community studio for one of its drop-in sessions. It provides the prebaked pieces, ready for you to decorate as you see fit. Want to make something from scratch? The studio also offers sessions for all ages behind the wheel, ranging from two-hour tasters to full-day courses.