⚒️ In-person · Heritage craft · UK-wide

Blacksmithing courses in the UK

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Forge steel at 1,000°C, shape it on an anvil, and take home something you made with fire and hammer. Dramatic, deeply satisfying, and increasingly available as a beginner workshop.

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Blacksmith forging steel at an anvil

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Blacksmithing workshops

Beginner forge days and bladesmithing classes — all kit provided.

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Blacksmithing Class London
ClassBento

Blacksmithing Class London

A casual, beginner-friendly day at a London forge — forge a small item like a hook or bottle opener, then a main piece, with all tools and materials provided.

London
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Blacksmithing Class Edinburgh
ClassBento

Blacksmithing Class Edinburgh

Try traditional blacksmithing at a forge near Edinburgh — a hands-on beginner session heating, hammering and shaping steel, with no experience required.

Edinburgh
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Full day
Hand-Forged Viking Knife Bladesmith Class
CraftCourses

Hand-Forged Viking Knife Bladesmith Class

Spend a day at the forge hand-forging your own Viking-style knife — a beginner bladesmithing class with no metalwork experience needed.

UK-wide 1 day
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Browse All Blacksmithing Courses UK
CraftCourses

Browse All Blacksmithing Courses UK

CraftCourses lists blacksmithing and bladesmithing experience days from forges across the UK — filter by location to find a forge near you.

UK-wide Various
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* Prices shown are the lowest available at time of writing. We earn a small commission if you book via our links — at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure →

Quick answer: A beginner blacksmithing workshop in the UK costs £80–£180 for a half or full day. All safety equipment is provided, you work under direct supervision, and you take a forged piece home. CraftCourses has the widest selection from independent UK smiths. No experience needed.

What to expect

What happens in a blacksmithing workshop

🔥

Heat the steel

The forge heats steel to 800–1,200°C. You learn to read colour — orange-yellow means the metal is ready to work. Timing matters: strike too early or too late and the steel won't move as you want.

🔨

Shape on the anvil

Hammer the hot steel to draw it out, taper it, or flatten it. Technique matters more than strength — controlled strikes beat brute force every time.

🌀

Twist and form

Twisting and bending hot steel is surprisingly easy. Scrolls, hooks, and decorative curves become possible in a first session with a good guide.

💧

Quench and finish

Cooling in water hardens the steel. A wire brush and a coat of beeswax or linseed oil finishes the piece and prevents rust.

Browse blacksmithing workshops across the UK — all skill levels, all materials provided.

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Prices

Blacksmithing workshop costs UK

Half-day taster (3–4 hours) £80–£120
Full-day session (6–7 hours) £120–£180
Two-day intensive course £220–£320
Multi-week evening course £350–£600

Prices from CraftCourses listings, May 2025. All materials and PPE included.

Take it home

What you'll make

Instructors choose projects achievable in the available time while teaching core techniques. Common beginner pieces:

🪝 Wall hook
🔪 Knife blank
🔥 Fire poker
🥄 Spatula
🌀 Scroll/bracket
🗝️ Letter opener
Heritage context: The British Artist Blacksmiths Association (BABA) supports the craft through national gatherings and a directory of professional smiths who teach. The Heritage Crafts Association lists blacksmithing as viable on its Radcliffe Red List — at risk of decline but not endangered, partly because of growing interest in workshop experiences. Every booking helps sustain a working smith.

Blacksmithing

FAQs

Everything you need to know before you book.

Is blacksmithing safe for complete beginners?

Yes — commercial blacksmithing workshops are designed for people with zero prior experience. You work under direct supervision, the forge is managed by the instructor, and protective equipment (leather apron, gloves, eye protection) is provided. The risk profile is comparable to a glass blowing taster: managed, not absent. Most people find it far less intimidating than they expected.

How much does a blacksmithing workshop cost in the UK?

A half-day blacksmithing taster costs £80–£120; a full-day session runs £120–£180. Both include all materials and one or two pieces to take home. Multi-day intensive courses start from around £250. CraftCourses has the most comprehensive listing of UK blacksmiths who teach, with options from Somerset to the Scottish Highlands. Browse current blacksmithing workshop prices →

What do you make in a beginner blacksmithing workshop?

Most beginner sessions involve forging a hook, a knife blank, a small tool (fire poker, spatula), or decorative ironwork. You learn to heat steel to the correct working temperature, then hammer, twist, and shape it on the anvil. By the end of a half-day session most beginners have a usable piece to take home. See what's on near you →

Is blacksmithing a good hobby to take up?

Blacksmithing rewards patience and practice more than raw strength — technique matters more than force. As a hobby it requires forge access, which is why most people take regular workshops rather than set up at home. Joining a local anvil group or the British Artist Blacksmiths Association (BABA) is the main route to regular practice.

Where can I find blacksmithing courses near me?

CraftCourses has the widest listing of UK blacksmithing workshops — it's the only major platform with meaningful rural coverage, where most working smiths are based. The British Artist Blacksmiths Association (BABA) also maintains a directory of members who teach. Filter by region and duration on CraftCourses to find options near you. Find a blacksmithing workshop near you →

Book a workshop

Find a blacksmithing workshop near you

CraftCourses lists blacksmithing workshops from independent makers across the UK.