LeisureCourses.net – short courses & residential study breaks in great locations

Ancient Rome: the city, society and infrastructure (online)

This course describes ancient Rome as the Romans saw it - not as stone ruins, but as a vibrant, living city. We see how the people of the largest metropolis on the planet in AD 200 were fed, governed and entertained; who the ancient Romans were and how they lived.

Moving heaven and earth: Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown 1716 – 2016

2016 marks the tercentenary of the birth of 'Capability' Brown, England's Shakespeare of Gardening. The setting of Madingley Hall illustrates just one of his earth-moving projects. His inspirations as well as his engineering, hydraulic, architectural and artistic skills will be analysed through his major works. And still capable? This weekend conference will explore his ongoing...

Basic Chinese taster

This course will be taught in the context of contemporary and ancient Chinese culture. Led by the course tutor, you will focus on written and spoken Chinese, with lots of participation, a combination of traditional culture and digital media, and some creative contributions. Flexible to students’ abilities, the course will engage you in learning Chinese...

Introduction to Classical Greek

This course is intended for complete beginners who wish to gain some understanding of Classical Greek language and culture. It will introduce the Greek alphabet and pronunciation, and explore the influence of the Greeks on our language and all aspects of European culture: literature, art, philosophy, politics, sport and science.

Learn to read ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs

The ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic script is beautiful and intriguing. This course will help you begin to learn how to read hieroglyphs, or give you the opportunity to practice or widen your skills. You will learn about the language behind the script and will very quickly begin to read real objects from museums and ancient sites...

Intermediate French: La France et ses terroirs

This course has been designed to give people with a fair comprehension of the language (even though they might lack fluency and confidence at speaking it) an insight into French culture and way of life. In the process they will not only learn more about France and its traditions, but will see their confidence and...

The Renaissance garden in Britain: nature produces better fruit if cultivated

Italian Renaissance design and intricacies arrived in Britain via France and the Low Countries, manifesting a revolutionary attitude to the 'taming' of nature. We compare Tudor England with Stuart Scotland. We explore gardens as settings for collections of antique sculpture, courtly dalliance, philosophical discussion, meditation, theatre, allegorical and moral instruction, horticultural encyclopaedias and centres for...

Eminent Edwardians

This course will consider the lives and achievements of some of the principal figures of Edward VII's reign - including the King himself. As the title suggests, a Lytton Strachey-type biographical approach to the understanding of the period will be our starting point, but the course will go beyond this to discuss groups such as...

Tracing ancestry using DNA

Where do I come from? In this course, you will learn how scientists are now answering this question at a number of time levels. Palaeontologists explore our distant past with fossils, geneticists find out about our direct ancestors using ancient and modern DNA, and forensic scientists use ancestry tests and parentage tests in their day-to-day...

The complete Andrea Palladio: architecture, life and legacy

How did a humble miller's son in 16th-century Italy become the most influential architect in the world? If you are interested in architecture then this introduction to Andrea Palladio's life and work is for you. We will examine the buildings Palladio produced in his lifetime, and you will discover how his architecture gained a global...

Extinctions: crises in the history of life

A wide-ranging introduction to extinction and its place in the history of life. Did a meteorite really kill off the dinosaurs? Whatever happened to groups such as trilobites, ammonites and mammoths? Is survival simply a matter of chance? This course gives an up-to-date review of extinction controversies, with a field trip to collect fossils of...

Margery Allingham: exploring ‘Margeland’

A look at the career of this classic mystery writer, whose novels have been re-issued recently. In this course we will examine together her early adventure thrillers, her serious - but often comic - detective novels and her later studies of crime such as The Tiger in the Smokeand Hide My Eyes. Learn the secrets of this...

The building stones of Cambridge

In the first part of this course you will learn how rocks are formed and how the different processes involved produce rocks with widely different appearances and properties. This variety makes different rocks suitable for different aspects of building construction. During the second part we will we a walk around Cambridge city centre looking at...

Getting started with genetics

This one-day course will introduce participants to the fascinating world of genetics; from the basics of how genes code for proteins to the role that modern sequencing methods can play in personalised medicine. This course is a good taster session for those interested in taking the Certificate in Genetics.

An introduction to the history of English

The course will offer an overview of important changes within each period of the history of English at different levels of language, including spelling, grammar and vocabulary. Linguistic changes will be studied in conjunction with historical and cultural events, such as the Norman Conquest or the introduction of printing in England by William Caxton.

Reading Classical Latin: the pleasures of Horace

Love, myth, praise of Augustus, fleeing snows, celebration, conquest and old age - all these and more are there to enjoy in Horace's Odes Book 4. Anyone with a solid knowledge of Latin will be able to cope with Horace's poetry. Participants will be encouraged to contribute to translating the text, discussing its contents and...

Linocut Printmaking

Improvers' linocut printmaking.

Paper Marbling

An introduction to paper marbling.

Bookbinding

Cased bookbinding – Improvers.

Letterpress Printing

An introduction to letterpress printing.

Othello & Otello

An opportunity to explore in detail Othello (Otello), one of the most famous of all dramas. We will discuss both Shakespeare’s play and Verdi’s opera, with illustrations on DVD with large screen. Bartley Lodge is a splendid Grade II listed country house hotel set in the heart of the New Forest, in eight acres of grounds. The facilities are...

Frome Festival

Welcome to the 15th Frome Festival. Once again we are delighted to present a programme packed with events to appeal across all age ranges and a multitude of tastes. The Frome Festival is a community festival in the true meaning of the term.

Developing New Ideas from Old Textiles

The Hilton Bristol is by the junction of the M4 and M5 and close to Bristol Parkway Station. Discover how to take raw materials and textiles, and by applying a range of experimental techniques, explore the qualities and characters of fabric and paper to express your individual designs. Here is a truly unconventional...

Bead Needle Weaving

Set in 55 rolling acres of countryside, Theobalds Park is just a few minutes from the M25 and 20 minutes by fast train from London Liverpool Street. Course fees single occupancy en suite bedroom with TV, free wifi and tea/coffee making facilities. Your course starts with supper on Friday evening and a brief...

Traditional Wooden Boat Building

Modern Wooden Boat Building

Wooden Boat Restoration

GRP Repairs

Basic Woodworking 1

Impressionist Collage and Stitch Textile course

A weekend residential course on machine and hand embroidery in a three star hotel in Hertfordshire. Set in 55 rolling acres of countryside, Theobalds Park is just a few minutes from the M25 and 20 minutes by fast train from London Liverpool Street. Course fees single occupancy en suite bedroom with TV, free wifi...