7 Printmaking Classes to Try in London This November

It runs at Art Play's Shoreditch studio, 3 Norton Folgate. The next available date on the studio's booking page is Saturday 21 November, 11:00 to 12:40. There is also a Monday evening session on 23 November, 18:00 to 19:40, and further dates on 5 and 7 December. No experience is needed. You design, carve and print your own lino block with an artist on hand, and you take your prints home. Materials, tools and an apron are included.

We'd choose this if you want a first go at linocut without giving up a whole day or starting a course.

You carve a 6x4" lino block, ink it and print onto blank cards, and you take the block home to use again. The session is billed as beginner-friendly, and all the basic materials are included. Tea and coffee are provided. If you want to cut a second design, an extra piece of lino is £1.50, and a set of tools to keep is £10.

The next date is Saturday 28 November, 19:00 to 21:00, at 2 Carriage Way, above Deptford Market Yard. The studio's booking page also lists Friday 11 December, 14:00 to 16:00, and Monday 14 December, 19:00 to 21:00, all at £30.

We'd choose this for a cheap, festive evening in south-east London rather than as a way to learn printmaking in depth.

It runs on Saturday 28 November, 10:00 to 16:00, at RHACC's Parkshot Campus in Richmond, taught by Helen Minns. There are also dates on 5 and 12 December, at the same time, all for £56. It is listed as suitable for beginners and for people with some creative experience.

We'd choose this if you can spare a Saturday in west London and want wrapping paper and tags as well as cards.

It runs for four Thursday daytimes, 10:00 to 16:00, from 19 November to 10 December, at City Lit on Keeley Street in Covent Garden, taught by Carol Justin Wilhide. Complete beginners are welcome, though the college notes that it helps to keep cutting blocks at home between classes. The full fee is £349, or £279 for seniors and £227 for concessions. Spaces were limited when we checked.

We'd choose this if you can do Thursday daytimes and want four weeks on one technique rather than a general taster.

It runs on 5 and 12 December, 10:00 to 17:00, at Keeley Street, taught by David Holah. You try paper stencils and photographic artwork, coat and expose a screen, and make layered prints. All levels are welcome, including complete beginners. The full fee is £229, or £183 for seniors and £149 for concessions.

We'd choose this if you specifically want silkscreen and are free on those two Saturdays in early December.

It runs for eight Wednesday evenings, 17:30 to 21:00, starting 25 November. The college's timetable is 25 November, 2 December, then 13 January to 24 February, so there is a break over Christmas and early January. It is listed for all levels. The full fee is £415, or £310 for concessions. On top of that there is a studio fee of £16.80, payable to the tutor, which covers basic materials. Paper and plates are charged separately as you use them. Bring source material such as drawings or photographs, a pair of gloves and an apron.

We'd choose this if you want a regular Wednesday evening through the winter and are more interested in etching than in lino or screen printing.

It runs Monday to Friday, 23 to 27 November, 10:00 to 17:00, at the Royal Drawing School's Shoreditch studios, 19–22 Charlotte Road. The course page lists Maggie Jennings, and also names Jack Fawdry Tatham. Beginners are welcome, and no previous etching is required. There are no concessions on holiday courses. Plates and paper can be bought in the print room; the school says most students spend around £10 to £20.

One important caveat: the print room uses hazardous chemicals and has limited access. The school says etching classes are unsuitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women, and for people who are sensitive to chemicals or have breathing difficulties.

We'd choose this if you can give the week and want a thorough first go at etching, rather than a weekly evening class.