# Turning Earth > Turning Earth is an open-access pottery studio in London, with three studios in Hoxton, Leyton and Highgate. We run pottery courses for every level, from people touching clay for the first time to working professionals, and we offer monthly membership that gives you self-directed access to fully equipped ceramics studios. Clay and glazes are included with your studio time; firing is charged separately, by the weight of your work. We started in Hoxton in 2013, bringing the open-access ceramics makerspace model, then new to the UK, to London. The idea is straightforward: we provide the wheels, kilns, glazes and space, and you make at your own pace, whenever suits you. Members describe it as gym membership for potters. Our studios are large, light and kept very clean. That matters more than it sounds, because working with clay produces airborne silica, and looking after our members' lungs is something we take seriously. Firings are run in-house and have been refined over more than a decade. Membership is self-directed, so we ask that you complete at least one course or class with us before you join. If you're completely new to clay, a beginners' course is the place to start. We charge for firing by weight because it's the one cost that rises with what you make; everything else comes with your studio time. Classes also run at Camden Art Centre, a venue we hire, alongside the three studios. In Production, our studio for professional and graduate makers, is based at Argall Avenue in Leyton. All three studios are closed on Mondays. ## Start here - [Pottery classes and courses](https://www.turningearth.org/classes): The main guide to what we teach, covering wheel throwing, hand-building and glazing, for beginners through to experienced makers. Prices and course lengths are here. - [Upcoming dates and booking](https://www.turningearth.org/allclasses): Every scheduled class and course with dates, prices and availability. Filter by studio, class type and day of the week. This is where you book. ## Browse classes by type - [Beginner courses](https://www.turningearth.org/general-classes): All-level courses covering both hand-building and the wheel, from six to twelve weeks. No experience needed. - [Wheel throwing courses](https://www.turningearth.org/wheel-throwing-classes): Throwing-only courses, from six to twelve weeks, plus weekend and week-long intensives. - [Intermediate wheel throwing](https://www.turningearth.org/intermediate-pottery): For confident throwers who can already centre and throw a cylinder. Collaring, belly shapes, plates and throwing batts. - [Intensive courses](https://www.turningearth.org/intensive-courses): Learn over a single weekend or five consecutive days, rather than weekly. - [Workshops and masterclasses](https://www.turningearth.org/workshops): One-off taster sessions at the wheel, and intermediate masterclasses led by a guest maker. - [Children's classes](https://www.turningearth.org/childrens-pottery): Seven-week courses for ages 11 and over, covering hand-building, the wheel and glazing. - [Private lessons](https://www.turningearth.org/private-lessons): One-to-one tuition at any of our studios. - [Gift vouchers](https://www.turningearth.org/giftvouchers): Vouchers for classes, courses and Open-Studio Passes. Sent by email, valid twelve months. ## Individual courses - [6-week taster course](https://www.turningearth.org/classes/6-week-ceramics-course): Six sessions covering hand-building and the wheel. The shortest way to find out whether clay is for you. - [6-week introduction to wheel throwing](https://www.turningearth.org/classes/6-week-beginners-wheel-throwing): Six sessions on the potter's wheel only. Centring, throwing, trimming and glazing. - [8-week pottery course](https://www.turningearth.org/classes/8-week-ceramics-course): Eight sessions covering both hand-building and wheel throwing. Our most widely scheduled course. - [8-week introduction to wheel throwing](https://www.turningearth.org/classes/8-week-introduction-wheel-throwing): Eight sessions on the wheel only, for complete beginners. - [8-week intermediate throwing](https://www.turningearth.org/classes/8-week-intermediate-throwing): Eight sessions of advanced throwing technique for people who can already throw. - [12-week pottery course](https://www.turningearth.org/classes/12-week-pottery-course): Twelve sessions covering hand-building, throwing and glazing, with time for your own projects. Our most popular course. - [12-week wheel throwing course](https://www.turningearth.org/classes/12-week-throwing-course): Twelve sessions on the wheel, with time to develop your own work. - [12-week intermediate throwing](https://www.turningearth.org/classes/12w-throwing-intermediate): Twelve sessions of advanced throwing for confident throwers. - [Weekend wheel throwing intensive](https://www.turningearth.org/classes/wheel-throwing-weekend): Friday to Sunday at the wheel, plus a later glazing session. - [Week-long pottery intensive](https://www.turningearth.org/classes/week-long-intensive-course): Five consecutive days covering wheel throwing and hand-building, with an optional glazing session afterwards. - [Week-long throwing intensive](https://www.turningearth.org/classes/week-long-intensive-throwing-course): Five consecutive days on the wheel only. ## Membership and studio access - [Membership](https://www.turningearth.org/membership): How open-access membership works, what's included, and the studios it covers. You need to have done a course with us first. - [Open-Studio Pass](https://www.turningearth.org/open-studio-pass): Prepaid studio sessions at Leyton for people who don't want a monthly commitment. Five or ten sessions, four months to use them. - [Membership contracts](https://www.turningearth.org/contracts): Pay Monthly and Pay Upfront explained, how to give notice, and how the early termination fee works. - [Course membership upgrade](https://www.turningearth.org/course-membership-upgrade-terms): Terms for current students who want to add studio membership while their course is still running. - [Membership FAQ](https://www.turningearth.org/faq): Hours, inductions, what to bring, guests, technicians, kiln hire and where our clay comes from. ## Our studios - [Turning Earth Hoxton](https://www.turningearth.org/hoxton): Our first studio, opened 2013. Railway Arches 361-362, Whiston Road, London E2 8BW. Courses run in the Learning Hub, a separate classroom across the road on Laburnum Street. - [Turning Earth Leyton](https://www.turningearth.org/leyton): Our largest studio, at 11 Argall Avenue, London E10 7QE. Also home to In Production. - [Turning Earth Highgate](https://www.turningearth.org/highgate): Our North London studio at Woodside Works, Summersby Road, London N6 5UH, on the edge of Queen's Wood. - [In Production](https://www.turningearth.org/in-production): Our studio for professional and graduate makers, at Argall Avenue in Leyton. - [Venue hire](https://www.turningearth.org/venue-hire): The studios are available for private events, team building, photoshoots and filming. ## Practical information - [Student FAQ](https://www.turningearth.org/student-faq): For people already booked on a course. What to bring, what firing costs, when your pots are ready, what happens if you miss a lesson. - [Health and safety](https://www.turningearth.org/health-safety): The real risks of a ceramics studio and what we do about each one. Dust and silica, glazes, kilns, fire and electrical safety. - [Refunds and cancellations](https://www.turningearth.org/refund-cancellation-policy): Why places are non-refundable, and how we help you resell a place you can't use. - [Terms and conditions](https://www.turningearth.org/terms): The full terms for membership, payment, bookings, health and safety, cleaning and termination. ## About Turning Earth - [About us](https://www.turningearth.org/about): Our story and mission, how we began and what we're building. - [Contact us](https://www.turningearth.org/contact-us): How to reach each studio. - [Our commitment to the environment](https://www.turningearth.org/the-environment): Renewable energy, waste reduction and how we try to run the studios responsibly. - [Work for us](https://www.turningearth.org/work-for-us): Current jobs and what it's like to work here. - [Media enquiries](https://www.turningearth.org/media-enquiries): For press and media. ## Optional - [Events](https://www.turningearth.org/events): Our ceramics markets, fairs and studio events. - [Blog](https://www.turningearth.org/blog): Articles on pottery, technique and life in the studios.