Tai chi classes in London

* London, England

Classes in Yang style t'ai chi ch'uan (taijiquan) are held in several locations in London. Beginners always welcome; no previous experience necessary. Intermediate classes require suitable experience.

Your first class will be a gentle introduction to the tai chi movements, including a standard set of exercises to warm up the body and relax the mind ready for the class. We suggest that you wear soft shoes and loose clothing; something like a track suit and trainers. Most classes do not require you to book in advance, and most classes can be joined at any time.

All information on this page is current and updated regularly. This page has details of classes and workshops during 2008.

Full schedule

Sunday Beginners 10:00 to 11:30 Joyce Joly 020 8868 1793: Soho Gyms, 95-97 Clapham High Street London, SW4 7TB Phone: 020 7720 0321. Members free. Location Map No class on Sunday 23rd March 2008 (Easter)
Monday Beginners 13:30 to 14:30 Joyce Joly 020 8868 1793: Northwood Methodist Church, Oaklands Gate, Northwood HA6 3AA (off Green Lane) Tube: Northwood Station. Location Map
Tuesday Beginners 19:15 to 20:15 Nancy Lam: Women only course at YWCA Central Club 020 7079 2855, 44 Portland Place, London W1B 1NE. Oxford Circus or Regents Park tube. Cost £57.00 for 7 weeks. Location Map
Tuesday Beginners and Second Section Adele Salem 0787 567 8501: The Stark Gallery 384-386 Lee High Rd, Lee Green SE12 8RW. 10am - 11am Warm up, chi-kung and first section. Suitable for beginners. 11-12pm First and second sections. Suitable for those who already know the first section. Beginners courses £90.00 for 10 classes. Please telephone 0787 567 8501 to book. Location Map
Tuesday Beginners and Intermediate 19:30 to 21:30 Phillip Shields 07815 810518: Valentines High School, Cranbrook Road, Ilford IG2 6HY 020 8554 6727 Location Map 15 week Adult Education courses. Cost £89.50 (£37.00 concessions). Please contact venue directly for enrollment details.
Tuesday Beginners 19:35 to 21:00 Armand Arcé 07766 707 218: Soho Gyms, 10 Macklin Street, London WC2B 5NF. Phone: 020 7242 1290 Located between Holborn and Covent Garden. £65.00 for a course of 8 classes to be taken within 12 weeks, £9.00 drop in Location Map
Tuesday Beginners 18:30 to 20:00 Gordon Joly 020 7515 4964 gordon.joly@pobox.com: The Village Hall, 58, Bulwer Street, Shepherd's Bush, London W12 8AP. The entrance to the hall is in Wood Lane, near Shepherd's Bush Green. There is no parking at all for non-residents in nearby streets from 18:30 to 20:00. During Shepherd's Central Line closure, use White City (Central Line). Cost £6.00 Location Map No class on 1st April and 23rd December 2008 (Blood Donors Sessions)
Wednesday Beginners 10:50 to 12:10 Armand Arcé 07766 707 218 armand.arce@pobox.com: Soho Gyms, 193, Camden High Street, London NW1 7JY. Phone: 020 7482 4524. £65.00 for a course of 8 classes to be taken within 12 weeks, £9.00 drop in Location Map
Wednesday Intermediate and advanced 19:30 to 21:00 Armand Arcé 07766 707 218: Soho Gyms, 10 Macklin Street, London WC2B 5NF. Phone: 020 7242 1290 Located between Holborn and Covent Garden. £65.00 for a course of 8 classes to be taken within 12 weeks, £9.00 drop in Location Map
Thursday Beginners and intermediate 10:45 to 12:15 Nancy Lam: Soho Gyms, 254 Earls Court Road, London SW5 9AD. Phone: 020 7370 1402. Free to members (or £8.00 per class). Location Map
Thursday Intermediate 19:00 to 20:30 Nancy Lam: Women only course at YWCA Central Club 020 7079 2855, 44 Portland Place, London W1B 1NE. Oxford Circus or Regents Park tube. Cost £85.00 fo 7 weeks. Location Map
Thursday Beginners 18:40 to 20.00 Arthur Martin 07952 593337: Venue: St Mark's Church, Myddelton Square, EC1R 1XX (Tube: Angel) Cost £6.00. Location Map
Thursday Hao style and push hands, 20.00 to 20:30 Arthur Martin 07952 593337
: Venue: St Mark's Church, Myddelton Square, EC1R 1XX (Tube: Angel). Open to students who know the Slow Set (free) Location Map
Thursday Beginners 18:30 to 20:00 Gordon Joly 020 7515 4964 gordon.joly@pobox.com: Kingsley Hall Powis Road, London E3 3HJ. Cost £7.00 Location Map and an alternative map DLR: Bow Church, Tube: Bromley by Bow or Bow Road No class on June 5th 2008
Thursday Advanced forms 20:00 and 21:00 Gordon Joly 020 7515 4964 gordon.joly@pobox.com: Kingsley Hall, Powis Road, London E3 3HJ. Follows from beginners class. Location Map and an alternative map DLR: Bow Church, Tube: Bromley by Bow or Bow Road No class on June 5th 2008
Friday Beginners and Intermediate 13:30 to 15:30 Phillip Shields 07815 810 518: Wanstead House Community Association 21 The Green, London E11 2NT 020 8989 3693 Location Map 15 week Adult Education courses. Cost £89.50 (£37.00 concessions). Please contact venue directly for enrollment details.

Intensive Training

Shepherd's Bush

Intensive Training (tai chi and push hands) take place on the last Saturday of each month at The Village Hall, Shepherd's Bush. There are two afternoon classes, the first from 14:15 to 16:00 and the second from 16:15 to 18:00. Both are suitable for beginners who have a few weeks experience of tai chi in the school, as well as those wishing to practice their tai chi and push hands. Based on demand, we may favour certain aspects in one class and other parts of our training in the other. There will be a tea break from 16:00 to 16:15.

The morning session, from 11:15 to 13:15, will cover Slow Set, Sword Set, Broadsword Set, Hao Style, Dong Family Fast Set, and Fa-Jing set. To attend, you should be familiar with at least two of these forms.

Dates for 2008 are: 26th January, 23rd February, 29th March, 26th April, 31st May, 28th June, 26th July, 30th August, 27th September, 25th October, 29th November (no class in December).

The Village Hall is at 58, Bulwer Street, Shepherd's Bush, London W12 8AP. The entrance to the hall is in Wood Lane, near Shepherd's Bush Green approximate location map.

The cost is £7.00 for the morning session. Each afternoon class is £6.00. The whole afternoon is £10.00 and the whole day is £15.00.

During Shepherd's Bush (Central Line) closure, use White City if you are travelling by Central Line. Turn left out of the station: the Village Hall is about 7 minutes walk.