NCT Antenatal courses

We usually recommend choosing a course that finishes around 3-7 weeks before your baby’s due date. Some parents prefer to finish a little earlier - up to 9 weeks before works well too.

When you enter your postcode and due date, we’ll match you with the courses that best fit your location and when your baby might be born. You’ll see them marked as ideal, good, or ok so you can easily find what feels right for you.

We’re proud to be the UK’s original and leading antenatal course provider, with in-person classes in over 400 locations nationwide.

Just enter your postcode and due date to see courses near you - you can also adjust the search radius to explore more options.

If you don’t see a course that fits, it could be that local courses are fully booked right now. Don’t worry - you can join the priority waitlist or get in touch with our friendly bookings team, who’ll do their best to help you find something that works.

Your NCT course will be led by skilled educators who are independent from the NHS and trained at university level on all things pregnancy, birth, infant feeding and early parenthood. 

Our 600+ practitioners are highly experienced in supporting new parents and all enjoy creating welcoming, informative sessions that help you feel confident, connected and prepared. They combine up-to-date, evidence-based information with practical skills and local insight, helping you make sense of what’s available in your area.

Our fantastic NCT practitioners are here to support you through this life-changing time and believe no question is too silly!

Booking your NCT antenatal course couldn’t be easier.

Start by thinking about what suits you best - would you prefer an in-person, online, or mixed-format class? You might also want to consider what days of the week or times work best for you and anyone else that might be attending.

When you enter your postcode and due date, we’ll match you with the courses that best fit your location and when your baby might be born. Once you’ve found the right course, simply follow the steps to book your place, add your personal details (and a second attendee if you’d like) and complete the payment. You can also pop in any additional information you think it is important we should know. 

If you need a hand at any point, our friendly bookings team is always here to help you - by phone, email or live chat.

Yes! We offer course discounts for households earning under £35,000 a year - you can find out more and check if you’re eligible for a course discount.

We’re also part of the Blue Light Card scheme, offering discounts for NHS staff, emergency services, armed forces and teachers

Once you’ve found the course you’d like to attend, just select ‘Show payment & discount information’ and then ‘Check eligibility & apply.’ And if you need support, our helpful bookings team is always on hand. 

An NCT antenatal course helps you prepare for pregnancy, birth and the early days of parenthood.

You’ll explore and learn more about a wide range of topics – from what expect in labour and birth, to caring for your newborn, feeding your baby and adjusting to your new life as a parent.

It’s also a great opportunity to meet other expectant parents in your local area - to learn together, share experiences and build connections that often last well beyond the course. In fact, 95% of parents who attend our courses stay in touch with their NCT friends for years after having their baby!

Each course price covers two people, so you can attend with your partner, a family member or friend.

You can book your course at any time, though most parents do so around 16 weeks of pregnancy. Our courses can fill quickly, so it’s a good idea to book early if you can.

Booking early also means you’ll have the option to spread the cost in monthly, interest-free instalments, making it easier to plan ahead.

Our courses usually have between 10-14 people attending, though some groups are a little smaller or bigger.

We keep group sizes low so there’s time to chat, ask questions, share experiences and of course, get to know each other - often leading to friendships that continue long after the course ends!

Course prices vary depending on your location. Venue hire costs can differ across the country, so in some areas courses may be a little more expensive for us to run.

Yes – you’ve got a few interest-free options for spreading the cost:

• Monthly Direct Debit or card instalments: Available if there’s enough time before your course begins.
• PayPal Pay in 3: Available right up until your course starts (if you’re eligible).

When you reach the payment page (step 3 of booking), select the ‘Interest-free instalments’ tab at the top. The default view shows one-off payments, so you might need to switch tabs to see all your options.

Absolutely! Many parents who join our in-person antenatal courses already have children. It’s a great chance to connect with other expectant parents in your local area and at a similar stage of pregnancy. You’ll also have the chance to reflect on previous experiences and refresh your knowledge and skills.

We also offer a shorter, online-only course – NCT Antenatal Refresher. Over eight hours of live, interactive sessions, you’ll revisit key topics around pregnancy, birth and newborn care - and explore what life might look like with a new baby and older siblings.

Every NCT course is unique and tailored to each group. The number and length of sessions can vary, and your course leader will adapt the content of each class to suit your group’s needs and questions.

We can tell you that all our courses will cover topics within the following key themes:

• Getting ready for birth
• Labour and birth
• Caring for your baby
• Feeding your baby
• Life with a new baby

Each area is brought to life through open discussion, practical information and shared experiences, so you can feel more confident, connected and ready for the journey ahead.

Parent Hub is a digital platform exclusive for NCT course attendees. It’s full of additional videos and resources to compliment your learning before, during and after your course. 

Parent Hub is where you’ll find free course extras including:

• Hypnobirthing – videos, audio clips and affirmations
• Yoga for Pregnancy – five classes suitable for all levels
• Newborn safety and first aid
• Access to Newborn Talks
• Special offers
• Further information on local activities and events

We understand that plans can change. You can cancel your booking within 14 days of confirmation, free of charge, as long as your course hasn’t started.

There are also options if you need to change your booking - find out more in our cancellations and refunds information. As always, we’re here to help.

We recommend choosing a course where you know you can come to every session, as you can’t move between groups once the course has started.

If you do miss one, your NCT course leader will usually share a summary and helpful resources covering what you missed. In some cases, we may be able to offer a live online catch-up. You can find more details in our terms and conditions.

Yes! Newborn Talks are daily, live Zoom sessions led by our antenatal course practitioners, designed to support you in the early days after birth.

Each 45-minute talk focuses on key newborn topics, including sleep, crying and feeding, offering practical advice you can try right away. You’ll also have the chance to ask your specific questions and get real-time guidance.

There's absolutely no pressure to be on camera, and you're welcome to dip in and out or attend the same session again another week - whatever works for you. More information on Newborn Talks can be found in the Parent Hub.

Yes, we do – we know that in-person classes don’t suit everyone.

Our online NCT Antenatal courses are a great option if you’re living outside of the UK, in an area without a scheduled course, or simply prefer to focus on learning and preparation from home. You’ll still get the same trusted NCT information and practical guidance - just in a way that works best for you.

Find an online NCT antenatal course

We want every parent to feel welcome at an NCT course.

If there’s anything that might make it harder for you to join – such as access needs, communication support, or any other practical considerations we should be aware of, please let us know. You can contact us by email at booking.support@nct.org.uk, via live web chat, or by calling 0300 330 0700 (option 2).

We’ll listen, work with you to understand what you need, and do our best to find a solution that helps you get the most from your NCT course experience.