Antenatal classes for Islington, Highbury and Holloway parents
Our antenatal classes in Islington, Highbury and Holloway help expectant parents across North London prepare for birth, feeding and life with a newborn.
We welcome parents from Angel, Highbury, Canonbury, Barnsbury, King's Cross and surrounding areas, creating local groups that support one another through parenthood.
Through our expert-led NCT Antenatal courses, you’ll gain trusted information, practical preparation and the opportunity to connect with other local parents.
Why choose NCT for your antenatal class?
Prepare for birth, feel more confident caring for your baby and connect with other expectant parents in Islington, Highbury and Holloway.
Our NCT Antenatal course combines practical preparation, evidence-based information and supportive discussions led by an experienced NCT practitioner.
You’ll have time to ask questions, explore your options and feel more confident as you prepare for birth and early parenthood.
Understand your birth choices
Learn what to expect during labour and birth, explore your options and understand different ways your baby may be born.
Get ready for life with your baby
Learn about feeding, newborn care, sleep, recovery after birth and the realities of early parenthood.
Learn alongside other expectant parents
Meet parents who live nearby and whose babies are due around the same time, share experiences and build connections that can continue beyond your course.
Support that continues beyond your course
Your NCT experience doesn’t end when your sessions finish. You’ll have access to additional resources, support and opportunities to connect with other parents.
What you’ll learn
From early signs to the first weeks
Our NCT Antenatal course consists of five evidence-based sessions covering labour, birth, feeding, and life with a newborn - all shaped around the choices you want to make.
- Session 1: Getting ready for birth
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What happens in late pregnancy
Birth environments
Recognising the signs that labour has started
Induction of labour
Pelvic floor health
Your baby’s arrival into the world
- Session 2: Understanding birth
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Stages of labour
Vaginal, assisted, and caesarean birth
Pain management options
Perineal health
Supporting yourself and/or a birthing parent
- Session 3: Meeting your baby and recovery from birth
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The first moments with your baby
Physical recovery after birth
Practical baby care
Early days scenarios and safer sleep
Neonatal care
- Session 4: Feeding your baby
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Recognising feeding cues and patterns
Breastfeeding, formula and mixed feeding
How breastmilk supply works, positioning and attachment
Paced bottle feeding
Practical feeding skills and common challenges
- Session 5: Life with a new baby
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What happens after birth
Sleep patterns and bonding
Baby development and responding to crying
Postnatal wellbeing and support networks
Book now from
£299
Included with your course
Premium access to Parent Hub
Get more from your antenatal course with full access to NCT Parent Hub, a digital space with practical resources, trusted information and additional support to help you feel prepared before and after your baby arrives.
Your antenatal course includes:
Hypnobirthing
Videos, audio tracks and affirmations to help you prepare for birth with confidence.
Newborn Talks
Daily practitioner-led sessions offering practical guidance and reassurance during the early weeks with your baby.
Yoga for Pregnancy
Five gentle sessions suitable for all experience levels.
Newborn safety and first aid
Essential guidance to help you feel prepared to care for your baby.
Local activities and events
Discover ways to connect with other parents in your area.
Where we run antenatal classes in Islington, Highbury and Holloway
Can’t see a course near you? Try searching with your postcode or explore other nearby locations
What parents say about our antenatal classes in Islington, Highbury and Holloway
This NCT was much more than we even hoped for. Very interactive, interesting and covering a range of topics we already knew about, but learning something new in each area. A lot of takeaways, good tips and tricks and an overall greater understanding of all the areas covered. The difference between this NCT and other classes we took was the way and the depth at which various themes were covered, explaining further and drilling down to understand why something happens the way it happens. The course gave us an increased level of knowledge which in turn leaves my partner and I more comfortable and calm in terms of labour and caring for our baby. We absolutely recommend this course.
"This was a tremendously well presented course, packed full of information, and fun to attend and learn from.
"This NCT Antenatal course exceeded our expectations due to the trainer's (Ruth) experience and wealth of knowledge. I felt fairly prepared going in due having done other courses and having read multiple books, but Ruth's way of explaining things so clearly really made it stick and we learned a lot. The material and website she has with all of the information shared in one place is also very helpful and is now my go-to place for information. The separate breastfeeding session was extremely practical and useful, thanks to it we feel more prepared for the initials days and months with the baby.
"Upcoming antenatal classes in Islington, Highbury and Holloway
Our antenatal classes are designed to finish with at least two weeks before your due date.
You can book at any time - most people book when they're around 16 weeks pregnant - but our courses can fill fast, so don't leave it too long. Early bookers can spread the cost of the class over monthly interest-free instalments.
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Have questions?
You can contact us through web chat on this page or take a look at our answers to frequently asked questions.
- Which antenatal class in Islington, Highbury and Holloway is right for me?
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We use your expected due date to determine how suitable a class is for you.
Ideally we want the class to end 3-7 weeks before you're due, but that can be expanded to 2-9 weeks. You will see classes marked as ideal, good, ok and not suitable in the results.
Other personal factors you should consider are:
- Preferred format (in-person, online or mixed)
- Venue location (for in-person or mixed format classes)
- Date, times and number of sessions (these vary between classes)
- What makes an NCT Antenatal course in Islington, Highbury and Holloway different from private antenatal classes?
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NCT is a charity that has been supporting parents through pregnancy, birth and early parenthood for 70 years.
When you book an NCT Antenatal course, you’re not only preparing for your baby’s arrival. Your course fee also helps fund support for parents across the UK, including trusted information, local support services and campaigning to improve experiences for parents and families.
Our courses are designed to give you time to ask questions, learn from an experienced course leader and connect with other local parents. Many parents find these connections become an important source of support after their baby arrives.
The support doesn’t stop when your course ends. As part of the NCT community, you can access evidence-based information, infant feeding support, baby cafés, local groups and volunteer-led activities throughout your parenting journey.
Choosing an NCT Antenatal course means preparing for parenthood while helping support other parents too.
- How many people are usually in an antenatal class?
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We allow a max of 18 people (up to 9 pairs), but on average it’s 10 to 14 people. We keep our groups small, so there’s more time to connect, ask questions and get to know each other.
- What if I can’t make one of my antenatal class sessions?
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We encourage you to book a class where you can make all sessions, as we can’t move you into a session in a different class.
Depending on circumstances, we can offer you an online replacement session that will cover one of the five core themes. See our terms and conditions for details.
- Can I change or cancel my antenatal class booking?
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We understand things don’t always go to plan. You can cancel a booking within 14 days of confirmation without charge. There’s also options for changing your booking. Find out more about cancellation and refunds.
- I have accessibility requirements. Can you help?
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Absolutely. We want to make our courses accessible to all. Please let us know in advance if you have specific accessibility requirements - you can get in touch with us via email at booking.support@nct.org.uk, web chat or by calling 0300 330 0700 (option 2).
- Can I pay by interest-free instalments?
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Interest-free instalments are available when there is enough time to have monthly instalments between the booking date and the start of the class - this will be indicated on the class when you search.
- Can I get a discount on the cost of an antenatal class?
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We offer discounts to households earning less than £35,000 per year. Find out more about our class discounts and eligibility.
To request a discount, find the course you want to attend, select 'show payment & discount information' and then 'check eligibility & apply'.
- Do you offer online antenatal classes?
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We regularly hold online classes for people who want to attend an NCT Antenatal class but:
- are located outside of the UK
- are located in areas where classes aren’t scheduled, or
- would prefer the information and learning of practical skills over the social side of the class
- Can I access course information after my antenatal class ends?
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Yes! As part of your class, you’ll get access to our NCT Parent Hub, an exclusive digital content platform, where you’ll find evidence-based articles, informative videos and links to useful resources all together in one place to support your learning.