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The Idler Academy

Bookseller. Coffeehouse. School.

"Competence is the foundation of happiness," William Cobbett.

Address
81 Westbourne Park Road
LONDON W2 5QH
0845 250 1281

Opening Hours
Tuesday — Saturday: 10am - 6.30pm
Sunday: 11am - 5pm
Monday: Closed

In Ancient Greece, the word which turned into our word for school, scholee, originally meant ‘leisure’. Education was a pleasure; it was a privilege freely chosen by the freeborn citizens of Athens. The Idler Academy brings this spirit of cultivated leisure to the 21st century, and crosses it with the lively atmosphere of an 18th century coffeehouse. We sell a wide range of new and secondhand books, largely educational in nature.

In the coffeehouse, we serve Monnouth coffee, Oolong tea from the Himalayas and Valrhona hot chocolate. We sell delicious cakes from Blueberry Hill.

We also offer a delicious Ploughman’s Lunch as well as cream teas, all made from organic and home made ingredients.

We run courses in academic and practical subjects, from Latin to embroidery, from book-keeping to ukulele, from life-drawing to ancient philosophy. This is a place to read, think, debate and learn, to sharpen your mind and learn creative skills. Above all, we seek liberty, and our Latin motto, libertas per cultum, means ‘freedom through education’.


Events

What is a Hedgehog, and why should we care? With Hugh Warwick

The Idler Academy’s Zoology department welcomes hedgehog expert Hugh Warwick for a talk on this most fascinating inhabitant of the British Isles.

Hugh Warwick will lecture on the taxonomy, ecology, physiology and behaviour of Erinaceus europaeus. He will also seek to convince the audience that despite its benign nature and diminutive size, the European Hedgehog is the most important wild animal on the planet. However, there is also a cautionary tale. Hedgehog love can be done both the right way and the wrong way. Hugh is able to illustrate the disastrous consequences of taking things too far thanks to his appearance at the International Hedgehog Olympic Games in the USA.

Described by the Communications Officer of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society as ‘a purveyor of the finest stand-up ecology on the circuit today,’ he has delighted the Women’s Institute for many years.

Hugh and Hedgehog

Hugh Warwick, author of A Prickly Affair, has studied hedgehogs for over 25 years, during which time he has become convinced that they hold the secret to the salvation of humanity between their muddy little paws. He is also the very occasional Communications Officer of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society.

Date: Tuesday 22 November 2011

Time: 6.30pm for 7pm

Place: The Idler Academy, 81 Westbourne Park Road, London W2 5QH. Tel: 0207 221 5908

Cost: £15 or £12.50 concs. Includes free wine. BOOK NOW.