Higham is situated in a beautifully restored 19th century Gothic mansion with well tended gardens and spectacular views of Skiddaw and the Northern Fells.

It has been a residential adult college for 30 years, owned and run by Cumbria County Council as a non-profit making organisation. It receives no subsidy and so the fee you pay is exactly what it costs to provide the course.

Approximately 3000 people enrol each year on 250 courses from 1 day Study Sundays and intensive weekends, to week long summer schools. Higham was originally built by railway pioneer Thomas Hoskins in 1828 as a grand county house but has also seen service as a youth hostel and a girls boarding school. Although adult education is our main business, we also provide accommodation for conferences and training courses.