Keeping your mind active online

Your local library can offer plenty of online resources to access at home. Depending on your library, you may be able to:

• download e-books and e-magazines to read on a computer or tablet
• download audiobooks to listen on your computer, or transfer to your phone or MP3 player
• search through their online information and reference resources, and access subscription services to newspapers and magazines for free
• search, reserve and renew books online.

You’ll need to be a member of the library before using their online resources. Use Gov.uk to find your local library.

If you want more information about finding e-books, visit our webpage Online entertainment.

Learning online doesn’t only involve reading on the screen. You can watch videos and listen to podcasts.

YouTube is a free online video platform where you can search for anything you’re interested in. You can find practical help, such as recipes or carrying out DIYs, as well as videos for all types of hobbies. You can also search for educational videos and documentaries.

Podcasts are audio programmes you can download and play on your computer or smartphone, for free. They’re similar to radio shows, but you can listen to them at any time and as many times as you like. They cover a range of topics, such as history, finance, art, science and much more. 

You can find and listen to podcasts for free using different platforms, including:

• BBC Sounds – you can listen online or download the app to your smartphone
• Apple Podcasts – if you use an iPhone or Apple device (such as an iPad or MacBook laptop), you can use this platform to subscribe and listen to podcasts
• Spotify – you can download this app on your phone or computer. As well as podcasts, you can listen to music. If you have the free version of Spotify, you’ll need to be connected to the internet to listen to audio – you won’t be able to download the podcast for offline listening
• Google Podcasts – you can use this app on both Android and Apple devices.

Most platforms let you discover podcasts through different categories. If you find a podcast series you like, you can subscribe for free to keep track of new episodes.

If you want to listen to a podcast when you’re outside and not connected to the internet, it’s best to download it beforehand.

For many of these platforms, you will have to create an account, which may come with a subscription you have to pay. This is often a monthly payment.

You might be interested in taking part in an educational course, whether it’s for fun or to gain an academic qualification. You don’t have to travel to a university or college to do this – there are plenty of ways you can study online.

• The University of the Third Age (u3a) is a national network of learning groups, run by retired volunteers. They have both face-to-face and online groups locally and nationally, and they cover lots of different interests and hobbies. They also offer online workshops and webinars. You pay a membership fee that allows you to take part in as many events and groups as you like.
• If you want to get a university degree, the Open University offers many undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Their programmes are flexible and designed to be taught online, so you can fit studying around your own schedule and learn from home. You might be able to apply for funding through the Open University or Gov.uk. 
• If you’re interested in studying for fun, the Open University’s OpenLearn platform has many free online courses in a variety of subjects. You can start a course anytime you want, and work through it at your own pace. It’s a great way to explore new subjects and try out distance learning.
• FutureLearn offers hundreds of short online classes and courses for free. They’re often provided by top universities or accredited organisations. You can look for classes for hobbies you’re interested in, or programmes for professional development.
• Alison also offers a wide range of courses on many subjects, from IT to health and languages. All course are free, and there are opportunities to earn certificates.

The internet is a great source of useful information that can help make life easier for you.

Travel

• Google Maps is an online map where you can look up addresses, find directions and plan a journey. It tells you journey times if you’re travelling by foot, car and public transport, and suggests the best routes to take based on live travel updates. You can use it on your smartphone when you’re out and about.
• There are websites to help you find many helpful things when you're out - for example, Toiletmap and Blue Badge Parking.
• If you need to travel by train, you can find train timetables, plan a journey and book train tickets online at Trainline and National Rail.
• If you're travelling by bus, you can find bus times on Traveline.
• Whether you’re planning a local trip or a holiday abroad, you could use a site like TripAdvisor or Lonely Planet to find information about hotels, restaurants, flights and things to do. You can read reviews and compare prices.

Exploring your interests

• If you need help with translating languages, Google Translate is a free tool that instantly translates words and phrases.
• You can research your family history by exploring the digital records at the National Archives.
• Many museums have digital collections you can view online. For example, you can view artefacts and explore collections on the British Museum website. The National Gallery provides virtual tours and online collections. Tate offers online galleries, as well as video tutorials for creating art and podcasts about art history.
• Search online for recipes and cooking tips. For example, BBC Good Food and All Recipes have many classic and seasonal recipes. They also provide healthy options – if you have dietary requirements, you can find low sugar or gluten-free options, for example.
• Pinterest is a useful way of finding recipes, exercise ideas and things to brighten up your home. You can save the content that interests you and come back to it later.