We're currently doing the Bump, Birth and Beyond classes with the brilliant and forward thinking Nicky Harris and would recommend it. The classes are midwife run which I don't believe NCT classes are (please correct me if I'm wrong) and social activities are encouraged. http://www.ariadnasole.com/ Another option, and to get a slightly different perspective, is a hypnobirthing course. We did a course with Hollie de Cruz at London Hypnobirthing but one of our sessions was run by Lizzie Hammond of Hammond Hypnobirthing and I would have no hesitation in recommending either of them. You also get to meet other couples on the course. I learnt an awful lot about labour on this course but the disadvantage is that you don't cover the post-natal stuff, hence why we are doing the Bump, Birth and Beyond class as well. http://www.londonhypnobirthing.co.uk/ http://www.hammondhypnobirthing.com/