About Us
At City Lit, we pride ourselves on creating opportunities for people to come together to enrich their lives through learning.
City Lit is the ultimate destination for online and class-room based adult courses, from part-time short courses and one-off workshops to year-long programmes
About Us
At City Lit, we pride ourselves on creating opportunities for people to come together to enrich their lives through learning.
City Lit is the ultimate destination for online and class-room based adult courses, from part-time short courses and one-off workshops to year-long programmes
What We Do
Education. Wellbeing. Community.
We offer quality in-person and online courses across a massive range of subject areas including Art and Design, Performing Arts, History and Cultures, Writing, Business and Technology, Languages, Counselling and Wellbeing, Skills for Life, and across in our Centres for Excellence in Deaf Education and Disability Learning.
Our courses are taught by expert tutors, many of whom are industry professionals looking to pass on their knowledge and wisdom.
Beyond the classroom, City Lit plays an active role in the cultural and intellectual life of London, collaborating with leading institutions and organisations to make learning accessible to all.
Our Legacy
A leader in adult education for over 100 years.
Since our founding in 1919, City Lit has been a place where individuals from all walks of life come to explore new interests and develop skills. Whether it's doctors learning new languages, individuals in recovery gaining vital employment skills, or retirees connecting through social media, our courses have made a meaningful impact on countless lives.
Our Values
Ambitious. Imaginative. Open-hearted.
Our values demonstrate who we are collectively and individually. They are at the heart of City Lit and guide everything we do.
- Ambitious
- Imaginative
- Open-hearted
Our overarching promise to our students is ‘Inspiring Passions and Realising Ambitions’. We embrace the diversity of London, catering to the needs of people from all walks of life. No matter your background or ambition, we are here to support your journey.
Our commitment goes beyond education. We focus on nurturing the physical and mental well-being of our students and building strong, connected communities around shared interests and passions.
2023 Ofsted Inspection
Inspectors rated City Lit as an Outstanding.
As a leading provider of adult education, City Lit is regularly inspected by Ofsted to ensure we maintain the highest standards of teaching and learning. Our most recent Ofsted report (May 2023) highlights our dedication to academic excellence, student support, and inclusive learning environments.
The report recognises our strong leadership, expert teaching, and the positive impact our courses have on learners' lives. We continue to build on these strengths, ensuring that every learner receives an outstanding educational experience.
Our Fellows & Partnerships
United in our commitment to adult education and lifelong learning.
Our Fellows include esteemed individuals such as Sir Grayson Perry, Gillian Anderson, Dame Mary Beard, Lulu, and HRH The Princess Royal. We regularly partner with other charities like MIND, AgeUK, Samaritans, RNID, and Macmillan Cancer Support, as well as cultural institutions including the British Museum, The National Gallery, and The Royal Ballet and Opera.
These relationships underscore our commitment to the intellectual, social, and cultural life of London and beyond.
94% of learners give their course a 4 or 5 star rating
Students complete a course evaluation at the end of their course. In 2023/24 we received over 13,000 course evaluations.
75% of students gave their course 5 stars and 19% gave their course 4 stars. 98% of students rated their tutor’s knowledge 5 or 4 stars.
Students also tell us about the benefits they gain from attending courses – from improving their wellbeing, feeling more confident and keeping active, to improving their skills or discovering new talents.
Student feedback is important to us as it helps us keep improving our courses.
Key information
Registered office: City Lit, 1-10 Keeley Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2B 4BA.
Registered charity: 803007
Registered in England no: 2471686