Explore Culture, History & Humanities Courses
Explore our extraordinary range of History, Culture and Writing courses and lectures. We offer both introductory and specialist in-depth courses to suit all levels of interest and experience, from ‘How to read a film’ and World literature, to Creative non-fiction writing courses and American history and Politics courses.
Our tutors are experts in their fields and experienced educators; many have published, teach in universities or share their expertise in the media. Tutors share their knowledge and passion through presentations, readings, interactive discussion and exercises, analysis, and other activities.
Many students return to take more courses, telling us they enjoy being part of our City Lit Learning community.
Our popular courses often sell out quickly, so we invite you to browse and book your place now.
- Global arts of AfricaCourse start date: Fri 24 Oct 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Thomas BalfeThis course introduces major forms of African art in their regional and global contexts. It studies classical traditions of carving, metal casting, architecture and textile arts as well as twentieth-century and contemporary developments, including the work of photographers and conceptual artists.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £129.00 - The Etruscans
Course start date: Fri 31 Oct 2025Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: William SterlingDiscover the mysterious people who lived in Central Italy and ended up being enveloped by the Romans. - Friday lates: The East India Company and the passion for chintzCourse start date: Fri 7 Nov 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Anita ChowdryExplore the story of how Indian painted and printed cottons became an important trade commodity for the Western domestic market, and the far-reaching impact of their design and manufacture.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £12.00 - The Contemporary Global NovelCourse start date: Fri 7 Nov 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rebecca JonesAre you curious about reading contemporary global literature? Would you like to understand what we mean by the ‘global novel’, reading across cultures and national borders? This in-college course will introduce you to the study of global literature through reading three brilliant 21st century global novels: Mohsin Hamid’s Exit West, Rana Dasgupta’s Tokyo Cancelled and Julie Otsuka’s Buddha in the Attic.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £97.00 - Friday Lates: the art of zines Course start date: Fri 21 Nov 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Christopher CollierUnderground passions and radical imagery have defined so-called fanzines for over 80 years. From the earliest examples to today, we explore their content, technique and the relation of DIY culture to wider artistic practices.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £12.00 - Friday lates: Cook must fall! Portraits of Captain James Cook, new and oldCourse start date: Fri 28 Nov 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Ben PollittExplore the portrayal of Captain James Cook from c. 1770 to the present day. Understand images of Cook provide us with a fascinating platform to think about the complicated relationships that have emerged out of British Empire and what used to be thought of as its imperial possessions.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £12.00 - Interactions between the Mediterranean world and Anglo-Saxon EnglandCourse start date: Fri 5 Dec 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Stephen PollingtonThis talk will explore some of the connections which maintained the Anglo-Saxons' feeling that Rome was part of their heritage.Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £29.00 Concession £19.00 - Women in Ancient GreeceCourse start date: Fri 12 Dec 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: William SterlingIn this course we shall examine women in myth, women in religion and the everyday life of women. It will conclude with a visit to the British Museum.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - Village LondonCourse start date: Wed 30 Apr 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Hazel BakerLondon is made up of a series of villages, each with its own individual characteristics. Explore Spitalfields
Shoreditch, Finsbury, Clerkenwell, Islington, Soho, Fitzrovia and Mayfair on these 8 guided walks.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £129.00 - Exploring film directors Course start date: Fri 2 May 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Jon WisbeySeen as the unifying and creative force in a film, directors have become important for both an audience's engagement and a film's marketing and 'positioning'. This course explores the work of a range of directors, or 'auteurs', their approach to filmmaking and their thematic interests, while assessing the concept of authorship and the contexts in which a director's work is produced and consumed.Full fee £119.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £77.00 - Italian cinema: from Neorealism to the genre film Course start date: Fri 2 May 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Cristina MassaccesiThis cinema course focuses on Italian cinema in the years between 1945 and 1980. It will provide you with an overview of the main historical, cultural and social aspects of Italian filmmaking in Italy by looking at the work of some of its most influential author/directors.Full fee £119.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £77.00 - Art in medieval Italy: the Kingdom of Lombardy and its impactCourse start date: Fri 2 May 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Simone ChisenaDiscover the rich artistic heritage of the first Kings of Italy, the tenacious warriors who first rule the country.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £103.00 Concession £84.00
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