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.
- Spices, Trade, and Traditions of the Indian Sub-Continent - The Story of Food from Ancient Times to the Colonial EraCourse start date: Sat 12 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ketan VariaJoin us to discover the history of food on the subcontinent, from the ancient period to the colonial era.How did local climates, agricultural practices, and cultural interactions shape regional cuisines?Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £51.00 - 19th Century Movements in Italian Literature: Manzoni, Verga, TarchettiCourse start date: Sat 12 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Francesco BucciolDiscover some key literary movements and novels that influenced the Italian cultural scene in the 19th century, through the study of three writers: Alessandro Manzoni, Giovanni Verga and Tarchetti.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - World-building for fantasy and speculative fiction writers
Course start date: Sat 12 Jul 2025 (and 1 other date)Location on this date: Online
Tutors: KR MoorheadLearn how to build worlds that lend your fantasy or speculative fiction credibility, richness and the kind of depth that leaves readers wanting more.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - Partition in India and PakistanCourse start date: Sat 12 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: T HussainIn 1947 British India was partitioned. This resulted in an estimated one million deaths, the largest migration of people in modern history and the formation of India and Pakistan. What were the forces which led to Partition? When did the political and cultural factors that precipitated Partition emerge and accordingly, when did partition begin?Full fee £49.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £32.00 - Philosophy of Artificial IntelligenceCourse start date: Sat 19 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Edgar Ter-DanielyanThis course is an interactive introduction to philosophy of Artificial Intelligence (AI) focusing on ontological (‘what is AI?’) and epistemic (‘how do we know?’) aspects of recent revolutionary advances in AI from both philosophical and computer science perspectives. We will not focus on ethical aspects of AI in this course which are covered in a separate course.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - Ways into playwriting: getting started Course start date: Sat 26 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sharmila ChauhanExplore the fundamental techniques of writing for the stage in this introductory short course. Get to grips with dialogue, character, story and structure, and start work on your own play.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - A taste of philosophy Course start date: Sat 26 Jul 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Karl WhiteHave you ever wondered what philosophy is? What do philosophers talk about? Can they tell you the meaning of life or is it just jargon and navel gazing? Come along and find out.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £19.00 - Writing about food: getting started Course start date: Sat 2 Aug 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Laura SilvermanWhether you’re keen to review dishes, interview chefs or write about sustainable eating, now is your chance. This introductory course will cover the basics of writing about food.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - Writing flash fiction: getting started Course start date: Sun 3 Aug 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Lucy PopescuA sideways glance: succinct, powerful. This short workshop on the essential components of flash fiction will teach you to tell a complete story in very few words.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - Film studies taster Course start date: Sat 13 Sep 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Paul SuttonLearn how to evaluate and discuss films while enjoying a working example of a City Lit Film Studies class. In this class we will view and explore clips from a number of films, including popular remakes, enabling us to consider and compare themes and techniques from differing filmmaking countries. There will be a chance to review – in brief – film courses at City Lit (September - December 2025).Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £12.00 - Weekend Study: A short History of Subcontinent (With British Museum Visit)Course start date: Sat 13 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ketan VariaThe India subcontinent is unique in its heritage and history. It has lasted through invasion, political change and assimilation. It is home to the one of the world’s oldest civilizations, the Indus Valley. Join us on this 2-day study weekend to learn more.
Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £110.00 - Literature taster Course start date: Sat 13 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Patricia SweeneyDo you want to explore how to go about understanding a poem? How to do a close reading of a work of fiction? Come and find out what makes a literature class at City Lit so special.
The course also presents an overview of our upcoming literature offering in fiction, poetry, drama and literary non-fiction.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £12.00 - Ways into poetryCourse start date: Sat 4 Oct 2025 (and 7 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Cecilia KnappCome and revel in the possibilities of expression and form offered by poems across time, guided by lively group discussion and tutor expertise.Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £19.00 - Introduction to Global LiteratureCourse start date: Sat 20 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rebecca JonesAre you curious about reading literature from across the world? Would you like to encounter some of the world’s finest literary works, reading across cultures and national borders, and in translation? This in-college session will give you a flavour of what it’s like to study and explore what global literature is, reading excerpts from major works.Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £19.00 - Walk and Talk: Around Chaucer's LondonCourse start date: Sun 21 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Vanessa KingJoin Vanessa King to explore Life in London in the Age of Chaucer (c.1343-1400) on this morning talk & afternoon walk.
Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00
Can't see a course you want?
Add this category to your waiting list to set up alerts and we will update you when new courses are released online.
Add me to waiting list