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Culture, history & humanities - Blended (learn both online and in-person) - Off Site

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.

Courses available both in-person and online

Join us in the heart of London for in-person classes. Our modern campus in Covent Garden is easy to reach and buzzing with creativity. With modern purpose-built facilities and state-of-the-art equipment, it’s the perfect space to support your learning journey. Explore our facilities >

Prefer learning online? Our live online courses bring expert teaching to you, wherever you are.

Whether you choose to study in-person or online, all our courses are live, interactive, and taught by expert tutors. Wherever and however you want to learn, we’re here for you.

Courses available both in-person and online

We offer a range of long and short courses allowing you to choose between in-person and online learning.

Learn in the centre of London with our in-person courses. Our purpose-built facilities in Covent Garden mean we are ideally located and easy to get to. 

See our guide to online learning for more information about accessing our live online courses.

All our courses are live, interactive, and taught by expert tutors. No matter how you prefer to learn, we've got the class for you.

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  1. The Courtauld: an introduction
    Last Few Places
    Course start date:  Mon 12 May 2025

    Location on this date:  Off Site

    Tutors:  Julie Barlow
    The Courtauld collection includes paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture and decorative arts, ranging from the medieval period to the present day. This two-part course is an opportunity to explore an outstanding collection which includes one of the richest holdings of early Italian art in Britain alongside Impressionist and Post-Impressionist gems such as Van Gogh’s Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear.
    Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00
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  2. Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00
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  3. Crime and punishment in Old London
    Course start date:  Mon 9 Jun 2025

    Location on this date:  Off Site

    Tutors:  Diane Burstein
    Take a guided walk through the old City and its borders taking in beheadings and brutality at the Tower, tales of cutpurses and con men, the rise of prisons and the ghastly punishments that were meted out to wrongdoers. We go on a journey to Newgate Gaol, the Bridewell Prison and the places of execution including the notorious Tyburn Tree to hear tales of brutality, escapes and the bloodthirsty crowds who watched executions. Our tour includes London’s atmospheric legal quarter taking in the Old Bailey, The Royal Courts of Justice and the Inns of Court to discover how London’s legal system developed .



    Meet outside St Paul’s Cathedral by the Statue of Queen Anne.
    Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £12.00
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  4. A sense of place: Constable’s Hampstead
    Course start date:  Mon 9 Jun 2025

    Location on this date:  Off Site

    Tutors:  Marilyn Greene
    Explore Georgian and Regency Hampstead walking in the footsteps of John Constable and seeing places he painted and quotes about his thoughts and feelings on Hampstead and his art.
    Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £19.00
    Rating:
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  5. Constable and the British landscape tradition
    Course start date:  Mon 16 Jun 2025

    Location on this date:  Off Site

    Tutors:  Marilyn Greene
    Discover the development of the British Landscape tradition from the 18th and 19th centuries. The Victoria and Albert Museum has the largest collection of John Constable sketches in the world, and we will discuss the works on display in detail and compare with works by J.W.M Turner and other artists on display.
    Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £19.00
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  6. Stream Form to Arts and Crafts: suburban architecture 1914-1939 (a guided walk)
    Course start date:  Mon 23 Jun 2025

    Location on this date:  Off Site

    Tutors:  Marilyn Greene
    Starting at the Modernist East Finchley station, this walk goes back in time looking at architectural styles from between the wars on the North side of Hampstead Garden Suburb finishing with arts and crafts cottages. Starts outside the main entrance to East Finchley Station and finishes at Market Place on the A1 ( a short bus ride from East Finchley or Golders Green).
    Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £19.00
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  7. Discover North London through walks
    Course start date:  Mon 15 Sep 2025

    Location on this date:  Off Site

    Tutors:  Diane Burstein

    Discover the history of North London via guided walks. Great views, green spaces , places of worship, almshouses, plaques to famous people ,some lesser known museums, lots of hidden history and a couple of famous football stadiums will all feature..

    Full fee £269.00 Senior fee £215.00 Concession £175.00
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  8. Looking at paintings
    Course start date:  Mon 22 Sep 2025

    Location on this date:  Off Site

    Tutors:  Julia Musgrave
    Look at masterpieces in major London galleries in this introduction to European painting. Explore different painting techniques and genres (landscape, portrait and history painting) for a basic understanding and increased enjoyment of Western art.
    Full fee £299.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £194.00
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  9. National Gallery
    Course start date:  Wed 24 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Off Site

    Tutors:  Leslie Primo
    Discuss a differently themed group of paintings each week in front of the pictures. An opportunity to understand our national collection in greater depth.
    Full fee £299.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £194.00
    Rating:
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  10. Cradles of Civilisation: The Babylonians (with British Museum Visit)
    Course start date:  Mon 3 Nov 2025

    Location on this date:  Blended (learn both online and in-person)

    Tutors:  Hugo Cook
    Join us to to explore the history of the Babylonians, one of the most famous and influential civilisations of all time.
    Full fee £139.00 Senior fee £111.00 Concession £90.00
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  11. Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £127.00 Concession £103.00
    Rating:
    97% of 100
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  12. Lamplit Hampstead
    Course start date:  Mon 15 Dec 2025

    Location on this date:  Off Site

    Tutors:  Marilyn Greene
    Discover the mysterious atmosphere to Hampstead on a tour after-dark where the streets are lit by old-fashioned lamps. We will wind through the narrow back streets and catch glimpses of its fascinating history from the glow of lamps and lit buildings. This tour is particularly stunning over the Festive season where subtle Christmas lights add to the effect. We will end at the historic Holly Bush Tavern where we can warm up with a drink!



    Tour starts outside Wagamama 58-62 Heath Street, NW3 1EN Ends Hampstead Tube Station.
    Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £19.00
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  13. Arts and Crafts of Hampstead Garden Suburb: a guided walk
    Course start date:  Mon 16 Jun 2025

    Location on this date:  Off Site

    Tutors:  Marilyn Greene
    The walk traces the early history and developments of Hampstead Garden Suburb and includes the Heath Extension, Central Square- designed by Edwin Lutyens, and the original Artisans quarter designed from 1907 by Parker and Unwin. Starts outside the main entrance to Golders Green Tube station and ends at Temple Fortune on the Finchley Road.
    Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £19.00
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