London History Courses & Guided Walks
From its Bronze Age beginnings to capital status, London has witnessed growth and destruction throughout its long history. Join us for lively classroom discussions and popular walks around the city and discover who and what has left their mark on the city.
Watch City Lit tutor Eleanor Jackson explore some of London's secret spaces:
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History taster
Course Date: Sat 7 Sep 2019
Location on this date: KS - Keeley StreetThis taster session will introduce you to history and politics courses here at City Lit. Enjoy learning a bit about history and its relation to current political events.Full fee: £9.00Senior fee: £9.00Concession: £9.00 -
In the footsteps of London's rebels
Course Date: Tue 10 Sep 2019
Location on this date: KS - Keeley StreetExplore London's places of protest and discover the stories of radicals, agitators and campaigners who fought for social justice, equal rights and better lives for all from the 1830s to the 1930s. The initial lecture will be held at City Lit followed by 10 walks. The final session will be held at City Lit.Full fee: £209.00Senior fee: £167.00Concession: £92.00 -
London at war
Course Date: Tue 10 Sep 2019
Location on this date: KS - Keeley Street
London has been shaped by war, conflict and unrest. It's buildings, monuments and even street names reflect our embattled past. These walks examine London's wartime legacy from mediaeval fortifications to the War on Terror.
London guide: Eleanor Jackson. First session will be a lecture at the City Lit.
London guide: Eleanor Jackson.Full fee: £159.00Senior fee: £127.00Concession: £70.00 -
The City of London: the square mile
Course Date: Wed 11 Sep 2019 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: KS - Keeley StreetExplore the City’s development from Roman and medieval times through to the Tudors and Stuarts. Initial lecture at City Lit. Entrance fees not included.
London guide: Paul Sinclair. Initial lecture at City Lit. Entrance fees not included
London guide: Paul Sinclair.Full fee: £209.00Senior fee: £167.00Concession: £92.00 -
City of words: London's literary landscape
Course Date: Thu 12 Sep 2019
Location on this date: KS - Keeley StreetLondon has been muse, magnet and mecca to writers for 400 years, home to Shakespeare's successes, Dickens' dramas and Wilde's witticisms. After an introductory lecture we walk a different London neighbourhood each week exploring its literary connections. Initial lecture is at the at City Lit. This is followed by 8 walks.Full fee: £159.00Senior fee: £127.00Concession: £70.00 -
London society and space : from the Gordon Riots to fin de siecle
Course Date: Tue 17 Sep 2019
Location on this date: KS - Keeley StreetExamining London’s social history and built environment, from the destruction and chaos of the 1780 Gordon Riots to the dark, dangerous glamour and political turbulence of the 1890s.
There will be one field-walk lasting approximately 2 hours on Saturday 12 October, meeting at 11am in Lower Regent Street (under the Duke of York column, Waterloo Place).Full fee: £139.00Senior fee: £139.00Concession: £61.00 -
Tudor London
Course Date: Fri 20 Sep 2019
Location on this date: KS - Keeley StreetBetween 1500 and 1600, London was transformed from a medieval city to an international trading centre. The population quadrupled resulting in overcrowding, poor sanitation, disease and crime. There will be a London walk around Southwark.Full fee: £219.00Senior fee: £175.00Concession: £96.00 -
Unlocking London's boroughs: inside Islington
Course Date: Thu 3 Oct 2019
Location on this date: OS - Off SiteBehind the busy road and river arteries of Islington lie a series of squares and quiet backstreets. This series of four walking tours will uncover the secrets of Highbury Fields complete with its inky and football links, the watery and entertainment background of The Angel, artistic and literary Canonbury and the tranquil and graceful squares of Barnsbury
First meeting 3 Oct 2019 - Angel - Meet outside Angel tube
London guide: Rachel Kolsky. First meeting 3 Oct 2019 - Angel - Meet outside Angel tube
London guide: Rachel Kolsky.Full fee: £79.00Senior fee: £63.00Concession: £35.00 -
In the footsteps of Fred Uhlman: art and refugees in Hampstead
Course Date: Sun 6 Oct 2019
Location on this date: OS - Off SiteFred Uhlman was a refugee lawyer turned artist who settled with his English wife, Diana, in Hampstead in 1938. Here they formed the artist refugee committee to rescue artists trapped in Czechoslovakia and their house became a refuge for artists. We discover the organisations that he was involved in; visit sites he was known to frequent; and consider other refugees who settled in Hampstead in the advent to the Second World War.
It starts at Hampstead Tube Station and ends near Belsize Park tube station.
London guide: Marilyn Greene. It starts at Hampstead Tube Station and ends near Belsize Park tube station.
London guide: Marilyne Greene.Full fee: £19.00Senior fee: £15.00Concession: £10.00 -
Crime and punishment in Hampstead from the 17th century to the present day
Course Date: Sun 20 Oct 2019
Location on this date: OS - Off SiteOver the centuries Hampstead and Hampstead Heath have witnessed many dramatic and horrifying events. From highway men and hangings, to murders, executions and fatal accidents, this walk explores some of the stories of people involved in horrible happenings in Hampstead as well as some of the places set up for policing law and order. We start at Hampstead Tube Station and finish by Hampstead Heath Over-ground Station.
London guide: Marilyne Greene. We start at Hampstead Tube Station and finish by Hampstead Heath Over-ground Station.
London guide: Marilyne Greene.Full fee: £19.00Senior fee: £15.00Concession: £10.00 -
London society and space: from World War One to Brexit
Course Date: Tue 29 Oct 2019
Location on this date: KS - Keeley StreetExamining London’s social history and built environment, from the upheavals of the ‘Great War’ to our present-day attempts to (re)define ourselves, as exit from the European Union looms.
There will be a field-walk in the East End of London, lasting approximately 2 hours. We will meet at 11am at Liverpool Street Station on Saturday 16 November.Full fee: £139.00Senior fee: £139.00Concession: £61.00 -
Londinium: a tale of two cities (Roman London 47-457 CE)
Course Date: Sat 23 Nov 2019
Location on this date: KS - Keeley StreetA look at the spectacular rise and fall of Londinium from c. AD 47 to its abandonment in c. AD 457. Includes an introductory lecture, a museum visit and a guided city walk.Full fee: £69.00Senior fee: £55.00Concession: £30.00 -
Dickens' London
Course Date: Sat 23 Nov 2019
Location on this date: KS - Keeley Street'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.' Enjoy this introduction to Dickens' work and the London of his time. Morning lecture at City Lit followed by a walk in the area of the city connected to his work.Full fee: £59.00Senior fee: £47.00Concession: £26.00 -
Transports of delight: London's railway stations
Course Date: Tue 7 Jan 2020
Location on this date: KS - Keeley StreetLondon's stations see over 1 billion journeys annually, but the buildings themselves are often ignored. Explore a different station and environs each week, discovering the architecture, history, stories and future of these lifelines of London. The course starts with an initial classroom lecture at City Lit followed by a series of walking tours.Full fee: £159.00Senior fee: £127.00Concession: £70.00 -
City of words: further adventures
Course Date: Thu 9 Jan 2020
Location on this date: OS - Off SiteLondon luxuriates in literary references. We follow the footsteps of the authors, poets and playwrights, and some of
their creations, as we walk a brand new neighbourhood each week, exploring the literary connections.
London guide: Eleanor Jackson. First meeting point (10/1/19) at Green Park tube station, street level, Piccadilly South side.
London guide: Eleanor Jackson.Full fee: £129.00Senior fee: £103.00Concession: £57.00
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