History

Explore History, Politics & Economics

Whether you’re fascinated by the past, wishing to keep up to date with current affairs, or to develop a deeper understanding of democracy and capitalism, we have the course for you.

City Lit offers a wide range of history, politics and economics courses on weekdays, evenings and weekends. Our courses vary from skills-based courses on oral and family history projects, to the history of empire, the history of London and the study of global powers and international politics.

Gain critical thinking and analytical skills

Courses in the Humanities help you understand our world today, and the history that has informed the political, social and economic dynamics of modern times. Our courses, including short day courses, lectures and longer-term study over several weeks or whole terms, aim to inform you of the issues that interest and matter to you. Our courses also encourage the development of wider skills such as critical thinking and analysis, listening and discussion skills, and evidence-based interpretation.

Learn from expert tutors

Our tutors are experts in their fields and come from a range of backgrounds, and include academics, experienced educators, serving politicians, acclaimed authors and renowned guides.

Browse our range of courses below to choose your perfect option: both complete beginners and returning students are equally welcome.

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. Richard III: a medieval whodunit
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 11 May 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Vanessa King
    Who was responsible for the death of the princes in the Tower has to be the most publicised debate in British history. Does being a nice guy in the North mean you can’t be ruthless when the opportunity arises?
    Full fee £49.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £32.00
  2. City gardens of the Blitz
    Last Few Places, Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 11 May 2024

    Location on this date:  Off Site

    Tutors:  Marilyn Greene
    Discover the delightful gardens of the City of London created from WWII bomb sites. Revealing the history of the sites - including past industrial buildings, Roman ruins, and the sites of a former Wren churches and a Roman bath house - this walk spans the length of the City.



    Starts Outside Café Nero Moorgate Station end St Dunstan in the East Garden. Starts Outside Café Nero Moorgate Station end St Dunstan in the East Garden.
    Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £19.00
  3. Understanding Irish indentured servitude in the Caribbean
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 11 May 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Terrence Maxwell
    Unearth the hidden tales of Irish indentured servants in the Caribbean. This course explores their struggles, cultural influences, and lasting impact, revealing a captivating chapter in history.
    Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £59.00 Concession £38.00
  4. The US and immigration
    Course start date:  Mon 13 May 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Dale Mineshima-Lowe
    Join us for a short workshop exploring the issues of migration and immigration in modern American history.
    Full fee £49.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £32.00
  5. The history of the FBI: 1908-1976
    Evening
    Course start date:  Mon 13 May 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Dafydd Townley
    The online course will assess the impact of the Federal Bureau of Investigation under the leadership of its first Director, J. Edgar Hoover, on US politics, society and culture from its beginnings in 1908 until 1976.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £45.00
  6. The Soviet Union: a history in film, 1922-1991
    Evening
    Course start date:  Mon 13 May 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Nick Morgan
    This is an advanced course intended to use film as a primary source in exploring the history and culture of the Soviet Union in greater detail.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £116.00
  7. Global encounters: Europe and the Ottoman Empire, 1206-1368
    Course start date:  Mon 13 May 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Vanessa King
    The Turks entered European consciousness in 1071 when they captured the Byzantine emperor at the Battle of Manzikert. So began centuries of uneasy co-existence between Christians and Muslims on the fringes of Europe.
    Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £97.00
  8. "From Birth to Battle: The RAF, 1914-1945"
    Evening
    Course start date:  Tue 14 May 2024

    Location on this date:  Online





    This course will explore how air power developed in Britain between 1914 and 1945.







    Taught by:



    Dr. Powell a Teaching Fellow in Air Power and Strategic Studies at the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell as part of the Portsmouth Military Education Team. He holds a PhD in Modern History from the University of Birmingham. His first book The Development of British Tactical Air Power, 1940-1943: A History of Army Co-operation Command was published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2016. He has published in a wide range of peer-reviewed journals and is a regular TVP World (Poland) and British Forces TV. His current research investigates the relationship between the Air Ministry and the British aircraft industry in the inter-war period.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £64.00
  9. Medieval pilgrimage
    Evening
    Course start date:  Tue 14 May 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Vanessa King
    Take a virtual tour of the ‘must see’ pilgrimage sites of medieval Europe. Pick up tips from William Wey, a seasoned pilgrim of the fifteenth century, as you plan your trip to Jerusalem.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £64.00
  10. Terrific Tudors: Act Three: Social life
    Evening
    Course start date:  Wed 15 May 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Vanessa King
    Explore the everyday life of men and women during the closing years of the Tudors as revealed in the works of local historians and other contemporary material.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £97.00
  11. The capital of the Safavid Empire: Shah Abbas I and the transformation of Isfahan (1501-1736)
    Course start date:  Fri 17 May 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Roberta Marin
    This course will trace the origins and development of the Safavid dynasty and the ongoing conflicts with the Ottoman neighbours. The choice of Isfahan as the capital of the empire will be also analysed.
    Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00
  12. How America replaced Britain in the Middle East 1945-2003
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 18 May 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Nomaan Hanif
    This course charts the post 1945 entrance of the United States into the Middle East and the power struggle which ensued with Britain as a consequence. The course pierces the official discourse on the transatlantic relationship and provides a different perspective on how to understand and explain the volatile politics of the region. Tutor: Noman Hanif.
    Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00
    Rating:
    92% of 100
  13. The US and poverty
    Course start date:  Mon 20 May 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Dale Mineshima-Lowe
    In this course we will examine the historical changes to poverty in the US and begin to unpick the causes and effects of poverty in one of the world’s wealthiest nations.
    Full fee £49.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £32.00
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