Culture, history & humanities

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.

Filters

15 Items

per page
  1. Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00
    Add to Compare
  2. Cutting it fine: collage in modern & contemporary art
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 2 Mar 2025

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Chantal Condron
    Immerse yourself in an exploration of the history of collage going as far back as ancient China to international contemporary art today. This engaging study day will enhance your knowledge of the roots of this fascinating media, and illustrate how collage techniques have been pivotal to major modern and contemporary art movements, from Cubism, Dada and Surrealism to photomontage and digital art.
    Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00
    Add to Compare
  3. Writing and rewriting fairytales
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 8 Mar 2025 (and 2 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Yvonne Singh
    Once upon a time there was a City Lit workshop all about writing fairytales. The quest: to inspire writers to pen stories of love, fear, forests, revenge, dragons, witches, kings, queens, frogs and magic.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00
    Rating:
    98% of 100
    Add to Compare
  4. Faith and the female image
    Last Few Places, Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 9 Mar 2025

    Location on this date:  Off Site

    Tutors:  Marilyn Greene
    Explore the V&A’s collections and see how Biblical figures, the Virgin Mary, female saints and Hindu and Buddhist deities have been depicted in various periods and cultures and learn about their importance and symbolism.



    NB: This course will take place at the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington.
    Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £12.00
    Add to Compare
  5. Writing historical fiction
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 23 Mar 2025

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Anna Richards
    Dig into the past to craft historical fiction that speaks vividly to contemporary readers. From Hilary Mantel to C.J. Sansom, learn techniques writers use to turn historical record into compelling fiction.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00
    Rating:
    80% of 100
    Add to Compare
  6. Craft focus: grammar, syntax and style for creative writers - getting started
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 27 Apr 2025 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  William Brady
    Great poetry and prose begin when the writer puts the right words in the right places. Learn how and why the rules and conventions of language matter in this new course, which combines creative writing with a review of essential points of grammar.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00
    Add to Compare
  7. Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00
    Add to Compare
  8. Study day: Fakes, forgeries and the experience of art
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 11 May 2025

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Sarah Jaffray
    What gives an artwork get its value? Investigate the very fine boundary between the real and the fake and who makes the call by looking at various interpretations of authenticity.
    Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00
    Add to Compare
  9. Keats and eternity
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 18 May 2025

    Location on this date:  Off Site

    Tutors:  Laurie Smith
    In the house where many of them were written, we will explore why Keats’s poems are regarded as exceptionally beautiful. How did he achieve this? We will see that it wasn’t luck or simply inspiration, but the result of choices which reflect important aspects of Keats’ personality. Includes ‘Ode to a Nightingale’, Ode to a Grecian Urn’ and ‘To Autumn’.







    This course will take place at Keats House, 10 Keats Grove, Hampstead, London NW3 2RR.
    Full fee £49.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £32.00
    Add to Compare
  10. Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00
    Add to Compare
  11. Mews, monuments and museums
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 1 Jun 2025

    Location on this date:  Off Site

    Tutors:  Marilyn Greene
    This circular walk explores the alleys lanes, squares and delightful mews houses and passes a disused tube station in the mainly in the Knightsbridge conservation area and contrasts with the grand museums, institutions and monuments built in South Kensington (Albertopolis) developed with profits of the Great Exhibition held in Hyde Park in 1851. Meets outside the main entrance to the V&A ends outside the Natural History Museum. Meets outside the main entrance to the V&A ends outside the Natural History Museum.
    Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £19.00
    Add to Compare
  12. How to write a book about your expert knowledge
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 8 Jun 2025

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Lorna V
    This crash course aims to demystify the publishing process and help you formulate the first steps to writing your book, whether you’re an academic, a business expert or anyone else with specific professional expertise.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00
    Add to Compare
  13. Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00
    Add to Compare
  14. Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £19.00
    Add to Compare
  15. A day at the National Gallery
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 16 Mar 2025

    Location on this date:  Off Site

    Tutors:  Elizabeth Eyres
    Spend a fascinating and enjoyable day at the National Gallery exploring a range of galleries. We shall be looking at the collection with the aim of gaining a better understanding of the art produced in different periods, countries and movements, as well as themes such as genres and iconography (decoding symbols).
    Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00
    Add to Compare
per page

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