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.
- Introduction to Islam: historical emergence, current issuesCourse start date: Sat 31 May 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Farid PanjwaniThe course is about exploring Muslim history: What is Islam? Who is a Muslim? This course explores these questions through a study of the Quran, the Prophet and the socio-political and religious developments in the early history of Muslims. You may discover that there is more than meets the eye. - Artefacts with Biblical references at the British Museum: an introductionCourse start date: Sat 31 May 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ann JeffersIncludes a visit to the British Museum. Discover objects related to the Bible and the questions they evoke about the world in which the ancient Israelites lived and wrote their stories. Spend the afternoon having a close look at the British Museum collection.
Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Hitchcock in the 50s: A golden runCourse start date: Sat 31 May 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: John WischmeyerAlfred Hitchcock (b.1899) is responsible for some of the most influential films in cinema history. He directed over 50 feature films throughout his career (11 in the 1950s) as well as hosting and directing the TV series Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955-61). He peaked in the fifties, when he hit his own fifties. Instead of a mid-life crisis he had his most productive period ever and received the official title of the "Master of Suspense”. Just before this he had hit the buffers from 1947 to 1951 with one failure after another but turned things around when he went to Warner Brothers for Strangers on a Train (1951) and then, fortuitously, to Paramount for a golden run of hits from Rear Window (1954) to Psycho (1960). The French declared him an auteur—an artist. The fifties are his late, mature period and these are his most personal and revealing films. Vertigo (1958) was his autobiography.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - Understanding race, gender and class in educationCourse start date: Sat 31 May 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Join Jamila Thompson to learn more about how race, gender and class informs education in Britain.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - Mews, monuments and museumsCourse start date: Sun 1 Jun 2025
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Marilyn GreeneThis 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 - How to get an agentCourse start date: Tue 3 Jun 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Neil ArkseyThis workshop, designed for authors who have finished their manuscript, offers practical advice on finding and approaching a literary agent.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - London architecture: Renaissance, Baroque and PalladianCourse start date: Sat 7 Jun 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rachel SandersFrom the beginnings of Renaissance architecture in Britain, through the Baroque to Palladianism - study key architects including Jones, Wren, Hawksmoor, and Burlington, looking at religious and secular buildings. Includes site visits. - Conscience: a short historyCourse start date: Sat 7 Jun 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Andrew GreyJourney through the evolution of the fascinating idea of conscience over the past 2,000 years. Explore ancient and modern understandings of this universal phenomenon, drawing on insights from psychology, sociology, philosophy, theology and neuroscience.Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £19.00 - Create your first poetry collectionCourse start date: Sat 7 Jun 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
You've written and workshopped your poetry, and now you're ready to create your first collection. But where do you begin with that process? This workshop offers instruction and advice on putting together your first poetry collection.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - Economics for beginners: capitalism and technologyCourse start date: Sat 7 Jun 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Vina TheodorakopoulouExplore the fundamentals of capitalism and technology in this beginner-friendly course, understanding their impact on modern economics through engaging discussions and practical examples.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £59.00 Concession £59.00 - Writing poetry: getting startedCourse start date: Thu 12 Jun 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Billie ManningThis short, fun workshop is the perfect starting point for students who are writing for the first time or new to the poetry path. Join us for thought-provoking writing exercises and poetry theory for beginners.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - Strange tales and dark dreams: Fantasy, Horror and Surrealism in European cinemaCourse start date: Sat 14 Jun 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Jon WisbeyExplore a selection of European films that draw on cinematic traditions of fantasy, horror and surrealism, but which have also acquired significant critical reputations, with their striking visual styles, dreamlike narratives and dark themes lending them an enduring place in both film and popular culture in general. Strange tales and dark dreams to fascinate, horrify and astound you. - The blockbuster and indie Star (1980 - 2000)Course start date: Sat 14 Jun 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Ann-Marie FlemingAfter the release of Spielberg’s Jaws, Hollywood was transformed once again. In the age of
the blockbuster, stars again found a new type of fame and arguably became one of the key
points of interest for the movie-going audience. However, as blockbusters grew, so did
independent American cinema. The indie stars represented a very different version of
stardom, and in particular, drew attention to the appreciation of an actor’s performance.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - Economics made easy: understanding cryptocurrency and blockchainCourse start date: Sat 14 Jun 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Vina TheodorakopoulouDemystify cryptocurrency and blockchain technology in this beginner-friendly course, exploring their economic implications through engaging discussions and practical examples.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £59.00 Concession £59.00
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