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.
- 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 - Fantastic Beasts in Medieval Heraldry
Course start date: Sat 31 May 2025Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Vanessa KingExplore the design of English royal badges of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries; discover the attributes attributed to arrange of animals both real and mythical.Full fee £49.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £32.00 - Hitchcock in the 50s: A golden run Course 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 - How to get an agent Course start date: Sat 6 Dec 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Neil ArkseyThis intensive workshop offers students insider, need-to-know information on securing a literary agent.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - Archaeology of SouthwarkCourse start date: Sat 7 Jun 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Jill HummerstoneOn this course we will explore some of the many exciting archaeological discoveries in the London Borough of Southwark: a borough full of great history and of strategic importance.Full fee £49.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £32.00 - Creative writing: getting started Course start date: Sat 12 Jul 2025 (and 8 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Deborah MartinGive creative writing a try on this fun and supportive short course. Ideal if you want to express yourself but need help in getting started. Guided exercises will encourage you to experiment and unlock your imagination.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - Ancient India: The Harappan Civilisation in the Indus Valley Course start date: Sat 7 Jun 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ketan VariaWant to know more about the ancient Harappan Civilization thriving in the Indus Valley from 2600 BCE to 1900 BCE? Join us to learn more!Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - Foreign Aid: panacea or poison?Course start date: Sat 7 Jun 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Tariq HassanIf trillions in foreign aid had been the cure-all for the Global South, those countries would not be so impoverished today. This ‘anomaly’ requires that the issue of foreign aid be revisited.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00 - London architecture: Renaissance, Baroque and Palladian Course 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. - The purchase of paradise: ideas of purgatory in the mediaeval worldCourse start date: Sat 7 Jun 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Vanessa KingIn order to reach heaven a medieval Christian had to spend time in purgatory being cleansed of sin. Come and find out what purgatory consisted of and how you could fast-track you way through it.Full fee £49.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £32.00 - 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 - 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 started Course start date: Sat 7 Feb 2026 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Billie ManningThis short, fun taster course 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 - How to write a novel synopsis and query letter Course start date: Sat 14 Jun 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rosie ChardThis one-day workshop teaches students how to write a query letter and synopsis of their completed manuscript, essential requirements of submitting to agents and publishers.
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