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.
- Ways into screenwritingCourse start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025 (and 6 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Alan NixonLearn to write for the screen on this practical, introductory course. Writing exercises, presentations and screenings will teach you key skills, and you’ll begin to produce work and an outline for a full-length project.Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £249.00 Concession £125.00 - Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs: part 4: module 3Course start date: Mon 28 Apr 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Hugo CookImprove your ability to read texts in hieroglyphs and gain (or continue to gain) a deeper understanding of ancient Egyptian literature and culture. Suitable for those who have attended part 4: module 2 of the hieroglyphs course but also for those who have an equivalent level of knowledge.Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £209.00 Concession £136.00 - Everyday Life in London 1350-1500Course start date: Mon 28 Apr 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Vanessa KingWhere and how did Londoners live? What did they eat and drink? What illnesses did they suffer from, how were they treated and how did they deal with sanitation? These and other questions will be addressed on this course.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £129.00 - Craft focus: grammar, syntax, and style for creative writersCourse start date: Mon 28 Apr 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: William BradyGreat 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.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £100.00 - Ways into poetryCourse start date: Mon 28 Apr 2025 (and 7 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Relatively new to writing poetry? This inspiring course offers an opportunity to experiment with language and a variety of poetic devices alongside fellow emerging poets. Discover the key elements of a poem in a friendly and interactive class.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £120.00 - 'Foreign films': European cinema from the fiftiesCourse start date: Mon 28 Apr 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: John WischmeyerThey were called ‘foreign films’ in the fifties, the first films to emerge from Europe and further to a wider British and American audience: Bicycle Thieves (1948 Vittorio De Sica) Rashomon (1950 Akira Kurosawa), Pather Panchali (1955 Satyajit Ray), Seven Samurai (1954 Akira Kurosawa), The Seventh Seal (1957 Ingmar Bergman), Plein Soleil (1960 Rene Clement). They played at The Academy Oxford Street or The Everyman Hampstead. Once you overcome the one-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you discover a whole world of amazing films. Too many filmgoers are scared off by the notion of international cinema. In cultural shorthand, ‘foreign film’ was a euphemism for snootiness, a stereotype that kept audiences from experiencing some of the greatest movies ever made. Once you open yourself up to them you’ll find there’s nothing to be intimidated by.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £129.00 - Ways into playwritingCourse start date: Mon 28 Apr 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Dawn KingExplore the fundamental techniques of writing for the stage in this introductory course. Get to grips with dialogue, character, story and structure, and start work on your own play.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £120.00 - Ways into creative writingCourse start date: Mon 28 Apr 2025 (and 17 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sarah LeipcigerWant to have a go at creative writing in a supportive environment? Join one of these introductory courses. Guided exercises will give you the tools to explore language creatively and find your own writing voice.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £120.00 - Art history tasterCourse start date: Mon 22 Sep 2025 (and 8 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sarah JaffrayCurious about art history? Join us for this taster session where we explore different ways into visual art and its histories, from the ancient to the contemporary.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £12.00 - Ways into creative writing: intensiveCourse start date: Thu 1 May 2025 (and 10 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Nicole AcquahNot sure whether creative writing is for you? Give it a try on one of these fun and supportive short courses covering the basics of fiction and poetry. Increase your confidence and produce work through guided exercises and discussion.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £75.00 - Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £162.00
- Philosophy and the meaning of lifeCourse start date: Mon 12 May 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Karl WhiteSome philosophers have insisted that philosophy should explain the meaning of our existence. What does it mean for us to be? And how then should we live? This course examines some seriously philosophical answers.
- Black British Studies: Beyond WindrushCourse start date: Mon 12 May 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Michele ScottJoin a journey of the examination of the modern day complexities and critical deconstruction of contemporary Black British Life.Full fee £119.00 Senior fee £95.00 Concession £77.00 - Japanese philosophyCourse start date: Mon 12 May 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: John GoffJapanese philosophy extends well beyond Zen, with several philosophical traditions including that of the modern Kyoto School. Developing distinct cultural, aesthetic and political concepts, Japanese philosophers offer a rich field of thought.
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