Explore History, Culture & Writing
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.
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- The many sides of London's West EndCourse start date: Tue 3 Oct 2023
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Richard WatkinsA course of walking tours of London’s West End showing its development from the seventeenth century, how its profile has ebbed and flowed, looking at it through specific themes.
First meeting place: Covent Garden tube, outside exit on James Street.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £97.00 - A sense of place: Constable’s HampsteadCourse start date: Tue 3 Oct 2023
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Marilyn GreeneExplore Georgian and Regency Hampstead walking in the footsteps of John Constable and seeing places he painted and quotes about his thoughts and feelings on Hampstead and his art.Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £8.00 Concession £7.00 - Contemporary art in London
Course start date: Fri 6 Oct 2023 (and 1 other date)Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Chantal CondronExplore and discuss contemporary art on show in London. Each week we’ll visit 1-2 commercial galleries or a public gallery and examine specific exhibitions of contemporary art across a range of media including painting, works on paper, photography, new media and sculpture.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £143.00 Concession £116.00 - Looking together: art as communal spaceCourse start date: Sat 14 Oct 2023
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Sarah JaffrayExplore art as a communal space of conversation. Join this workshop to develop or deepen your art interpretation skills by listening and thinking about the meaning of an artwork collaboratively. This session is part of the 2023 Mental Wealth Festival hosted by City Lit and partners.Full fee £5.00 Senior fee £5.00 Concession £5.00 - Constable and the British landscape traditionCourse start date: Tue 17 Oct 2023
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Marilyn GreeneDiscover the development of the British Landscape tradition from the 18th and 19th centuries. The Victoria and Albert Museum has the largest collection of John Constable sketches in the world, and we will discuss the works on display in detail and compare with works by J.W.M Turner and other artists on display.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £12.00 - The meaning of light: symbolism and religious objects in world faiths Course start date: Sun 22 Oct 2023
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Marilyn GreeneJoin this museum tour to explore world religions and the objects associated with light, from different faiths and festivals. NB: This course will take place at the Victoria and Albert Museum. The meeting point is the V&A grand entrance. - The City of London: the Square Mile Course start date: Wed 25 Oct 2023 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Paul SinclairExplore the City’s development from Roman and medieval times through to the Tudors and Stuarts.
This course will comprise of 8 walks starting with Roman London. First meeting place at Monument station on the Monument side.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £143.00 Concession £116.00 - London's smaller art collections Course start date: Tue 31 Oct 2023 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Julie BarlowDiscover some of London’s fascinating smaller art collections and hidden art treasures on this gallery-based art history course.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £143.00 Concession £116.00 - Islamic art at the British MuseumCourse start date: Sun 5 Nov 2023
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Anita ChowdryTake a Sunday afternoon to explore the British Museum’s newly refurbished Islamic galleries and learn the stories behind one of the world’s great collections of Islamic art.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £12.00 - Renaissance art: making, locating and viewingCourse start date: Wed 8 Nov 2023
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Emma Rose BarberThis course explores the Making, the Locating and the Viewing of Renaissance paintings in the collection of the National Gallery. This course takes place at the National Gallery.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £143.00 Concession £116.00 - City of words: further adventuresCourse start date: Thu 11 Jan 2024
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Eleanor JacksonLondon luxuriates in literary references. We follow the footsteps of the authors, poets and playwrights, and some of their creations, as we walk a brand new neighbourhood each week, exploring the literary connections.
London guide: Eleanor Jackson. First meeting point at Green Park tube station, street level, Piccadilly South side.
London guide: Eleanor Jackson. - Looking at paintings Course start date: Fri 29 Sep 2023 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Julia MusgraveLook at masterpieces in major London galleries in this introduction to European painting. Explore different painting techniques and genres (landscape, portrait and history painting) for a basic understanding and increased enjoyment of Western art.Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £162.00 - Introduction to the V&A Course start date: Fri 29 Sep 2023 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Julia MusgraveExplore the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum. We visit different galleries each week looking at the decorative arts, paintings and the transfer of design ideas across the centuries.Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £162.00 - The art and culture of 18th century London
Course start date: Fri 12 Jan 2024Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Elizabeth EyresExplore Georgian painting, sculpture and architecture, and consider them within the context of the history and culture of the 18th century exploring museums, galleries and other places in London. - Discover North London through walksCourse start date: Sat 13 Jan 2024
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Diane BursteinUncover the history of North London’s historic districts including Highbury , Friern Barnet and North Finchley, High Barnet, Tottenham, Muswell Hill, Wood Green, Golders Green and the Northern Heights, Hampstead Garden Suburb, Kentish Town, Camden Town and Belsize Park
First meeting place: Saturday 13 January at 11am: Meet outside Highbury and Islington Tube Station (this could be altered if there are engineering works on the Victoria Line. The line closure list for weekend engineering work is only published six months in advance so doesn’t yet go up to January 2024!).Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £149.00
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