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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- London's smaller galleries: Leighton House
Course start date: Mon 27 Mar 2023Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Julie BarlowA Palace of Art built for the Olympian Giant of the Victorian art world but also a place to live and work. This short course provides a fascinating exploration of Leighton’s world.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £12.00 - London's hidden art and architecture, part IICourse start date: Wed 19 Apr 2023
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Julie BarlowUncover a whole new side of London, from Roman times to the present day through a series of walks and visits to art galleries and historic sites.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £110.00 - Village LondonCourse start date: Wed 26 Apr 2023
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Paul SinclairLondon is made up of a series of villages, each with its own individual characteristics. Explore Shoreditch, Mayfair, Bermondsey, Notting Hill, Clerkenwell, Islington, Harrow on the Hill and Wapping,in 8 guided walks.
First meeting place:meet at Shoreditch High Street station.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £85.00 - Islamic art in 25 objectsCourse start date: Wed 26 Apr 2023
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Anita ChowdryDiscover important objects of Islamic Art dating across a more than a millennium in London galleries. We will study world-famous objects, discover lesser known gems, study their context and understand how they relate to one another and the wider world.Full fee £109.00 Senior fee £87.00 Concession £71.00 - European ceramics in the Victoria and Albert Museum: an introductionCourse start date: Thu 27 Apr 2023
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Andreas PetzoldThe Victoria and Albert Museum has the finest and most comprehensive collection of ceramics in the world. The course will provide an introduction to the European collections discussing them from a variety of standpoints, including technique, style, imagery, function, types and designers.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00 - Contemporary art in LondonCourse start date: Fri 28 Apr 2023
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 £129.00 Senior fee £103.00 Concession £84.00 - Introduction to Tate BritainCourse start date: Fri 5 May 2023
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Chantal CondronEach week, we'll explore a different aspect of the permanent collection at Tate Britain, looking at artworks from the 16th to the 21st centuries. This course is gallery based.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £110.00 - An introduction to stained glass at the V&ACourse start date: Thu 18 May 2023
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Andreas PetzoldStained glass has been described as the most original and important medium in the high Middle Ages. The Victoria and Albert Museum has one of the finest and most comprehensive collections of stained glass in the world, spanning the twelfth century to the modern period. The course will provide an introduction to this medium and the collection of it in the Victoria and Albert Museum.Full fee £59.00 Concession £38.00 - Study trip: art highlights of LisbonCourse start date: Fri 19 May 2023
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Marie-Anne MancioJoin us to explore the art of the beautiful city of Lisbon, a magnet for artists in recent years and fast becoming gentrified. This three-day tour with an expert art historian takes you to its many artistic highlights from ancient to contemporary and includes day trips to Belem and the pretty seaside resort of Cascais. Max places: 14.Full fee £429.00 Senior fee £429.00 Concession £429.00 - Keats and EternityCourse start date: Sun 21 May 2023
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Laurie SmithIn 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’.Full fee £49.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £32.00 - London's smaller art collectionsCourse start date: Fri 3 Mar 2023 (and 1 other date)
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 course.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £110.00 - Further village LondonCourse start date: Wed 21 Jun 2023
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Paul Sinclair
A further five walks around London's former villages - Hampstead, Highgate, Archway, Fitzrovia and Soho.
Why did these areas grow up as villages and how did they become swallowed up by the city of London?
First meeting place: Hampstead, meet at Hampstead tube.Full fee £109.00 Senior fee £87.00 Concession £55.00 - Art Deco London walkCourse start date: Thu 22 Jun 2023
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Diane BursteinTravel back to the 1930s to explore the Art Deco style that influenced a variety of designs, from radios and cutlery to places related to travel, entertainment and commerce. In addition to looking at the architecture of the period, your guide will tell stories of life in London from the time these buildings were being erected.
Meeting outside St James’s Park tube station (Broadway exit) and finishing at the coach station. Meeting outside St James’s Park tube station (Broadway exit) and finishing at the coach station.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £10.00 - London's smaller galleries: Apsley HouseCourse start date: Wed 12 Jul 2023
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Julie BarlowExplore the home and art collection of Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £12.00 - A stroll through British art: 1500-1850Course start date: Wed 8 Mar 2023
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Elizabeth EyresOn this informal gallery-based course you will explore and discuss the history and characteristics of British art from the 16th century to the mid-19th century. The course will take place offsite at both the National Gallery and Tate Britain.Full fee £109.00 Senior fee £87.00 Concession £71.00
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