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.
- Two levels of South London: Dulwich and Crystal PalaceCourse start date: Tue 6 May 2025
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Richard WatkinsThrough 4 walking tours explore the development of 2 south London areas: Dulwich and Crystal Palace.
First meeting place: The College Old Gates, the intersection of Dulwich Village, Gallery Road, College Road. West Dulwich and North Dulwich stations nearby also served with local buses.Full fee £119.00 Senior fee £95.00 Concession £77.00 - A day at the V&A: an introduction to the collections
Course start date: Tue 9 Dec 2025 (and 2 other dates)Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Elizabeth EyresSpend a fascinating day at the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum exploring a range of galleries. We shall be looking at the decorative arts, paintings, sculpture and design from across the world and across the centuries in this remarkable museum.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - London's smaller art collections Course start date: Tue 10 Jun 2025
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Julie BarlowExplore 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. - Costume and fashion in art Course start date: Tue 10 Jun 2025
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Julie BarlowCostume from the past rarely survives, except in the depiction of it in paintings. Explore 500 years of costume in European art across a range of subject matter and decode the socio-political contexts and cultural identities contained within the choice of dress. This course takes place in London-area museums. - Exploring histories, memories and heritage: Making connections (1)Course start date: Tue 8 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Monica ClarkeNew to the UK and London? Just finished your ESOL course and looking for your next course? Join us to explore heritage and to find out how it helps us to examine how history connects us to our past, and evaluate how societies have evolved, whilst exploring their significance today.
Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Streets of Horror, Streets of Hope: The East End, 1888Course start date: Tue 8 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Sarah WiseBecause of the ‘Jack the Ripper’ killings, the late-Victorian East End can be read as a cityscape of poverty and fear. But there is another Whitechapel – a magnet for a variety of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds who sought to grapple with the problems of the modern city and to create a better life.
Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £12.00 - Late Victorian Soho: From Sex and Shopping to Police & Radical PoliticsCourse start date: Tue 15 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Sarah WiseThe West End was a heady mix of glamorous shopping emporia, political refugees from Europe, street-based and brothel-based prostitution, and the general public just enjoying a day or evening ‘Up West’. Join Dr. Sarah Wise to learn more on this 2 hour guided walk of Soho.
Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £12.00 - Walking Westminster's Political HistoryCourse start date: Tue 9 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Richard WatkinsA course of walking tours in areas of Westminster to show aspects of the nation’s political development since the late 1600s Restoration era. Bringing out the drama of the epic events and charismatic characters which have influenced that development and how London has evolved in those areas we focus on.
First meeting place: Outside Westminster tube, Bridge Street.Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £127.00 Concession £103.00 - London at Leisure: Three Great SquaresCourse start date: Tue 16 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Eleanor JacksonToo often we rush around without looking, this course takes time to examine 3 of London’s most famous Squares in depth. A gentle walk allows us to explore these London landmarks at our leisure.Full fee £89.00 Senior fee £71.00 Concession £58.00 - A history of art in 100 objectsCourse start date: Tue 7 Oct 2025
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Sarah JaffrayWhat is art history? How can better a better understanding of the subject help us to better connect with art made by fellow humans? Explore these big questions of historical significance, socio-cultural impact and artistic process by studying a history of art in some of London’s greatest museums. - The Heart of the City of LondonCourse start date: Tue 4 Nov 2025
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Richard WatkinsOver four walks, we take in some great City of London’s history: its trade along Cheapside and amazing growth; its City Livery Company system and Halls; then how it dramatically burnt down; and how it massively changed in the nineteenth century in ways little thought about today.Full fee £139.00 Senior fee £111.00 Concession £90.00 - Textiles at the V&ACourse start date: Tue 2 Dec 2025
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Elizabeth EyresThis session takes place in the V&A’s remarkable collection. It can be taken as a stand-alone visit (no previous knowledge required, all welcome) or a final lesson for the seven-week online course VB699 Textiles: An International History. You will see a wide range of woven, printed and embroidered cloth from around the globe and explore the roles these have played in the world’s material culture.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - In Scrooge's Footsteps: A Christmas Carol & Dickens WalkCourse start date: Tue 9 Dec 2025
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Eleanor JacksonJoin us for a festive walk in the footsteps of Scrooge, looking at the locations and impact of Dickens’s most famous work. We will also examine how Dickens’s story has influenced our ideas of Christmas.
Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £19.00 - London's hidden art and architecture Course start date: Tue 29 Apr 2025
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.
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