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.
Courses available both in-person and online
We offer a range of courses allowing you to choose between online and in-person learning. All our courses are live, interactive, and taught by expert tutors. No matter how you prefer to learn, you’ll receive the same great City Lit experience. See our guide to online learning for more information about accessing our live online 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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- Focus on: Lucian Freud - paint as flesh
Course start date: Tue 29 Nov 2022Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Julie BarlowLucian Freud was a key figure in British Art for nearly seventy years. Uncompromising, ferociously unsentimental with a “cruel” gaze – a realist or painter of the truth? Explore Freud’s fascinating career through his paintings, etchings and drawings.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - The Mid-terms resultsCourse start date: Thu 1 Dec 2022
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Mark MalcomsonUS elections are always important. Join City Lit's Principal, Mark Malcomson, for analysis of the results.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £10.00 - Friday lates: land art, an introductionCourse start date: Fri 2 Dec 2022
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Francesca CurtisLearn how and why early environmentalist artists sculpted with lightening, sun and earth. Join us for an introduction to land art.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £12.00 - Craft focus: voice in fictionCourse start date: Sat 13 May 2023 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online (other locations are available)
Tutors: Tasha KavanaghAll fiction must speak to us as readers. It must communicate atmosphere and plot, character and layers of meaning with a unique 'voice'. In this one-day course learn what 'voice' really means in fiction and how to develop this complex identity for your story.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00 - Emily Dickinson – ‘Open me carefully’Course start date: Sat 3 Dec 2022
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Laurie SmithWe explore how the myth of Emily Dickinson’s solitary life was shaped by others. The course explores the reality behind the myth through letters and poems written to and shared with her great friend and confidante, Susan Gilbert, over many years. We also look at how and why her first editor, Mabel Loomis Todd, set about excluding Susan from the record, establishing Emily as a recluse, writing for herself alone.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £12.00 - Film Studies TasterCourse start date: Sun 11 Dec 2022 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: Online (other locations are available)
Tutors: Paul SuttonThis taster of forthcoming film courses at City Lit in 2023 offers you the chance to think about which ones to take while also providing an opportunity to explore some of the key areas in film studies more generally.
Learn how to evaluate and discuss films while enjoying a working example of a City Lit film studies class.
We will view clips from a wide variety of films, exploring themes and technique in British cinema and modern American cinema. There will be a chance to review term two film courses at City Lit (January - July 2023).
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £10.00 - Writing great child charactersCourse start date: Sat 3 Dec 2022
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sophie McKenzieWrite your way to compelling and convincing child characters that truly connect with your readers, in this fun, interactive course.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00 - Jump start your playCourse start date: Sat 3 Dec 2022 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Brian MullinHave you got a script idea but not yet put pen to paper, or a script you started but never finished? This intensive short course will help you inject new energy into your idea – and get started writing. Only suitable for those with playwriting experience.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00 - Autobiography into fiction: a tasterCourse start date: Sat 3 Dec 2022 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: Online (other locations are available)
Tutors: Nick BarlayLearn how to turn real-life experiences into gripping fiction in this fun short course for fiction writing beginners and experienced writers. Develop your writing skills and explore techniques for transforming personal stories into strong narratives. This course has a 2-hr break (12:30-14:30).
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00 - Write a short story in a weekCourse start date: Mon 5 Dec 2022
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Yvonne SinghTurn your great idea into a short story on this fun practical course. Through a series of inspiring exercises, you'll be introduced to some key fiction writing techniques and encouraged to draft a short story from beginning to end. Suitable for beginners who are comfortable learning at a fast pace.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £40.00 - Playwriting: a tasterCourse start date: Mon 5 Dec 2022
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Brian MullinGive playwriting a try in this fun and supportive one-off taster session. Ideal if you want to unlock your imagination and express yourself, but need a bit of encouragement to get started.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £10.00 - Picture book writing: a tasterCourse start date: Mon 5 Dec 2022 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Andrew WealeFind out more about writing a picture book text in this practical and interactive, short taster session.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £10.00 - Children's writing: a tasterCourse start date: Tue 6 Dec 2022 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Andrew WealeFind out more about writing children's stories in this practical and interactive, short taster session.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £10.00 - Television studies tasterCourse start date: Wed 7 Dec 2022
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Paul RixonLearn how to evaluate and discuss television while enjoying a working example of a City Lit Television Studies class. We will explore the importance of television as a form of mass media and as a vital part of many of our daily lives. We will consider a range of key historical moments in the development of television with reference to a number of different televisual examples. There will be a chance to review television courses at City Lit (January - July 2023).Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £10.00 - Creative writing: a tasterCourse start date: Mon 5 Dec 2022 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Claire CollisonGive creative writing a try in this fun and supportive one-off taster session. Ideal if you want to unlock your imagination and express yourself, but need a bit of encouragement to get started.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £10.00
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