Culture, history & humanities

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.

Courses available both in-person and online

Join us in the heart of London for in-person classes. Our modern campus in Covent Garden is easy to reach and buzzing with creativity. With modern purpose-built facilities and state-of-the-art equipment, it’s the perfect space to support your learning journey. Explore our facilities >

Prefer learning online? Our live online courses bring expert teaching to you, wherever you are.

Whether you choose to study in-person or online, all our courses are live, interactive, and taught by expert tutors. Wherever and however you want to learn, we’re here for you.

Courses available both in-person and online

We offer a range of long and short courses allowing you to choose between in-person and online learning.

Learn in the centre of London with our in-person courses. Our purpose-built facilities in Covent Garden mean we are ideally located and easy to get to. 

See our guide to online learning for more information about accessing our live online courses.

All our courses are live, interactive, and taught by expert tutors. No matter how you prefer to learn, we've got the class for you.

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  1. Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £127.00 Concession £103.00
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  2. The essentials of British politics
    Course start date:  Thu 6 Mar 2025

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Ian McGarvie
    The aim of this course is to bring to the forefront those, in British politics and society, who may have been confined to the fringes of history, simply been forgotten about or had their stories altered to fit a certain narrative.
    Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £110.00
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  3. Tracking Trump: The US President in Historical Context
    Course start date:  Thu 6 Mar 2025

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Siobhan McGuirk
    Taking an intersectional and interdisciplinary approach, this course charts how borders and nations are constructed – physically and theoretically – in relation to gender, sexuality, race and other markers of identity.
    Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £110.00
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  4. 21st Century Folk Tales: myth and magic in the global world
    Course start date:  Thu 8 May 2025

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Katie Goss
    This in-college course focuses on innovative short fiction from around the globe which reworks folkloric traditions to grapple with conditions of twenty-first century life. As well as engaging with the unique folkloric influences each text draws on, we’ll consider the complexities of the present that they are addressed to – and how the rising popularity of ghost stories, fairy tales, dark fables and surreal myths suggests a renewed fascination with the intrigues of the mysterious, monstrous and inexplicable.
    Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £110.00
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  5. Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £127.00 Concession £103.00
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  6. Nature writing: essays, memoirs and meditations
    Course start date:  Thu 8 May 2025

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Woody River
    With environmental degradation, climate change and an alarming increase in the loss of species, nature writing has become an important and exciting genre. Different in style and subject, some of these books will take you on emotional and geographical journeys to explore the wonder of the natural forms and species of the deserts of California, the mountains of the Dolpo region of Nepal and the Canadian Arctic while others will examine the beauty, impact and intrinsic value of wildness. Authors include Robert Macfarlane, Peter Matthiessen and Helen Macdonald.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £169.00 Concession £110.00
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  7. Leonard Cohen: song, poetry, prose and persona
    Course start date:  Thu 15 May 2025

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Richard Niland
    This class explores the work of Leonard Cohen, examining his poetry, song, prose and persona in the context of the literary and musical traditions that shaped his art. We delve into Cohen’s meditations on life and the modern world through his absorption and reworking of a rich range of cultural influences.
    Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £110.00
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  8. Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £110.00
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  9. History of ideas: an exploration of believing and belonging
    Course start date:  Thu 6 Feb 2025

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  John Holroyd
    How do we come to hold beliefs that matter to us? How do we sometimes change our beliefs? What are the different ways in which we can feel we belong or do not belong? Join this course to explore these and other related questions.
    Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £110.00
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