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.
- Writing horrorCourse start date: Tue 18 Feb 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Niki MackayWrite to unsettle, in this six-week trip through the techniques of horror fiction, learning from classic horror authors and contemporary masters of the genre.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information. - Spain in the twentieth centuryCourse start date: Tue 18 Feb 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Michael SchraerCivil war, dictatorship and democracy – how Spain’s past, present and future clashed on key issues including democracy, fascism, Catalan separatism, conservatism and the Catholic church and the drive for modernisation.Full fee £119.00 Senior fee £95.00 Concession £77.00 - Global finance: a brief introductionCourse start date: Tue 18 Feb 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Caglar EzikogluExplore the essentials of global finance, learning about international markets, exchange rates, and financial instruments. Gain a foundational understanding of global economic dynamics.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £119.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £77.00 - How to read a film: a beginners' guide to cinemaCourse start date: Tue 18 Feb 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Paul SuttonThis course will develop your critical appreciation of the cinema by teaching you how to read and understand film texts. We will look at the elements that underpin film form – narrative, mise en scène, cinematography, editing and sound – alongside its historical development. We will consider film style by exploring classical, post-classical and art cinema and we will examine influential critical modes of analysis, such as genre, authorship and spectatorship.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £84.00 - How to get publishedCourse start date: Tue 18 Feb 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Neil ArkseySo you've finished your manuscript. What's next? This short course provides guidance in submitting novels and non-fiction books to agents and publishers, and helps you to tailor your work to maximise its potential in the marketplace.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £75.00 - Ways into creative writing: intensiveCourse start date: Tue 29 Apr 2025 (and 6 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: KR MoorheadNot sure whether creative writing is for you? Give it a try on one of these fun and supportive short courses covering the basics of fiction and poetry. Increase your confidence and produce work through guided exercises and discussion.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £75.00 - London's smaller galleries: Estorick CollectionCourse start date: Tue 25 Feb 2025
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Julie BarlowJoin us for an introduction to one of London's most interesting, small art collections, the Estorick Collection of modern Italian art. From the futurists to the 50s, we'll explore this distinct private collection held in a Grade II listed Georgian house,.Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £19.00 - Oral history for beginnersCourse start date: Tue 25 Feb 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Qiuyang ChenThis course is all about learning how to collect and preserve people's stories as a way to understand history better. You'll learn the basics of setting up a project, conducting interviews, and making sure everything is done the right way.
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 £64.00 - Art in medieval EnglandCourse start date: Tue 25 Feb 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Richard PlantThis course will explore the painting, sculpture and especially architecture of Medieval England Focussing mainly on the period following the Norman Conquest, we will discuss the developments in architecture in England and works of sculpture and painting.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £103.00 Concession £84.00 - Ways into poetry: intensiveCourse start date: Tue 20 May 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Billie ManningAre you just starting to write poetry? This shorter version of our introductory Ways into poetry course offers an opportunity to experiment with language and a variety of poetic devices. Discover the key elements of a poem in a friendly and interactive class.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £75.00 - Art of medieval empiresCourse start date: Tue 4 Mar 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Richard PlantThis course will explore a range of arts, painting, metalwork sculpture and architecture of the lands ruled, sometimes rather tenuously by the German Kings and Emperors, from the time of Charlemagne to the 15th century. For much of the period this was the dominant political entity in Europe, and the geographical reach will be broad: though focussing on central and northern Europe, some works in Italy will also be considered.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £84.00 - A stroll through British art: 1500-1850Course start date: Tue 4 Mar 2025
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 £159.00 Senior fee £127.00 Concession £103.00 - From Rhodesia to Zimbabwe: the Revolution of Imperial PowerCourse start date: Tue 4 Mar 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Gabriel Olumide ApataJoin Dr. Gabriel Apata to discover the modern history of Zimbabwe. Why did the state of Rhodesia end, what were its consequences and what key events have taken place in Zimbabwe since then?
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 £64.00 - Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £19.00
- Lunchtime lecture: Mother figure – how the cult of the Virgin Mary changed artCourse start date: Tue 11 Mar 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sarah JaffrayJoin us to understand how one woman became one of the most represented figures in human history. We examine the development of the Virgin Mary in the late medieval period and how her humanity made her central to Christian practice and expansion.
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 £7.00
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