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.

Filters

Items 1-15 of 104

Page
per page
  1. Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £75.00
    Rating:
    100% of 100
    Add to Compare
  2. Full fee £119.00 Senior fee £95.00 Concession £77.00
    Add to Compare
  3. Full fee £119.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £77.00
    Add to Compare
  4. How to read a film: a beginners' guide to cinema
    Last Few Places, Evening
    Course start date:  Tue 18 Feb 2025 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Paul Sutton
    This 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
    Rating:
    87% of 100
    Add to Compare
  5. How to get published
    Evening
    Course start date:  Tue 18 Feb 2025 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Neil Arksey
    So 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
    Add to Compare
  6. Ways into creative writing: intensive
    Last Few Places, Evening
    Course start date:  Tue 29 Apr 2025 (and 6 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  KR Moorhead
    Not 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
    Rating:
    100% of 100
    Add to Compare
  7. London's smaller galleries: Estorick Collection
    Course start date:  Tue 25 Feb 2025

    Location on this date:  Off Site

    Tutors:  Julie Barlow
    Join 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
    Add to Compare
  8. Oral history for beginners
    Evening
    Course start date:  Tue 25 Feb 2025

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Qiuyang Chen
    This 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
    Add to Compare
  9. Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £103.00 Concession £84.00
    Add to Compare
  10. Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £75.00
    Add to Compare
  11. Art of medieval empires
    Evening
    Course start date:  Tue 4 Mar 2025

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Richard Plant
    This 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
    Add to Compare
  12. Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £127.00 Concession £103.00
    Add to Compare
  13. Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £64.00
    Add to Compare
  14. Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £19.00
    Add to Compare
  15. Lunchtime lecture: Mother figure – how the cult of the Virgin Mary changed art
    Course start date:  Tue 11 Mar 2025

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Sarah Jaffray
    Join 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
    Add to Compare
Page
per page

Can't see a course you want?

Add this category to your waiting list to set up alerts and we will update you when new courses are released online.

Add me to waiting list