History, culture & writing

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.

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

We offer a range of long and short 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, we've got the class for you. See our guide to online learning for more information about accessing our live online courses.

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  1. Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £219.00 Concession £110.00
    Rating:
    100% of 100
  2. Full fee £109.00 Senior fee £109.00 Concession £55.00
    Rating:
    96% of 100
  3. Greek philosophy: the late ancient period
    Evening
    Course start date:  Thu 11 Jan 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  John Goff
    The ‘mystical’ philosophy of Plotinus was key to the transition from ancient Greek to early Christian thought. This period gave rise to both modern esotericism and Christian theology. What ideas connect them?



    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
  4. Full fee £139.00 Senior fee £139.00 Concession £70.00
  5. World cinema
    Course start date:  Thu 11 Jan 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Gillian McIver
    Have you ever wondered what lies beyond Hollywood? Are you interested in films from across the globe? Then this six-week introductory course is for you. We will consider alternative cinemas to the dominant North American industry and will focus each week on a selection of illustrative films from movie producing continents such as India, Asia, South America and Africa.



    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
    Rating:
    93% of 100
  6. Arts of the empire-builders: Timurids, Safavids and Mughals
    Course start date:  Thu 11 Jan 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Anita Chowdry
    Patronage under the Timurids, Safavids and Mughals marked a definitive period in the development of the arts and culture of the Islamic world. This course looks at the visual ‘brands’ that characterised these important empires.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £191.00 Concession £155.00
    Rating:
    100% of 100
  7. Cultureplex ciné-club
    Course start date:  Thu 21 Sep 2023 (and 2 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Paul Sutton
    Come and join us at the Cultureplex Ciné-Club, where once a week, for 12 weeks (and throughout the academic year), we will watch and discuss film. Taking its cue from the famous Parisian ciné-club set up by the celebrated critic and writer, André Bazin, ‘the single thinker most responsible for bestowing on cinema the prestige both of an artform and of an object of knowledge’, and the man who foresaw the emergence of film studies as a legitimate discipline of academic study, our contemporary incarnation of the film club will offer a curated series of films for detailed study, discussion and debate. Each film will be introduced, placed in both its cinematic, cultural and historic context. In sharing our viewing in City Lit’s premier screening room, the Cultureplex, we will approximate the experience of watching film in the cinema, one that is intense and fully focussed in a way that other modes of viewing often are not. After the screening we will devote the rest of the class to a collective exploration of the film, led by the tutor, but involving everyone in a participatory discussion that will allow all to express their responses, their views, their thoughts on the film screened.
    Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £129.00
  8. Ways into poetry
    Last Few Places, Evening
    Course start date:  Thu 11 Jan 2024 (and 5 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Mariah Whelan
    Relatively new to writing poetry? This inspiring course offers an opportunity to experiment with language and a variety of poetic devices alongside fellow emerging poets. Discover the key elements of a poem in a friendly and interactive class.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £209.00 Concession £105.00
    Rating:
    94% of 100
  9. City of words: further adventures
    Course start date:  Thu 11 Jan 2024

    Location on this date:  Off Site

    Tutors:  Eleanor Jackson
    London luxuriates in literary references. We follow the footsteps of the authors, poets and playwrights, and some of their creations, as we walk a brand new neighbourhood each week, exploring the literary connections.



    London guide: Eleanor Jackson. First meeting point at Green Park tube station, street level, Piccadilly South side.



    London guide: Eleanor Jackson.
    Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £110.00
    Rating:
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  10. Art and architecture of ancient India
    Course start date:  Thu 18 Jan 2024 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Arjmand Ahmad
    India's three indigenous religions - Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism - have given rise to one of the oldest artistic civilisations in the world. Learn more about the art and architecture of Ancient India in this introductory course.
    Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £129.00
    Rating:
    100% of 100
  11. Ways into creative writing: intensive
    Evening
    Course start date:  Thu 18 Apr 2024 (and 9 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Online

    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 £139.00 Senior fee £139.00 Concession £70.00
    Rating:
    100% of 100
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