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 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. Cultureplex ciné-club 3
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 29 Sep 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Graham Rinaldi
    Come and join us at the Cultureplex Ciné-Club, where once a week, for 10 weeks, we will watch and discuss film. 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 £249.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £162.00
  2. Reading for writers: the short story (a fortnightly course)
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 29 Sep 2024 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Annabel Banks
    The best way to write good short stories is to read a lot of good ones first. Dive into the best of short fiction, explore point-of-view, character and pacing, and begin to apply the lessons learnt to your own writing in this fortnightly course.



    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
  3. American Hitchcock double bill: Shadow of a Doubt and Notorious
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 6 Oct 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Jon Wisbey
    During the 1940s Hitchcock found himself working with a range of Hollywood studios and producers on projects suited to his particular storytelling interests, with perhaps the two most successful and striking of these being the focus of this course. We will explore their production, structure and critical reception, while also noting significant differences between the two in terms of their tone.



    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
  4. Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00
  5. Creating your author platform online
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 27 Oct 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Lisa Goll
    Increasingly publishers are looking for authors with an impressive online presence, as well as a sparkling manuscript. On this practical and interactive course, you'll learn how to start and grow your author brand, gain a following and build a readership.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00
    Rating:
    90% of 100
  6. Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00
  7. Old Persian Cuneiform - intermediate
    Evening, Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 3 Nov 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Hugo Cook
    Continue to learn Cuneiform, which will allowing you to explore the words and world of the ancient Persians.



    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 £97.00
  8. Hieroglyphs - intermediate
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 28 Apr 2024 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Hugo Cook
    This is a follow-on course for those who have attended the Introduction to Hieroglyphs held at the British Museum and the Hieroglyphs: continuation course.



    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
  9. Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00
    Rating:
    76% of 100
  10. Creative writing for social media
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 2 Mar 2025

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Homan Yousofi
    In this course we will scroll through short-form creative writing approaches, and bring together words, images, found sounds, mixed-media, cut-up and other techniques to publish writing on social media. This course is open to both new and experienced writers.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £29.00 Concession £29.00
    Rating:
    90% of 100
  11. Writing historical fiction
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 23 Mar 2025

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Anna Richards
    Dig into the past to craft historical fiction that speaks vividly to contemporary readers. From Hilary Mantel to C.J. Sansom, learn techniques writers use to turn historical record into compelling fiction.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00
    Rating:
    80% of 100
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