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. Movements in art: Post-Impressionism
    Course start date:  Wed 19 Jun 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Elizabeth Eyres
    Cézanne, Gauguin, Van Gogh and Seurat are all called Post-Impressionists, yet each had different styles and preoccupations. Explore their work and lives and learn why they left such a valuable legacy.



    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
    Rating:
    93% of 100
  2. Full fee £139.00 Senior fee £139.00 Concession £70.00
    Rating:
    90% of 100
  3. Writing for blogs
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 7 Jul 2024 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Terry Freedman
    Got a passion, a journey or an obsession to share? Blogging is the perfect medium through which to share your interests with the world. This workshop teaches the essential skills required to write blogposts that will resonate.



    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 £69.00 Concession £35.00
  4. Writing for children: getting started
    Evening
    Course start date:  Tue 9 Jul 2024 (and 2 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Andrew Weale
    Develop your ideas for children's stories in this practical and interactive short course. Topics will include plot, characterisation and viewpoint, and how to approach the children's publishing industry today.



    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 £69.00 Concession £35.00
  5. Writing and rewriting fairytales
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 21 Apr 2024 (and 3 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Eleanor Penny
    Once upon a time there was a City Lit workshop all about writing fairytales. The quest: to inspire writers to pen stories of love, fear, forests, revenge, dragons, witches, kings, queens, frogs and magic.



    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 £69.00 Concession £35.00
    Rating:
    98% of 100
  6. Aesop's fables: an introduction
    Course start date:  Tue 16 Jul 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Maria Contos
    Aesop’s fables have been used through history to clarify important issues within society. Investigate their perseverance through history and why they continue to be relevant today.
    Full fee £49.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £32.00
  7. The writings of Cicero: an introduction
    Course start date:  Fri 19 Jul 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Sean Gabb
    An introduction to one of the most influential and prolific Roman writers, Cicero, his life and works.



    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
    Rating:
    80% of 100
  8. Screenwriting for feature film
    Course start date:  Tue 23 Jul 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Sharmila Chauhan
    Have you ever wondered what goes into writing a screenplay? How is it different from theatre, radio or prose? Learn the basics of the craft and develop a script of your own in this creative and analytical workshop.



    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:
    80% of 100
  9. 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
  10. An artistic history of Jerusalem
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 16 Nov 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Roberta Marin
    Jerusalem is considered the holy city for the three monotheistic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) and is one of the most iconic cities in the world.
    Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00
  11. The ghost story on the television and the big screen
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 23 Nov 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Jon Wisbey
    Explore and enjoy the ghost story through big screen classics such as The Uninvited (1944), The Innocents (1961) and The Haunting (1963), and small screen dramas such as The Stone Tape (1972) and the BBC's Ghost Story for Christmas tradition - for example, The Signalman (1976). We will also consider the genre's key themes and storytelling styles along with its relationship with horror generally.



    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
  12. The Amaravati stupa: an ancient, colonial and contemporary history
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 23 Nov 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Arjmand Ahmad
    Examine the history, architecture, aesthetics and religious significance of the Amaravati stupa. Admire parts of it during the visit at the British Museum.
    Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £97.00
  13. Cuneiform. An introduction for beginners
    Course start date:  Fri 19 Apr 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Hugo Cook
    This four-week course provides a foundation in Old Persian Cuneiform, allowing students to explore the words and world of the ancient Persians. The class will be held at City Lit and includes visits to the British Museum.
    Full fee £139.00 Senior fee £139.00 Concession £90.00
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