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. Hammer Horror: classic horror cinema from Hammer Studios
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 18 May 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Jon Wisbey
    Hammer's vivid, full-bloodied horror films were met with popular acclaim and critical disapproval but are now recognised as constituting a major area in British popular cinema. Explore the films, their popular and critical reception, Hammer's distinctive approach to style, and the way in which the films offer an alternative to other, more restrained and respectable modes of British cinema.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00
  2. Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00
  3. Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs: an introduction for beginners
    Course start date:  Fri 24 May 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Hugo Cook
    This four-week course delves into the written words and thoughts of the ancient Egyptians. Students will gain a foundation in the iconic writing of hieroglyphs, putting their newfound skills into practice by reading original texts from British Museum artefacts. This is a truly fascinating and intricate language, and it offers its readers the ability to understand the lost voices of one of history’s most remarkable civilisations. The class will be held in Covent Garden, with regular visits to the near-by British Museum.
    Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £103.00 Concession £84.00
  4. Magic in the ancient world
    Course start date:  Wed 29 May 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Ann Jeffers
    How do you define magic and divination? Why has the Western world traditionally viewed magic as opposed to religion and science? These and other issues will be discussed in this thought-provoking course.



    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 £79.00 Concession £64.00
  5. Philosophy and the psyche
    Course start date:  Mon 3 Jun 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Anita Kasabova
    What is the psyche and how is it lodged in the body? This course explores the psyche and its connections with the body through a philosophical lens from the ancient Greeks to current discussions.



    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 £79.00 Concession £64.00
  6. Looking for the Golden Fleece: Jason and the Argonauts
    Course start date:  Tue 4 Jun 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Maria Contos
    Come and explore the journey of the Argonauts and discover Jason.
    Full fee £49.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £32.00
  7. The criminalization of protests and democracy in Western Europe
    Evening
    Course start date:  Tue 4 Jun 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    This course looks at the responses of Western European governments to recent protests and asks what the increasing criminalisation of protests means for the state of democracy in these countries.
    Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £64.00
  8. The Portuguese Empire; establishment, world-making, demise and legacies
    Evening
    Course start date:  Wed 5 Jun 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Ingrid Aguiar Schlindwein
    A journey through the rise and fall of the Portuguese Empire. Uncover pioneering navigation, understand colonial societies in Brazil, Africa, and Asia through their economies, culture, independence struggles, and legacies.



    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
  9. Movements in art: Impressionism
    Course start date:  Wed 5 Jun 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Elizabeth Eyres
    Study the work of a controversial group of painters working in and around Paris from the late 1860s and 1870s and explore how these artists re-thought their creative practice in response to modern life.



    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
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  10. The beauty of the medieval manuscript
    Course start date:  Thu 6 Jun 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Emma Rose Barber
    It is generally accepted that medieval illuminated manuscripts are very beautiful things. Something to do with all that gold-leaf maybe. While we cannot hold them in class, close-up digital reproduction will allow us to see if they really are as beautiful as we are told. Indeed, are none of them ugly? Join this course to find out.



    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 £79.00 Concession £64.00
  11. The Politics of the NHS from 1945 to 2024
    Evening
    Course start date:  Thu 6 Jun 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    This course will provide a reflection on contemporary debates around the National Health Service in the UK and relate them to its historical settings.
    Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £64.00
  12. George Eliot: Middlemarch
    Last Few Places
    Course start date:  Thu 6 Jun 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Sophie Oxenham
    This short literature course will explore George Eliot’s novel, ‘Middlemarch’ (1871-2). Considered by many to be the greatest nineteenth century novel, we explore its narrative methods and characterisation, its rich engagement with the ideas and concerns of its age, and above all, its deep humanity that still resonates today.
    Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £64.00
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