Explore Culture, History & Humanities Courses

Looking for that perfect present? Treat someone to the gift of learning with a course at City Lit. Available from £10, our gift vouchers can be used to book a place on any of our courses, from London walks and food tasting to museum visits, poetry and much more. Simply purchase your voucher and the recipient can choose from thousands of courses, at a time which suits them.

Join us for an introduction on to how to make sense of the British and American ways of seeking global dominance and the ways in which people have resisted as we see the (re-)emergence of China, India and Russia in global politics and economics.

Study work of artists such as David Hockney, Richard Hamilton, Roy Lichtenstein, and Andy Warhol within the context of the international Pop Art movement and the changing world of mass culture, consumerism, and celebrity.

Have you ever wondered what philosophy is? What do philosophers talk about? Can they tell you the meaning of life or is it just jargon and navel gazing? Come along and find out.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

Uncover the complex role of China in the World Wars, explore the profound transformations within its society, and delve into the enduring effects of these conflicts on modern China. This course guides you through these turbulent times, revealing overlooked events and evolving gender dynamics.

This intensive workshop offers students insider, need-to-know information on securing a literary agent.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

Myth permeated all aspects of ancient society and much the same can be said today. Investigate the relevance and perseverance of the Greek myth and why these tales continue to fascinate.

Do you want to explore how to go about understanding a poem? How to do a close reading of a work of fiction? Come and find out what makes a literature class at City Lit so special.







The course also presents an overview of our literature offering for term two in fiction, poetry, drama and literary non-fiction (January to April 2025).



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

Rembrandt, one of the most famous painters of the Dutch Republic, was also an innovative printmaker. He produced a large oeuvre of printed works, which in their expressive effect and astounding use of light can be considered artworks which rival his paintings. This course will offer a deep dive into Rembrandt’s practice and the seventeenth century Netherlands to explore how he experimented with the medium. Rembrandt as a collector of prints will also be discussed.

This taster of forthcoming film courses at City Lit in 2025 offers you the chance to think about which ones to take while also providing an opportunity to explore some of the key areas in film studies more generally.



Learn how to evaluate and discuss films while enjoying a working example of a City Lit film studies class.



We will view clips from a wide variety of films, exploring themes and technique in British, European and modern American cinema. There will be a chance to review term two film courses at City Lit (January - July 2025).



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

To mark International Human Rights Day and, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, City Lit’s Principal, Mark Malcomson will be “In Conversation….” with Sacha Deshmukh, the Head of Amnesty UK.







We will discuss human rights, what has been achieved over the last 75 years and what there is to do, and the ongoing role of Amnesty UK.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

To mark International Human Rights Day and, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, City Lit’s Principal, Mark Malcomson will be “In Conversation….” with Sacha Deshmukh, the Head of Amnesty UK.







We will discuss human rights, what has been achieved over the last 75 years and what there is to do, and the ongoing role of Amnesty.