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.
- Picture book writing
Course start date: Sat 21 Jan 2023 (and 6 other dates)Location on this date: Online (other locations are available)
Tutors: Lou KuenzlerWould you like to write a picture book text for young children? This course is designed for children's writers and for illustrators wishing to write their own stories; a starter course to develop both your ideas and your technique.
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 £65.00 - Short story writingCourse start date: Tue 10 Jan 2023 (and 5 other dates)
Location on this date: Online (other locations are available)
Tutors: Jonathan BarnesA hands-on introduction to the art of writing short stories. You will receive technical advice, creative exercises to generate ideas, and feedback to develop your writing skills.
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 - Getting away with murder: how to write crime fictionCourse start date: Tue 10 Jan 2023 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sophie McKenzieWant to write a murder mystery that will knock readers dead? On this course you'll learn how to plot a murder most horrid and develop your writing to create maximum suspense.
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 £65.00 - London's smaller art collectionsCourse start date: Fri 3 Mar 2023 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Julie BarlowDiscover some of London’s fascinating smaller art collections and hidden art treasures on this gallery-based course.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £110.00 - City Lit reading group 1Course start date: Fri 23 Sep 2022
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Tabby ToussaintShare thoughts and ideas about what you are reading, with books chosen by the group. Please come to the first session on Friday 23 September with suggestions (English-language contemporary fiction in paperback) and having read Open Water (2021) by Caleb Azumah Nelson. Monthly meetings on 23 Sept; 28 Oct, 2 Dec; 20 Jan, 24 Feb, 24 March; 28 April; 26 May; 30 June.Full fee £189.00 Senior fee £151.00 Concession £123.00 - A history of London : 1846-1880Course start date: Tue 10 Jan 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Mike BerlinYou will explore High Victorian London - its people, its outward growth and the growth of its economy. How did Londoners experience life in the centre and in the new suburbs?Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £175.00 Concession £110.00 - City of words: further adventuresCourse start date: Thu 12 Jan 2023
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Eleanor JacksonLondon 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 £149.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £75.00 - Discovering South London walksCourse start date: Sat 14 Jan 2023
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Diane BursteinAn exploration of the history of South London via 10 walking tours in the areas of Brixton, Lambeth, Waterloo, Bermondsey, Rotherhithe, Dulwich, Peckham, Blackheath, Eltham and Woolwich.
First meeting place for this course will be Waterloo under the clock at Waterloo main line station. First meeting place for this course will be Waterloo under the clock at Waterloo main line station.Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £167.00 Concession £136.00 - Art in the 1920s and 1930s: Western art between the warsCourse start date: Mon 16 Jan 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sarah JaffrayDiscover how art in Europe and America between the wars reacted to the culture of the times. Explore the experimental world of Surrealism, Constructivism, de Stijl and other political art and abstract art of the era.Full fee £109.00 Senior fee £87.00 Concession £71.00 - National GalleryCourse start date: Mon 23 Jan 2023
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Leslie PrimoDiscuss a differently themed group of paintings each week in front of the pictures. An opportunity to understand our national collection in greater depth.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £191.00 Concession £155.00 - The rise and fall of the Italian RenaissanceCourse start date: Mon 23 Jan 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Leslie PrimoWhen, where and what was the Italian Renaissance? Explore it through the craft of its masters such as Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo, Titian and others and trace its legacy.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £219.00 Concession £142.00 - Introduction to Tate ModernCourse start date: Mon 27 Feb 2023
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Sarah JaffrayExplore different aspects of the permanent collection of Tate Modern by looking at the work of modern and contemporary artists in painting, video, sculpture and mixed media installations.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £110.00 - London churchesCourse start date: Tue 7 Mar 2023
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Richard PlantLondon has many fascinating churches to explore. See them on a series of guided visits and discover beautiful stained glass, surprising interiors and architecturally important structures by notable architects.Full fee £139.00 Senior fee £111.00 Concession £90.00 - The art and culture of the VictoriansCourse start date: Tue 25 Apr 2023
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Julie BarlowDiscover the fascinating world of the Victorians and their legacy, exploring fine art, design, architecture, and literature through gallery visits.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £191.00 Concession £155.00
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