Toggle Nav
Search
  • My City Lit
My Basket
Menu
Close
Menu
Account
Find a course
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 courses allowing you to choose between online and in-person learning. 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. See our guide to online learning for more information about accessing our live online courses.

Filters
Currently filtering by:
  1. Availability
    No longer available
  2. Time of Day
    Daytime
  3. Duration
    5-10 weeks
Clear All
Find Courses
Filters
Clear All

13 Items

per page
Set Descending Direction
  1. Ways into creative writing
    Woman with pen and notepad looking thoughtfully into the distance
    Course start date:  Mon 9 Jan 2023 (and 9 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street (other locations are available)

    Tutors:  Sarah Leipciger
    Want to have a go at creative writing in a supportive environment? Join one of these introductory courses. Guided exercises will give you the tools to explore language creatively and find your own writing voice.
    Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £209.00 Concession £105.00
    Rating:
    97% of 100
    23  Reviews Add Your Review
  2. Advanced poetry workshop
    Notebook, coffee cup and pen on wooden surface
    Course start date:  Fri 20 Jan 2023 (and 3 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Ellen Cranitch
    Develop your poetry, taking it in new directions and maturing your poetic voice. Various approaches and techniques will be explored, and new poetry can be workshopped. For experienced poets only.
    Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £219.00 Concession £110.00
  3. Autobiographical writing: an introduction
    Close-up of hand holding a pen and writing in a notebook
    Course start date:  Tue 21 Feb 2023 (and 2 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street (other locations are available)

    Tutors:  Julie Garton
    This short course explores the basic elements of writing autobiography drawing on memories, diaries, photos, dreams and fantasies with a focus on the forms of autobiography, memoir and the personal essay.
    Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £65.00
    Rating:
    97% of 100
    7  Reviews Add Your Review
  4. Writing a memoir (continuation)
    Close up of man in suit writing on paper
    Evening
    Course start date:  Fri 13 Jan 2023 (and 3 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street (other locations are available)

    Tutors:  Julie Garton
    Some moments in our lives are so powerful they beg to be shared with the world. This continuation course guides students in developing a memoir project that will resonate and inspire.
    Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £65.00
    Rating:
    88% of 100
    5  Reviews Add Your Review
  5. Life in Anglo-Saxon England
    ONLINE
    Course start date:  Thu 2 Feb 2023 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Stephen Pollington
    What was daily life like for people in England a thousand years ago? What clothes did they wear, what food did they eat, what were their houses like? What language did they speak and how was it written? What medical knowledge did they have, and who practised it? What were their religious beliefs, and what were their superstitions? The course will take a look at ordinary life in Anglo-Saxon England using evidence from archaeology, literature, iconography, place-names and other sources.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £189.00 Senior fee £189.00 Concession £123.00
    Rating:
    100% of 100
    2  Reviews Add Your Review
  6. Get together and read
    Course start date:  Thu 19 Jan 2023 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Claire Allen
    Enjoy talking with other people about the things you have read? Want to share great stories, poems and drama? Come along and join the conversation. The group is led by a shared reading practitioner trained by The Reader Organisation.
    Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £50.00
    Rating:
    97% of 100
    6  Reviews Add Your Review
  7. How to Read a Film: A Beginners' Guide to Cinema
    A film projector with a gold lens in the foreground
    Evening
    Course start date:  Tue 21 Feb 2023 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Online (other locations are available)

    Tutors:  Paul Sutton
    This course will develop your critical appreciation of the cinema by teaching you how to read and understand film texts. We will look at the elements that underpin film form – narrative, mise en scène, cinematography, editing and sound – alongside its historical development. We will consider film style by exploring classical, post-classical and art cinema and we will examine influential critical modes of analysis, such as genre, authorship and spectatorship.



    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 £111.00 Concession £90.00
    Rating:
    87% of 100
    6  Reviews Add Your Review
  8. Creative non-fiction: an introduction
    Overhead shot of a desk with typewriter, flowers, coffee cup, glasses, notebook, camera, and other objects
    Evening
    Course start date:  Wed 15 Feb 2023 (and 2 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Online (other locations are available)

    Tutors:  Yvonne Singh
    This short introductory course explores the core elements of creative non-fiction across genres such as travel writing, the personal essay and life writing.



    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
    Rating:
    95% of 100
    11  Reviews Add Your Review
  9. London's smaller art collections
    Interior of an 18th century room with green wallpaper, a chandelier and other decorative objects
    Course start date:  Fri 3 Mar 2023 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Off Site

    Tutors:  Julie Barlow
    Discover 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
    Rating:
    98% of 100
    10  Reviews Add Your Review
  10. How to get published
    How to get published
    Evening, ONLINE
    Course start date:  Tue 14 Feb 2023 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Neil Arksey
    So you've finished your novel. What's next? This short course provides guidance in submitting to agents and publishers, and helps you to tailor your work to maximise its potential in the marketplace.



    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 £99.00 Concession £50.00
    Rating:
    90% of 100
    2  Reviews Add Your Review
  11. London churches
    Side view of London’s Southwark Cathedral, including clock tower. Photo by Clicker Finger
    Course start date:  Tue 7 Mar 2023

    Location on this date:  Off Site

    Tutors:  Richard Plant
    London 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
  12. The art and culture of the Victorians
    The art and culture of the Victorians
    Course start date:  Tue 25 Apr 2023

    Location on this date:  Off Site

    Tutors:  Julie Barlow
    Discover 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
    Rating:
    100% of 100
    3  Reviews Add Your Review
  13. Extended history of modern art in 50 works
    Painting by Manet of fashionable people crowded in a Parisian public garden
    Course start date:  Wed 3 May 2023

    Location on this date:  Off Site

    Tutors:  Sarah Jaffray
    Explore the history of modern art through objects and artworks in London galleries. Build a greater understanding of modern art, its experiments and the cultural rebellions that mark the period.
    Full fee £269.00 Senior fee £215.00 Concession £175.00
    Rating:
    96% of 100
    5  Reviews Add Your Review

13 Items

per page
Set Descending Direction

Can't see a course you want?

Add this category to your waiting list to set up alerts and we will update you when new courses are released online.

Add me to waiting list