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. Level Type
    Beginners
  2. Days
    Tue
  3. Time of Day
    Daytime
Clear All
Find Courses
Filters
Clear All

Items 1-15 of 22

Page
per page
Set Descending Direction
  1. Writing fiction
    Overhead view of typewriter, notebooks, pens and other assorted objects
    Course start date:  Mon 9 Jan 2023 (and 5 other dates)

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

    Tutors:  Jonathan Barnes
    Develop your creative writing skills on this practical intermediate course. You'll explore the fundamentals of fiction-writing craft, such as character and structure, and unlock your imagination to produce compelling prose. Suitable for those with some creative writing experience.



    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
    Rating:
    87% of 100
    15  Reviews Add Your Review
  2. Creative non-fiction
    Overhead shot of a desk with typewriter, flowers, coffee, camera, glasses, notebook and other objects
    Course start date:  Mon 9 Jan 2023 (and 7 other dates)

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

    Tutors:  Paul Laffan
    Explore practical and imaginative approaches to creative non fiction, including travel writing, life writing and the essay. Analyse published work, produce your own pieces, and benefit from detailed feedback.
    Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £209.00 Concession £105.00
  3. Ways into creative writing
    Woman with pen and notepad looking thoughtfully into the distance
    Course start date:  Tue 18 Apr 2023 (and 9 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Online (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.



    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
    Rating:
    97% of 100
    23  Reviews Add Your Review
  4. The 60 minute writer
    Hand writing in notepad with coffee mug in foreground
    Evening
    Course start date:  Tue 10 Jan 2023 (and 7 other dates)

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

    Tutors:  Tasha Kavanagh
    Fit creative writing into your busy day: a relaxed, informal rolling programme for writers of all levels of experience who enjoy being thrown new ideas and experimenting with poetry and prose.



    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:
    96% of 100
    10  Reviews Add Your Review
  5. 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
  6. Art history taster
    Painting of a woman standing in an art gallery, looking at paintings. Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
    Evening
    Course start date:  Mon 27 Mar 2023 (and 2 other dates)

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

    Tutors:  Sarah Jaffray
    Curious about art history? Join us for this taster session where we explore different ways into visual art and its histories, from the ancient to the contemporary.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £10.00
    Rating:
    98% of 100
    11  Reviews Add Your Review
  7. Ways into creative writing: an introduction
    Woman holding pen and notebook and looking thoughtfully into the distance
    Course start date:  Tue 23 May 2023 (and 5 other dates)

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

    Tutors:  Yvonne Singh
    Not sure whether creative writing is for you? Give it a try on one of these fun and supportive short courses covering the basics of fiction and poetry. Increase your confidence and produce work through guided exercises and discussion.
    Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £65.00
    Rating:
    93% of 100
    26  Reviews Add Your Review
  8. Ancient Egyptian architecture
    Course start date:  Tue 25 Apr 2023

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Hugo Cook
    An exploration of Ancient Egypt’s iconic monuments, from the mighty pyramids to stunning private chapels.
    Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £167.00 Concession £136.00
  9. From the 1880s to the 1930s: how the new East End was born
    From the 1880s to the 1930s: how the new East End was born
    Course start date:  Tue 25 Apr 2023

    Location on this date:  Blended (learn both online and in-person)

    Tutors:  David Rosenberg
    In an area branded 'the hell of poverty', libraries, theatres, art galleries and social housing were established. Workers went on strike and activists campaigned for better lives. Discover this history by taking actual, guided walks through six tumultuous decades of change. First and last session delivered on Zoom. Other sessions are guided walks. Full details of the meeting places for each walk will be given at the 1st session. 6 guided walks with 2 Zoom sessions.



    This course will be delivered online and in person. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £85.00
    Rating:
    94% of 100
    7  Reviews Add Your Review
  10. Writing Modern Britain: 1990-2020
    Last Few Places
    Course start date:  Tue 25 Apr 2023

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Julian Birkett
    British society is changing in profound, exciting, and sometimes unsettling ways - and a new generation of writers have been exploring, dramatizing and reflecting on it, focusing on shifts in power, money, race, sex and the coming of globalisation. We’ll be reading novels and stories by some of the best of these writers, including Hanif Kureishi, Kamila Shamsie, Zadie Smith and others.
    Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £175.00 Concession £142.00
  11. Women in art: 1900-1960
    Painting of a white woman from the shoulders up; her hair is pulled back and parted down the centre and she looks directly at the viewer
    ONLINE
    Course start date:  Tue 2 May 2023

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Elizabeth Eyres
    On this course we shall explore and examine the considerable, and significant, contributions of women painters and sculptors to the avant-garde art world during the first half of the 20th century.



    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:
    98% of 100
    10  Reviews Add Your Review
  12. Looking at Indigenous art in London galleries
    Course start date:  Tue 2 May 2023

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Francesca Cavallo
    Join us for an introduction to Indigenous Art through visits to London museums and galleries. From the Tate to the British Museum with some galleries in between, we explore how the art of indigenous cultures, past and present, are displayed and discussed in London.
    Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £103.00 Concession £84.00
  13. Writing for magazines
    Stack of open magazines
    ONLINE
    Course start date:  Wed 3 May 2023 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Susan Grossman
    Get inspired to write on this practical course for freelance journalists and bloggers. Learn to carry out research, interview people, pitch and publish stories, and build your presence on social media.



    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:
    98% of 100
    10  Reviews Add Your Review
  14. Discovering Victorian London: empire, enterprise and education
    Discovering Victorian London: empire, enterprise and education
    Course start date:  Tue 9 May 2023

    Location on this date:  Blended (learn both online and in-person)

    Tutors:  Eleanor Jackson
    Victorian London shaped today's city. Discover the lasting legacy of the Victorian age, uncover its secrets, and meet some of the characters who created one of the world's greatest cities.



    Initial lecture via zoom followed by 7 guided walks.



    This course will be delivered online and in person. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £135.00 Concession £85.00
    Rating:
    100% of 100
    9  Reviews Add Your Review
  15. 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

Items 1-15 of 22

Page
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