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.
Study in-person at City Lit or offsite, or online from the comfort of home, with interactive classes that allow you to participate in discussions with fellow adult students. We offer daytime, evening and weekend courses, both short and long. For more information on our online courses, please see our guide to online learning.
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.
- Plagues of London: 1348-1665
Course start date: Fri 21 Jan 2022Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Vanessa KingExplore the impact of plague on London during the years 1348-1665. By the seventeenth century we can read eye-witness accounts but medicine was no nearer to a cure.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £175.00 Concession £96.00 - Imperial Germany between tradition and modernity (1871-1919)Course start date: Fri 21 Jan 2022
Location on this date: KS - Keeley Street
Tutors: Rudolf MuhsThe course offers a broad survey of the political, social and economic history of Imperial Germany from Unification in 1871 to the Revolution at the end of the First World War in 1918.
This course takes place in the classroom, please follow this link to find out what we are doing to keep you safe: Staying COVID-19 secure at City LitFull fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £88.00 - Creative non-fictionCourse start date: Fri 21 Jan 2022 (and 7 other dates)
Location on this date: Online (other locations are available)
Tutors: Paul LaffanExplore 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.
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 £84.00 - Reformation EuropeCourse start date: Fri 21 Jan 2022
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Vanessa KingThe rise of Protestantism in sixteenth century Europe led to fundamental changes in world history which continue to reverberate today. How did Martin Luther, a monk of Wittenberg, ignite what we now call the Reformation?
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £88.00 - Art history tasterCourse start date: Fri 21 Jan 2022 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sarah JaffrayEver wondered what art history is but don’t want to commit to a whole course? Wonder what's involved in online learning at City Lit? Try this taster session!
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £0.00 Senior fee £0.00 Concession £0.00 - Friday lates: art and alchemy: from the ancient to todayCourse start date: Fri 28 Jan 2022
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Christopher CollierDelve into a magical world of hidden secrets and bizarre symbolism as we distil the heady mix that is art and alchemy; from early manuscripts and renaissance paintings, to the surrealists and contemporary art.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £12.00 - Seven wonders of the ancient worldCourse start date: Fri 15 Apr 2022 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online (other locations are available)
Tutors: William SterlingThe Seven Wonders fascinate us, but what were they and why were they wonders? Using art, literature and
archaeology we'll explore possible answers.
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 £36.00 - Friday lates: Lubaina Himid – longing and belongingCourse start date: Fri 4 Feb 2022
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Chantal CondronThis Friday evening art history course spotlights the work of artist Lubaina Himid, coinciding with a major retrospective of her work at Tate Modern from 25 November 2021 to 3 July 2022.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £12.00 - A taste of poetryCourse start date: Fri 4 Feb 2022 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online (other locations are available)
Tutors: Billie ManningThis short, fun taster course is the perfect starting point for students who are writing for the first time or new to the poetry path. Join us for two evenings of thought-provoking writing exercises and poetry theory for beginners.
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 £69.00 Concession £28.00 - Friday lates: magical modernism: modern art and the occultCourse start date: Fri 11 Feb 2022
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Christopher CollierDiscover Modern Art’s secret history: a mysterious melting-pot of mystic auras, magical colour theories, trances, alchemy and the spirit-physics of the 4th-dimension, hiding beneath the familiar stories of science, reason and industry.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £12.00 - Ways into creative writing: an introductionCourse start date: Fri 29 Apr 2022 (and 8 other dates)
Location on this date: Online (other locations are available)
Tutors: Charlotte HeatherNot 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.
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 £52.00 - Writing a memoir (continuation)Course start date: Fri 14 Jan 2022 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Online (other locations are available)
Tutors: Julie GartonSome 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.
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 £52.00 - Costume and fashion in artCourse start date: Fri 25 Feb 2022
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Julie BarlowCostume from the past rarely survives, except in the depiction of it in paintings. Explore 500 years of costume in European art across a range of subject matter and decode the socio-political contexts and cultural identities contained within the choice of dress.
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 £103.00 Concession £79.00 - Life writing: a tasterCourse start date: Fri 25 Feb 2022 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Lucy PopescuThis inspiring workshop encourages students to explore a range of techniques and prompts in order to create vivid and engaging life writing.
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 £69.00 Concession £28.00 - Friday lates: psychogeography: the art of getting lostCourse start date: Fri 25 Feb 2022
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Christopher CollierFrom pub crawls to punk rock, via comic books, action painting and Hegelian philosophy; hear the unlikely tale of the Situationists: international artist-revolutionaries who tried to change the world itself into a work of art.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £12.00
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