Explore Culture, History & Humanities Courses
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.
- Creative writing: getting started
Course start date: Sat 13 Sep 2025 (and 8 other dates)Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Deborah MartinGive creative writing a try on this fun and supportive online short course. Ideal if you want to write but need help getting started. Guided exercises will encourage you to experiment and unlock your imagination.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - A taste of philosophy Course start date: Sat 13 Sep 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Karl WhiteHave 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.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £12.00 - Film studies taster Course start date: Sat 13 Sep 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Paul SuttonLearn how to evaluate and discuss films while enjoying a working example of a City Lit Film Studies class. In this class we will view and explore clips from a number of films, including popular remakes, enabling us to consider and compare themes and techniques from differing filmmaking countries. There will be a chance to review – in brief – film courses at City Lit (September - December 2025).Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £12.00 - Literature taster Course start date: Sat 13 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Patricia SweeneyDo 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 upcoming literature offering in fiction, poetry, drama and literary non-fiction.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £12.00 - Ways into poetryCourse start date: Mon 28 Apr 2025 (and 7 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Cecilia KnappRelatively new to writing poetry? This inspiring course offers an opportunity to experiment with language and a variety of poetic devices alongside fellow emerging poets. Discover the key elements of a poem in a friendly and interactive class.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £120.00 - Introduction to Global LiteratureCourse start date: Sat 20 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rebecca JonesAre you curious about reading literature from across the world? Would you like to encounter some of the world’s finest literary works, reading across cultures and national borders, and in translation? This in-college session will give you a flavour of what it’s like to study and explore what global literature is, reading excerpts from major works.Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £19.00 - Hitchcock's Horror Thrillers 1: Psycho, scene by sceneCourse start date: Sat 20 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Jon WisbeyHitchcock's most successful film, and, arguably, the horror thriller, Psycho (1960) has enthralled audiences and critics ever since its release sixty-five years ago. Through an in-depth, scene by scene analysis of the film, we will explore its structure, one designed to challenge both audiences and the conventions of narrative filmmaking, its critical and cultural impact, and its enduring appeal.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - British history: The rise and fall of the postwar consensus 1945-75Course start date: Sat 20 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: David IngledewThe course examines the postwar political, economic and social consensus in Britain in the 30 years after the Second World and the extent to which there was continuity in successive government policies.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - Global politics for beginners: a short introductionCourse start date: Sat 20 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Maisa EdwardsThis one-day introductory course on Global Politics for Beginners is designed to provide participants with a foundational understanding of key political concepts, global power dynamics, and contemporary international issues.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - The East End in Fact and FictionCourse start date: Sat 27 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sarah WiseCovering the early 19th century to the early 20th century, we will examine the East End and analyse how it was portrayed in works of fiction, thinking about how imaginative fiction and historical fact intertwine to create local legend.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - European empires in AfricaCourse start date: Sat 27 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sunday Abraham OgunodeJoin us for an introduction to the major themes of imperial history in the past 200 years of African history, where we will contextualise many of the trends and challenges in the continent today and view Africa in a new light.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £97.00 - The Atlantic Ocean in 21st century global politicsCourse start date: Sat 27 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Maisa EdwardsJoin this one-day course to explore the vital role the Atlantic Ocean plays in contemporary international relations and examine the geopolitical significance of the Atlantic, focusing on the key political actors and regional powers that shape its dynamics.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00
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