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.
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, you’ll receive the same great City Lit experience. See our guide to online learning for more information about accessing our live online 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.
- A taste of creative writing
Course start date: Sat 27 May 2023 (and 11 other dates)Location on this date: Online (other locations are available)
Tutors: Sophie McKenzieGive creative writing a try on this fun and supportive online short course. Ideal if you want to express yourself but need help in getting started. Guided exercises will encourage you to experiment and unlock your imagination. Please note: this course has a 2-hr break from 12:30-14:30.
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 £35.00 - Travel writing: a tasterCourse start date: Sat 8 Oct 2022 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online (other locations are available)
Tutors: Susan GrossmanYou love travelling and taking photos but how do you decide what to write about and which pictures will sell? This course will give you the skills you need to approach editors with confidence.
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 £35.00 - Social media for writersCourse start date: Sat 15 Oct 2022 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Lisa GollLearn to wield a powerful tool in the contemporary writer’s arsenal: social media.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00 - Autobiography into fiction: a tasterCourse start date: Sat 15 Oct 2022 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street (other locations are available)
Tutors: Vicky GrutLearn how to turn real-life experiences into gripping fiction in this fun short course for fiction-writing beginners and experienced writers. Develop your writing skills and explore techniques for transforming personal stories into strong narratives.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00 - Craft focus: voice in fictionCourse start date: Sat 19 Nov 2022 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street (other locations are available)
Tutors: Tasha KavanaghAll fiction must have a 'voice,' a complex mix of elements that, together, give the piece its unique identity. Learn what 'voice' really means in fiction and how to develop a voice for your story that can capture the attention of readers.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00 - The art of writing the personal essayCourse start date: Sat 11 Feb 2023 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Katie Da Cunha LewinFollow in the footsteps of Dorothy Parker, George Orwell and Zadie Smith with this taster course on the personal essay, a continuously thriving genre of autobiographical 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 £35.00 - Masters of Cinema: Clint Eastwood - Directing the WestCourse start date: Sun 7 May 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Graham Rinaldi“The Western brought me a certain notoriety” – Clint Eastwood the last of the Western Film Directors. This course will look at Eastwood’s body of work set in the American Wild West from High Plains Drifter to Cry Macho. We will explore his themes, storytelling, influences and techniques in creating a truly American art form.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Dickens' LondonCourse start date: Sat 13 May 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Molly Rumbelow'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.' Enjoy this introduction to Dickens' work and the London of his time. Morning lecture at City Lit followed by a walk in the area of the city connected to his work.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Writing children's poetryCourse start date: Sat 20 May 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Andrew WealeIn this interactive workshop you will be exploring a range of poetic styles for the different age groups. There will be plenty of practical activities, and a chance to perform a poem in a final ‘slam’.
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 £35.00 - Writing Gothic YA fictionCourse start date: Sat 20 May 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Kim CurranFrom dangerous secrets to dark romances, spooky settings to seductive supernatural beings, YA fiction and the gothic go hand in hand. In this short taster course we’ll dive into a world seeped in decay, haunted by death and fascinated with the macabre.
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 £35.00 - Study day: Degas, drawing the modernCourse start date: Sun 21 May 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sarah JaffrayExplore Degas’s extraordinary legacy as ‘one of the founders of Impressionism’. His dynamic paintings and sketches of everyday life and activities, and his bold colour experiments will be examined throughout this informative weekend art history course.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Writing black out poetryCourse start date: Sat 27 May 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sarah WestcottSometimes a poem is shaped by stripping words away. This fun day workshop explores the emerging form of black out poetry. Learn how to find hidden poems in texts such as newspaper articles, advertisements and letters.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00
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