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 long and short 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.

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  1. Creative writing: getting started
    Last Few Places, Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 17 Feb 2024 (and 8 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Henry Martin
    Give 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.



    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
    Rating:
    95% of 100
  2. Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00
  3. The Victorians: art, architecture and design
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 20 Jan 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Rachel Sanders
    Explore the visual culture of Victorian Britain through a range of artworks and disciplines including painting, sculpture, architecture, graphic design, furniture, fashion, and textiles. Includes a visit to the V&A Museum.
    Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £64.00
  4. Islamic art and architecture in the Mediterranean basin
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 20 Jan 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Roberta Marin
    Discover the artistic production in some of the countries facing the Mediterranean Sea.
    Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £59.00 Concession £38.00
    Rating:
    100% of 100
  5. Shakespeare's women: Rosalind, Ophelia, Lady Macbeth
    Course start date:  Wed 24 Jan 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Sophie Oxenham
    This online Literature course will look at three of Shakespeare’s female characters: Rosalind (As You Like It), Ophelia (Hamlet) and Lady Macbeth (Macbeth). We will consider their wit, madness and ambition, exploring Shakespeare’s language, the historical context, and the plays in performance.



    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 £55.00 Concession £45.00
  6. Writing flash fiction: getting started
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 27 Jan 2024 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Lucy Popescu
    Flash fiction is the art of telling small stories that make a big impact. Learn how to harness the power of economy in this practical short course. Suitable for those with some experience of creative 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
  7. Aliens, mutants and paranoia: American sci-fi cinema of the 1950s
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 28 Jan 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Jon Wisbey
    Science fiction (SF) cinema of the 1950s drew on the social, political and technological concerns of the period, producing a rich body of films that reflect these themes. Looking at a range of American SF films of the period, this course considers the ways in which these films accommodate such issues, their function as popular, genre cinema, their production contexts, and the way that critics have understood them.



    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 £38.00
  8. The Quakers: an introduction
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 3 Feb 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Bruce Johnson
    Quaker 'discernment' is used by big business for consensus decision-making, while Quakers are often invited to areas of conflict as mediators and peace-builders. This introduction to Quakers tries to explain why.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £59.00
  9. British sci-fi cinema of the 1950s and 1960s
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 3 Feb 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Jon Wisbey
    In contrast to American science fiction (SF) cinema of the same period, British SF cinema of the 1950s and 1960s often adopts a low-key and realist approach, with narratives featuring small groups, or communities, under threat from aliens or technological disaster. Explore a range of films and the way in which they constitute a distinctive branch of the genre, and of British cinema more generally.



    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 £38.00
  10. Diverse Docklands
    Course start date:  Tue 6 Feb 2024

    Location on this date:  Off Site

    Tutors:  Rachel Kolsky
    Explore the ever-changing face of east London through four different dockland neighbourhoods: Canary Wharf, Limehouse, Shadwell and Isle of Dogs.







    Meeting Place - first walk only



    Dockers to Wharfers: Canary Wharf



    Canary Wharf, Elizabeth Line station, Canada Place exit.
    Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £64.00
  11. Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00
  12. Writing the prose poem
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 10 Feb 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Julie Irigaray
    A form that’s flowered in recent years, this short course will guide you to write your own prose poetry.



    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
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