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 in-person and online learning.

Learn in the centre of London with our in-person courses. Our purpose-built facilities in Covent Garden mean we are ideally located and easy to get to. 

See our guide to online learning for more information about accessing our live online courses.

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.

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  1. Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00
  2. Writing and rewriting fairytales
    Evening
    Course start date:  Tue 1 Oct 2024 (and 3 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Eleanor Penny
    Once upon a time there was a City Lit workshop all about writing fairytales. The quest: to inspire writers to pen stories of love, fear, forests, revenge, dragons, witches, kings, queens, frogs and magic.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00
    Rating:
    98% of 100
  3. Philosophy and the problem of evil
    Course start date:  Wed 2 Oct 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    If God exists, and is essentially all-powerful, all-knowing and perfectly good, how could a world which God creates include pain and suffering? This question summarises the so-called ‘problem of evil’ which has preoccupied theistic philosophers for centuries. This course is an introduction to that problem, and to some attempts to solve it.
    Full fee £119.00 Senior fee £95.00 Concession £77.00
  4. Seven wonders of the ancient world
    Course start date:  Fri 4 Oct 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  William Sterling
    The 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 £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00
  5. China and Africa
    Evening
    Course start date:  Wed 9 Oct 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Maisa Edwards
    This course studies the evolution of Chinese involvement in Africa, from the 1950s to the present day. Themes explored include diplomatic and defence relations, trade and commerce, politics and ideology.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £51.00
  6. Masters of cinema: Wes Anderson
    Evening
    Course start date:  Thu 17 Oct 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Graham Rinaldi
    “I have a way of filming things and staging them and designing sets. There were times when I thought I should change my approach but in fact, this is what I like to do. It’s sort of like my handwriting as a movie director.” Explore the signature style and adventurous cinema of Wes Anderson from coming of age films through stop motion animation to comedy dramas.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £49.00 Senior fee £49.00 Concession £32.00
  7. Mystery religions
    Course start date:  Wed 30 Oct 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Ann Jeffers
    Mystery religions were very popular in the ancient world and were organised as voluntary associations. Their popularity is attested in writings and in material culture of the Greco-Roman world. They offered intense religious experiences outside the official, civic religions. The participants were initiated into the mysteries: whilst there is considerable variety in form and content, a belief in a form of salvation was a common denominator of many of these mystery religions. The question of the relationship between the mystery cults and Christianity will also be broached.



    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 £45.00
    Rating:
    80% of 100
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