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 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. City Lit at the BFI: Ginger Rogers and All that Sass
    Evening
    Course start date:  Tue 4 Apr 2023

    Location on this date:  BFI Southbank

    Tutors:  John Wischmeyer
    George Gershwin discovered Ginger Rogers on Broadway just before she moved to 42nd Street—in Hollywood! That same year she also made Gold Diggers of 1933 and then partnered Fred Astaire. Her life and career would change forever. She helped revolutionise the music genre at RKO, then left it to become Kitty Foyle (1940 Sam Wood) and immediately won the Oscar for Best Actress before becoming Chicago’s Roxie Hart (1942 William Wellman). This 4-week BFI course, a companion to the Ginger Roger season, is less about her musicals than her determination to be a serious actor—who sometimes played a great dancer. I’m looking forward to the neorealist Primrose Path (1940) and the Warner Brothers thriller Storm Warning (1951).







    Please note that this course takes place in The Studio at the BFI Southbank.
    Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £64.00
  2. Ways into creative writing: an introduction
    Evening
    Course start date:  Wed 5 Jul 2023 (and 5 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street (other locations are available)

    Tutors:  Yvonne Singh
    Want to have a go at creative writing in a supportive atmosphere? Join this introductory course. Guided exercises will give you the tools to explore language creatively and find your own writing voice.
    Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £65.00
    Rating:
    93% of 100
  3. Picture book writing
    Evening
    Course start date:  Mon 13 Feb 2023 (and 3 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Online (other locations are available)

    Tutors:  Lou Kuenzler
    Would you like to write a picture book text for young children? This course is designed for children's writers and for illustrators wishing to write their own stories; a starter course to develop both your ideas and your technique.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £50.00
    Rating:
    98% of 100
  4. Makers not muses: Claude Cahun, Eileen Agar and Isabel Rawsthorne
    Evening
    Course start date:  Wed 26 Apr 2023

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Chantal Condron
    Explore the work of three radical artists whose work and practice defied convention in modern art from the 1920s to 1960s. Discover how each artist challenged and transcended society’s expectations of being a ‘muse’ by living freely and making art in a variety of media, from painting and sculpture to collage, photography and performance.
    Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £45.00
    Rating:
    90% of 100
  5. Writing horror: a beginners’ guide
    ONLINE
    Course start date:  Fri 28 Apr 2023

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Jonathan Barnes
    Where does terror begin? This fun workshop explores the core elements of the horror genre so you can walk in the footsteps of writers like Bram Stoker, Shirley Jackson and Stephen King.



    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:
    60% of 100
  6. A short history of the Indian subcontinent
    Evening, ONLINE
    Course start date:  Tue 2 May 2023

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Ketan Varia
    The India subcontinent is unique in its heritage and history. It has lasted through invasion, political change and assimilation. It is home to the one of the world’s oldest civilisations, the Indus Valley.







    The subcontinent’s contribution to language (Sanskrit) and great philosophies (Vedic, Buddhism Jainism and Sikhism) is well known. From its land, has been the emergence of Sanskrit, the concept of the soul and liberation and the invention of the number ‘zero’ - a cornerstone in all mathematics.







    Our course will cover the period from Pre-Aryans (c5000BC) to the start of the Mughal empire.







    The course will be interactive with a chance for discussion on Indian history & politics and its impact on Indian culture and tradition.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £89.00 Senior fee £89.00 Concession £45.00
  7. Craft focus: writing a strong story opening
    Evening, ONLINE
    Course start date:  Mon 15 May 2023

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Sophie McKenzie
    A great opening is essential to get your reader’s attention. But do you start your story with a quirky phrase, explode into action, or build intrigue? Find the perfect beginning with this fun, interactive course. Suitable for those interested in writing short fiction and novels.



    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
  8. Reading between the lines: reading LGBTQ+ ancient Greek texts
    Evening, ONLINE
    Course start date:  Tue 16 May 2023

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Jordan Dyck
    What was it like to be gay in ancient history? How did people in Greco-Roman times understand gender? Are there positive examples of LGBTQ+ people in the Bible? Are there stories of gay relationships in the ancient world that really were equal and loving, and not just obviously problematic? This reading group will help you answer these and other questions.



    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
  9. Social media for writers
    Evening
    Course start date:  Wed 24 May 2023

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Lisa Goll
    Learn to wield a powerful tool in the contemporary writer’s arsenal: social media.
    Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00
  10. A taste of poetry
    Evening
    Course start date:  Fri 17 Mar 2023 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street (other locations are available)

    Tutors:  Billie Manning
    This 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 thought-provoking writing exercises and poetry theory for beginners.
    Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £35.00
    Rating:
    85% of 100
  11. Ways into creative writing: a gentle pace
    Evening, ONLINE
    Course start date:  Mon 6 Mar 2023 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Are you brand new to creative writing? Do you want to build your confidence in a supportive environment alongside other beginners? This gentle short-course guides students taking their first steps on the path to becoming a creative writer.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £89.00 Senior fee £89.00 Concession £45.00
    Rating:
    100% of 100
  12. All that Jazz: American Beat writing
    Evening, ONLINE
    Course start date:  Thu 1 Jun 2023

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Woody River
    This course explores the excitement and innovation of the Beat Generation writers who emerged in the 1950s. We will examine their sources of inspiration while exploring their lives and the culture in which they lived. We will also consider their legacy and how their work and lifestyles shaped what was to come.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £64.00
    Rating:
    80% of 100
  13. Life writing: a taster
    Evening, ONLINE
    Course start date:  Fri 2 Jun 2023

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Claire Collison
    This inspiring workshop encourages students to explore a range of techniques and approaches for writing about your own life.



    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:
    100% of 100
  14. The Socratic philosophers: Plato
    Evening, ONLINE
    Course start date:  Mon 5 Jun 2023

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  John Goff
    Plato’s philosophy is the foundation of Western thought. It remains essential to a philosophical understanding the human condition.



    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
  15. Writing villanelles
    Evening, ONLINE
    Course start date:  Wed 7 Jun 2023

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Ellen Cranitch
    Do not go gentle into that good night; write villanelles that rage, rage against the dying light. Learn about the form popularised by Dylan Thomas, in order to manipulate it in new, subversive ways.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £89.00 Senior fee £89.00 Concession £45.00

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