Culture, history & humanities

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.

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. Understanding contemporary art: ideas and origins
    Course start date:  Mon 14 Oct 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Christopher Collier
    Ever wondered what's going on in the mind of contemporary artists? This course explores the ideas and historical background behind some of today’s most intriguing works, from Conceptualism and Video to Body Art and Installation.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £169.00 Concession £110.00
    Rating:
    90% of 100
  2. Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £129.00
  3. Looking inside paintings
    Evening
    Course start date:  Wed 16 Oct 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Caroline Rae
    Discover the secrets of the Old Masters and learn how they created their wonderful effects in this introductory course on painters and painting. We will consider the physical history and scientific examination of artworks in relation to aspects including forgeries, hidden paintings and conservation/ restoration.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £169.00 Concession £110.00
  4. Masters of cinema: Wes Anderson
    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
  5. Competitive cities in the global political economy
    Course start date:  Thu 17 Oct 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Caglar Ezikoglu
    Examine the dynamic relationships between cities, exploring their local uniqueness and global interconnectedness in the modern economies.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £119.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £119.00
  6. US Election Countdown: 3 weeks out
    Evening
    Course start date:  Thu 17 Oct 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Mark Malcomson
    As we approach the most important US Election in modern times, we will explore what is happening nationally and also on a state-by-state basis. We will reference election history to give context to give and understanding of what is going on and hopefully give an idea of how things might evolve.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £12.00
  7. Friday lates: The Bauhaus in London
    Evening
    Course start date:  Fri 18 Oct 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Julie Barlow
    The Staatliches Bauhaus opened its doors in Weimar, Germany in 1919. Fourteen years later it was shut down by the Nazis. Celebrate 100 years of Modernism in architecture and design and discover how Bauhaus style spread to London.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £12.00
    Rating:
    100% of 100
  8. Sexuality, Colonialism and Law: is there a dark side to gay rights?
    Evening
    Course start date:  Tue 22 Oct 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Joshua Hepple
    Nearly seventy countries still criminalise gay sex. Why is this? This course will attend to this question by examining the links between sexuality, colonialism and postcolonial gay rights.
    Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £129.00
  9. Ways into poetry: a gentle pace
    Evening
    Course start date:  Tue 22 Oct 2024 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Eleanor Penny
    Are you brand new to writing poetry? Do you want to build your confidence in a supportive environment alongside other beginners in the craft? This gentle short-course guides students taking their first steps on the path to becoming a poet.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £75.00
    Rating:
    100% of 100
  10. Writing and rewriting fairytales
    Evening
    Course start date:  Tue 22 Oct 2024 (and 3 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  KR Moorhead
    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
  11. Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £169.00 Concession £110.00
  12. Friday lates: Magical modernism – modern art and the occult
    Course start date:  Fri 25 Oct 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Christopher Collier
    Discover Modern Art’s secret history: a mysterious melting-pot of mystic auras, magical colour theories, trances, alchemy and the spirit-physics of the 4th-dimension, hiding beneath the familiar stories of science, reason and industry.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £12.00
    Rating:
    100% of 100
  13. Ways into creative writing: intensive
    Last Few Places, Evening
    Course start date:  Wed 30 Oct 2024 (and 10 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Claire Collison
    Not sure whether creative writing is for you? Give it a try on one of these fun and supportive short courses covering the basics of fiction and poetry. Increase your confidence and produce work through guided exercises and discussion.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £75.00
    Rating:
    100% of 100
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