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.
- An introduction to Indian comparative religionsCourse start date: Sat 13 Aug 2022
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ketan VariaThe course is an introduction to Indian Religions. Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism all have common aspects, but also some fundamental differences in philosophy.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £30.00 - Plotinus and The OneCourse start date: Sat 13 Aug 2022
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: John Goff“THE ONE is all things and no one of them; the source of all things is not all things; all things are its possession … ” Plotinus.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £30.00 - Jump start your play
Course start date: Sat 13 Aug 2022 (and 2 other dates)Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Brian MullinHave you got a script idea but not yet put pen to paper? Or a script you started long ago but never finished? This intensive short course is like a dramaturgy bootcamp. You’ll inject some new energy into your idea – and get a headstart at writing it. A perfect motivator to finally fulfill those playwriting resolutions, suitable only for those with playwriting experience.
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 £28.00 - Writing the cityCourse start date: Sun 21 Aug 2022 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Rowan Hisayo BuchananThrough a combination of close observation and texts both old and new, you'll explore the depiction of inner city life in fiction, and write your own fiction inspired by the urban landscape in this short course.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £28.00 - Taster: The Tudor kings and queensCourse start date: Thu 8 Sep 2022
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Ellen Carpenter
Television dramas, novels, plays, films…What exactly is it about the Tudor dynasty that captures our historical imagination? Join us for this taster session to explore the social, political and religious lives of this iconic royal family.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £10.00 - Grammar for ancient languages: an introductionCourse start date: Mon 12 Sep 2022 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Suitable for complete beginners of ancient languages. Become familiar with the key grammar terminology and concepts that will enhance your learning. Highly recommended if you are starting to learn an ancient or classical language.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £19.00 - Art history tasterCourse start date: Mon 12 Sep 2022 (and 15 other dates)
Location on this date: Online (other locations are available)
Tutors: Sarah JaffrayCurious about art history? Join us for this taster session where we explore different ways into visual art and its histories, from the ancient to the contemporary.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £10.00 - In the footsteps of London's rebelsCourse start date: Tue 13 Sep 2022
Location on this date: Mixed Mode (Online and In Person)
Tutors: David RosenbergExplore London's places of protest and discover the stories of radicals, agitators and campaigners who fought for social justice, equal rights and better lives for all from the 1830s to the 1930s.
The first and the last sessions will be delivered via zoom. The other 10 sessions are guided walks.
This course will be delivered online and in person. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £125.00 - Latin American history: from the independence wars to the presentCourse start date: Tue 13 Sep 2022
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sebastien Ardouin(Re)discover the troubled but exciting political and socio-economic history of Latin America, between dictatorship and democracy, boom and recession, and gain a deeper understanding of the current situation in the continent’s different countries.Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £207.00 Concession £130.00 - John Company: The Rise & Fall of the East India CompanyCourse start date: Tue 13 Sep 2022
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Ellen CarpenterFounded in 1600, by the 1800s the East India Company had become one of the most powerful trading companies in the world, laying the foundations for the transition to British crown rule in India in 1858. Join us as we explore key events in India and the EIC’s history – why did ‘John Company’ become so influential and how did Indian Nawabs and Mughal Emperors resist its seemingly ever-expanding powers?Full fee £139.00 Senior fee £111.00 Concession £70.00 - London at warCourse start date: Tue 13 Sep 2022
Location on this date: Mixed Mode (Online and In Person)
Tutors: Eleanor Jackson
London has been shaped by war, conflict and unrest. It's buildings, monuments and even street names reflect our embattled past. These walks examine London's wartime legacy from mediaeval fortifications to the War on Terror.
London guide: Eleanor Jackson
First lecture will be delivered via zoom followed by 8 guided walks.
This course will be delivered online and in person. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £189.00 Senior fee £151.00 Concession £95.00 - Women in art 1400-1800Course start date: Tue 13 Sep 2022
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Elizabeth EyresThere were a significant number of highly talented female artists active during the 15th to 18th centuries, so why is their work not more famous? This course investigates and redresses this gender inequality.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £139.00 Senior fee £111.00 Concession £90.00 - Europe 1900-1914, from peace to warCourse start date: Tue 13 Sep 2022
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sebastien ArdouinIn 1900, Europe looked with confidence to the future. Within fourteen years though, tensions between competing powers increased to the point that peace could no longer be preserved. What explains this descent into hell?Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £207.00 Concession £130.00 - Lunchtime lecture: Peggy Guggenheim's VeniceCourse start date: Wed 14 Sep 2022
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sarah JaffrayJoin us for an introduction to one of the 20th century’s most important art collectors and why she chose Venice as the permanent home for her art collection. This is the inaugural course of City Lit Art History's 'Venice Season'.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £8.00 Concession £7.00 - History tasterCourse start date: Thu 15 Sep 2022 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Martin JorgensenWhat is history? What does history mean to you? Is history important to society? Why or why not? Who gets to decide what and whose history is important? What are the implications of this? There are many reasons and ways to engage with history. With this course, we scratch the surface of the vast universe that is history to give you a taster.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £10.00
Can't see a course you want?
Add this category to your waiting list to set up alerts and we will update you when new courses are released online.
Add me to waiting list