Explore Culture, History & Humanities Courses
Explore our extraordinary range of Humanities courses and lectures. We offer both introductory and specialist in-depth courses to suit all levels of interest and experience, from one-off courses in History, Politics, and Economics to in-depth courses in Art History, Film Studies, Literature, and Science and Nature.
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.
651 courses available
South Asian Heritage Month at City Lit - Key figures in Indian historyWant to know more about Indian history but not sure where to start? Join us in this course to learn about key figures in Indian history from different eras and areas of society.Keeley Street
Sat 15 Aug 2026Ketan VariaFull fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00- London at war - guided walks
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 medieval fortifications to the War on Terror. First lecture delivered via zoom followed by 8 guided walks; no class/break week 6/10/26.
Blended (learn both online and in-person)
Tue 8 Sep 2026Eleanor JacksonFull fee £269.00 Senior fee £215.00 Concession £175.00 - Literature tasterDo you want to explore how to go about understanding a poem? How to do a close reading of a work of fiction? Come and find out what makes a literature class at City Lit so special.
The course also presents an overview of our upcoming literature offering in fiction, poetry, drama and literary non-fiction.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £12.00 - Latin America: From the independence wars to the mid-20th century(Re)discover the troubled but exciting history of Latin America from the emergence of new countries to the political and socio-economic consequences of their integration into the world economy and of the Great Depression.
Keeley Street
Wed 9 Sep 2026Sebastien ArdouinFull fee £189.00 Senior fee £151.00 Concession £123.00 - Art history tasterCurious 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.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £12.00
- City of words: London's literary landscape
London has been muse, magnet and mecca to writers for 400 years, home to Shakespeare's successes, Dickens' dramas and Wilde's witticisms. After an introductory lecture (via zoom) we walk a different London neighbourhood each week exploring its literary connections.Break week/No class: 08/10/2026.
Blended (learn both online and in-person)
Thu 10 Sep 2026Eleanor JacksonFull fee £249.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £162.00 - The East India Company & India
Chart the rise and fall of the East India Company in India on this one-day workshop, from 1600 to 1858.
Keeley Street
Sat 12 Sep 2026T HussainFull fee £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00 - A taste of philosophyHave you ever wondered what philosophy is? What do philosophers talk about? Can they tell you the meaning of life or is it just jargon and navel gazing? Come along and find out.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £12.00
- City Lit Silver Sunday: a taste of global history
Silver Sunday is a day dedicated to older people which takes place every autumn. Fun and free activities are held across the UK where older people can make new friends, visit new places, try new activities, and connect with other generations in their local communities. This year’s City Lit Silver Sunday will be taking place on Sunday 13th September, and we'll be offering a diverse selection of workshops.
Keeley Street
Sun 13 Sep 2026Martin JorgensenFull fee £0.00 - City Lit Silver Sunday: what is history and memory and who is it for?
Silver Sunday is a day dedicated to older people which takes place every autumn. Fun and free activities are held across the UK where older people can make new friends, visit new places, try new activities, and connect with other generations in their local communities. This year’s City Lit Silver Sunday will be taking place on Sunday 13th September, and we'll be offering a diverse selection of workshops and tasters.
This day is aimed specifically at ‘older people’ but everyone is welcome to join in, as connecting generations forms an important of this eventKeeley Street
Sun 13 Sep 2026Martin JorgensenFull fee £0.00 - The emergence of Europe 300-1000
Explore reasons for the fall of Rome and the emergence of the ‘barbarian’ kingdoms of western Europe. Was it really ‘the Dark Ages’? Were the Vikings simply long-haired tourists who occasionally beat up the natives?
Keeley Street
Mon 14 Sep 2026Vanessa KingFull fee £209.00 Senior fee £167.00 Concession £136.00 - Buddhist philosophy'Impermanence is the root of human suffering.' Over hundreds of years a highly developed philosophy grew from this simple idea. However, one does not need to adopt a religious outlook to benefit from Buddhist philosophy.
Keeley Street
Mon 14 Sep 2026John GoffFull fee £329.00 Senior fee £263.00 Concession £214.00 - Medieval Women: Nuns, Tarts, Trouble and Strife
From labourers to tavern-keepers, mothers to rebels, this seven-week course uncovers the many roles medieval women played, revealing how they navigated, influenced, and survived in a male-dominated world
Keeley Street
Mon 14 Sep 2026Vanessa KingFull fee £169.00 Senior fee £169.00 Concession £110.00 - The Stalin Regime: 1928-1941This is an introduction to the history of the Stalin regime in the Soviet Union between 1928 and 1941. Students will learn about key events during the Stalin years and how historians approach them.
Keeley Street
Mon 14 Sep 2026Nick MorganFull fee £189.00 Senior fee £151.00 Concession £123.00 - Introduction to philosophyThis problem-based introduction to philosophy explores key themes of modern philosophy, including truth, knowledge, ultimate reality and the mind-body problem.
Keeley Street
Mon 14 Sep 2026Karl WhiteFull fee £329.00 Senior fee £263.00 Concession £214.00
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