Science & Nature Courses in London & Online
Discover our Science and Nature programme which includes a wide range of courses and lectures across the fields of astronomy, geology, physics, and habitats, ecology, conservation, and climate change.
Learn from Experts, Dive into Knowledge
Our courses are crafted to ignite curiosity and deepen understanding. Led by renowned tutors, including academic specialists, conservationists, archaeologists, and horticultural experts, our classes bring science to life in a way that is engaging, stimulating, and intellectually rigorous.
Discover the forces that shape our world, the evolution of life, and the challenges we face today. Whether through lectures, short courses, or in-depth multi-week studies, City Lit provides thought-provoking learning experiences tailored to your interests.
Find the course that sparks your curiosity and start your journey with us!
- The Birds of London: a spring ornithology course
Course start date: Sat 23 May 2026Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ben ChappleLearn about diverse bird life, including basic identification, behaviour and ecology (with a special focus on birdsong and migration), and conservation.
Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £127.00 Concession £103.00 - Foraging for Folklore: Common Urban Plants and their Stories Course start date: Sun 31 May 2026
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Christopher CollierDiscover the stories and folklore of some common urban plants. Explore how these botanical neighbours have been revered as healers, feared as poisons, or woven into local myths and superstitions. This session will take place offsite.Meeting point:Hampstead Heath overground (Mildmay Line).
Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £29.00 - Exploring Regent's Park Trees Course start date: Sat 6 Jun 2026
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Letta JonesDo you want to get to know some of the fabulous trees in Regent’s Park? These 2 guided Tree Walks in Regent’s Park are ideal for the tree enthusiast with an introduction to this absorbing activity. Walks will take place on the 6th and 20th June (break week 13th June).
Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00 - Find your way without a map: Orienting from natural signs Course start date: Sun 14 Jun 2026
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Christopher CollierSee nature in a whole new way by learning some basic, practical tips for navigating via natural clues and signs. You’ll never be lost without your phone again! Please note that this is a one-off, offsite session. Meeting point:Hampstead Heath overground (Mildmay Line)
Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £29.00 - Astrophysics: an introductionCourse start date: Sun 21 Jun 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Radmila TopalovicA short introduction to the science of astrophysics which explores the physics of stars, galaxies, planets and black holes, as well as theoretical topics such as solar system formation. The course is taught by Radmila Topalovic, who holds a degree in Physics with Astrophysics and a PhD in Astrochemistry.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - Garden History: Italian Renaissance Gardens Course start date: Mon 22 Jun 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Nathalie PugetExplore the historical factors and the conditions which led to the creation of the Italian Renaissance Gardens in the 15th and 16th Centuries. Examine the technical developments and design approach as well as the wider socio economic context. The session will conclude with an assessment of the lasting impact of Italian Renaissance Gardens and our relationship with the natural environment.
Full fee £49.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £32.00 - Cosmology: a study of the Universe Course start date: Thu 25 Jun 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Radmila TopalovicA short introduction to the Universe in which we explore the Big Bang, the first stars and evolution of structure in the cosmos, ordinary and exotic matter and the future for the Universe. The course is taught by Radmila Topalovic, who holds a degree in Physics with Astrophysics and a PhD in Astrochemistry.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £84.00 - Chemistry for Fun, Part 2: Inorganic: burning metals and choking gases!Course start date: Wed 1 Jul 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Gary RetallickWe look at how atoms combine, at the concept of the Mole, at the relationship between chemical reactions and energy, at the role of solvents, and at gases in the laboratory and in the atmosphere.Full fee £119.00 Senior fee £95.00 Concession £77.00 - Trees in Myth and StoryCourse start date: Sun 5 Jul 2026
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Christopher CollierDelve into the realms of myth and story and discover the tales, folklore, and legends attached to some common trees. Meeting Point: outsideHampstead Heath overground (Mildmay Line).
Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £29.00 - Science Friday Lates: Parallel Universes - Interpretations, Experiments & DevelopmentsCourse start date: Fri 10 Jul 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Gary RetallickDo parallel universes exist? We will see how modern physics does not rule out this possibility and how some theories and observations may even imply that our universe is just one of many.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £12.00 - Searching for the ultimate particleCourse start date: Sat 11 Jul 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Gary RetallickThis course explores how the concept of the ultimate particle has shaped physics since 400 BCE: the idea of what we now call atoms is nearly 2,400 years old!Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - A taste of physics Course start date: Fri 11 Sep 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Radmila TopalovicGet a taste of the fundamental aspects of physics such as the nature of light, matter and energy and the physical laws governing the world around us and our universe.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £12.00 - Looking at winter trees Course start date: Sat 19 Sep 2026
Location on this date: Off Site
Tutors: Letta JonesJoin Letta Jones for three tree identification walks in Regent’s Park. These walks will take place on Saturday mornings. We will explore common trees, focusing on bark, twigs, leaves, outline, seeds and fruits, with the aim of giving you the confidence to get to know what to look for when identifying trees. Duration: 3 sessions over 3 weeks
Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £103.00 Concession £84.00 - Astronomy: a brief introduction Course start date: Sun 27 Sep 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Radmila TopalovicJoin Dr. Radmila Topalovic to discover how to identify planets and constellations above the city and beyond.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00 - Climate change: a brief introduction Course start date: Thu 1 Oct 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Gary RetallickWe hear and read about climate change every day. Yet it is hard to keep up and get the big picture. Join us to slow down and get a sense of how the problem of climate change has emerged, what is being done about it and what more needs doing.Full fee £49.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £32.00
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