Inspired by nature
Escape the screens and reconnect with nature. Immerse yourself in the beauty of your environment through our off-site, art, or writing courses. City Lit offers you the chance to let nature's serenity calm your mind, reduce stress, and restore your creative spirit by using the beauty of your surroundings as inspiration. What will you create? Book your place now to be inspired by nature.
25 courses available
Drawing from plants and flowersExplore the delicacy and beauty of plants and flowers through the medium of drawing. Respond to their structural qualities and colours, using a range of media and taking inspiration from a rich and varied history of the subject. Suitable for all levels of experience.Full fee £349.00 Senior fee £279.00 Concession £227.00- Painting from plants and flowersExplore a variety of creative approaches for painting flowers from observation. Discover the rich history of this genre while taking inspiration from artists who use flowers as their subject matter.Full fee £349.00 Senior fee £279.00 Concession £227.00
- Winter Wildlife Walks: Rainham Marshes & Walthamstow WetlandsJoin us to explore two of London’s most rewarding locations for observing wildlife in the winter months, Rainham Marshes and Walthamstow Wetlands. Learn to identify bird and mammal species at this time of year.
Keeley Street
Sat 14 Nov 2026Ben ChappleFull fee £149.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £97.00 - Design your own gardenExplore the principles of planting design using form, line and texture to create dynamic planting schemes. In weekly workshops, improve the breadth of your plant knowledge whilst developing the skills and techniques of garden designers.
Keeley Street
Wed 20 Jan 2027Alison WorsterFull fee £319.00 Senior fee £255.00 Concession £207.00 - Botanical illustrationLearn how Botanical Illustrators accurately depict flowers, leaves, stems and seeds - for the purpose of genus and species identification by Botanists and Biologists.
Work from both primary and secondary source material to create an array of illustrative work, including anatomical and/or decorative.Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £207.00 Concession £168.00 - Introduction to garden design
This is a beginners’ course and no previous experience is necessary. This course is for anyone with an interest in garden design and looking to improve their own garden.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussion. You should be able to use numbers and be able to do simple measurements and calculations.Keeley Street
Mon 15 Feb 2027Alison WorsterFull fee £279.00 Senior fee £223.00 Concession £181.00 - Botany: a tasterJoin us for a one-day taster course to discover the breadth of the plant world and evaluate some common plants used for ornamental and medicinal purposes. The day will include a morning, classroom-based session at City Lit and an afternoon visit to explore plant life at Lincoln's Inn Fields.
Keeley Street
Sat 20 Feb 2027Letta JonesFull fee £89.00 Senior fee £71.00 Concession £58.00 - Drawing and mindfulness: modern and contemporary nature
Explore how mindfulness can enrich the process of drawing, as we discover a range of contemporary approaches to drawing from nature. This course offers a great introduction to mindful drawing, or a way to explore it more deeply in the context of this theme.
Online
Fri 26 Feb 2027Clare Barton-HarveyFull fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £149.00 - London photography walk: River Thames
Explore and discover London through these photography walks, moving through locations rich in photographic potential.
The walks centre around photographing views along the River Thames, from the Aldwych area eastwards to the City, from London Bridge to the Southbank and from Westminster to the newly developed Nine Elms area. Bring your own camera and comfortable walking shoes as you capture places, spaces, objects and people.Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £127.00 Concession £103.00 - Shinrin-yoku: nature therapyConnect with nature for health and wellbeing. This scientifically backed Japanese tradition of forest bathing has been shown to improve physical and mental health. A slow, guided, mindful walk near trees reduces stress levels and boosts your immune system. We will meet in Richmond Park. We will NOT meet at the City Lit.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £69.00
- Get Ready for the Dawn Chorus
International Dawn Chorus Day takes place annually on the first Sunday of every May. Join us for this introductory session to discover the significance of the Dawn Chorus and learn to identify different bird songs.
Online
Wed 28 Apr 2027Ben ChappleFull fee £29.00 Senior fee £29.00 Concession £19.00 - Garden design for beginnersExplore the principles of planting design using form, line and texture to create dynamic planting schemes. In weekly workshops, improve the breadth of your plant knowledge whilst developing the skills and techniques of garden designers.
Keeley Street
Tue 4 May 2027Alison WorsterFull fee £319.00 Senior fee £255.00 Concession £207.00 - Nature writingWhat greater muse could a writer ask for than the wonders of the planet that surrounds them? Learn how to capture the majesty of nature on the page with this exciting course in creative non-fiction.
Keeley Street
Sat 8 May 2027Julie GartonFull fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £51.00 - Tree walks in Golders Hill Park
Join Letta Jones for Saturday morning tree walks, meeting in Golders Hill Park in North London.
Off Site
Sat 8 May 2027Letta JonesFull fee £129.00 Senior fee £103.00 Concession £84.00 - The Birds of London: a spring ornithology course
Learn about London’s surprisingly diverse birdlife, including basic identification, behaviour and ecology (with a special focus on birdsong and migration), and conservation. The course will consist of 1 classroom session and 3 guided walks. The first session takes place at Keeley Street.
Keeley Street
Sat 22 May 2027Ben ChappleFull fee £159.00 Senior fee £127.00 Concession £103.00
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