Summer courses in humanities
Discover more this summer in history, politics, science, philosophy and art history.
37 courses available
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- Notting Hill: The Westway Walk
Beneath the gentrification of North Kensington and the image portrayed in the films of Hugh Grant lies a much more interesting story; the areas vibrant past beats any kind of fiction. Join professional guide Aiden for this two-hour walk to learn more.
Off Site
Sat 19 Sep 2026Aidan McManusFull fee £39.00 Senior fee £31.00 Concession £25.00 - David Bowie's Soho
This tour visits sites around Soho that shaped and formed David Bowie in the 1960s/70s and enabled him to become the superstar he was, including the location of Album covers and recording studios.
Off Site
Thu 24 Sep 2026Aidan McManusFull fee £39.00 Senior fee £31.00 Concession £25.00 - The Yoruba Civilisation at the British Museum
Explore the history of Yoruba civilisation, including the rise and fall of the Oyo Empire, using Yoruba material culture to understand evolutions in Yoruba life and customs. NB this is an immersive course using artefacts at the British Museum. Tutor: Apeike Umolu.
Off Site
Sat 3 Oct 2026Apeike UmoluFull fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - Find your way without a map: Orienting from natural signs
See 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: Greenwich Park.
Off Site
Sat 3 Oct 2026Christopher CollierFull fee £39.00 Senior fee £31.00 Concession £25.00 - London Calling: popular music, society and culture 1955–2025
The sites, sounds and hidden stories of London’s music scenes from the dawn of the rock’n’roll era through the punk explosion to today, explored via walking tours of four musically rich neighbourhoods. Tutor: professional guide and music enthusiast Aiden Mcmanus.
Off Site
Wed 7 Oct 2026Aidan McManusFull fee £149.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £97.00 - Searching for the ultimate particleThis 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!
Keeley Street
Sat 17 Oct 2026Gary RetallickFull fee £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00 - 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
- What the Islamic Golden Age did for Us
An introductory course on the achievements of the Islamic Golden Age, across all areas of civilisation, how these inspired Europe, and helped to bring about the modern world we live in.
Keeley Street
Sun 1 Nov 2026Tas RahmanFull fee £89.00 Senior fee £71.00 Concession £58.00 - The Rise and Fall of the Mughal EmpireFollow the fortunes of the Mughal Emperors, rulers of Northern India from the 1500s to the 1800s. What were their contributions to the religious, political and cultural life of northern India and how can we explain the decline of their powers in the 1700s and 1800s? Tutor: T Hussain.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00
- Cutting it fine: collage in modern & contemporary artImmerse yourself in an exploration of the history of collage going as far back as ancient China to international contemporary art today. This engaging study day will enhance your knowledge of the roots of this fascinating media, and illustrate how collage techniques have been pivotal to major modern and contemporary art movements, from Cubism, Dada and Surrealism to photomontage and digital art.
Keeley Street
Sun 14 Mar 2027Chantal CondronFull fee £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00 - A day at the National GallerySpend a fascinating and enjoyable day at the National Gallery exploring a range of galleries. We shall be looking at the collection with the aim of gaining a better understanding of the art produced in different periods, countries and movements, as well as themes such as genres and iconography (decoding symbols).Full fee £49.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £32.00
- Fra Filippo Lippi and Fra Angelico – the two monastic paintersJoin us for a close reading of the works of Fra Filippo Lippi and Fra Angelico, two of 15th century Italy's most influential artists. We study their techniques, their subject matter and how they communicated narratives in painting. Explore all the wonderful tactile visual details they added to the works.
Online
Tue 23 Mar 2027Emma Rose BarberFull fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £19.00 - A condensed history of sculpture: ten sculptors who’ve shaped art historyStudy sculptors from the Renaissance to the Post-Modern, including Donatello, Bernini, Canova, Rodin, Picasso and Whiteread, considering styles, materials, and techniques of key works within social and cultural contexts.
Keeley Street
Sat 8 May 2027Rachel SandersFull fee £79.00 Senior fee £63.00 Concession £51.00 - 'Through Venetian eyes': Canaletto in London England
Follow Canaletto on his journey to England and its art world between 1746 and 1755. See how Canaletto responded to different sites in London and England. Explore how the Venetian artist attracted new patronage and how contemporaries responded to his work.
Keeley Street
Mon 24 May 2027Bryony Bartlett-RawlingsFull fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £19.00
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