Writing Courses & Workshops Online & in London
Be inspired to write, and learn how to get published at the college where Andrea Levy, Malorie Blackman, Anna Burns, and other celebrated authors studied. Read our success stories to see what's possible for you as a writer.
Learn from published authors
Whether you're just starting out or ready to publish your first book, the benefits of our writing courses include expert tuition from a published author and feedback on your work as you develop your writing skills. There will also be opportunities to participate in group discussions and activities with fellow students.
Unheard Voices Scholarship
City Lit’s Malorie Blackman Scholarships for 'Unheard Voices' provide three annual awards to fund one year’s study within the Creative Writing department at City Lit. Learn more >
- Screenwriting: a tasterCourse start date: Thu 4 Dec 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Give screenwriting a try in this fun and supportive one-off taster session. Ideal if you want to unlock your imagination and express yourself, but need a bit of encouragement to get started.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £19.00 - Painting for beginnersCourse start date: Thu 8 Jan 2026 (and 5 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Amanda BrackenExperience the enjoyment of painting in a studio environment. Through simple exercises you will explore colour mixing and methods of applying paint using a variety of brushes and tools. Start to paint a basic composition from still-life, mixing and matching the colours and textures observed.
Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £127.00 Concession £103.00 - Try it out: jewellery makingCourse start date: Thu 11 Dec 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Elizabeth BoneIdeal for beginners who want to give jewellery making a go. Come and join this short taster course introducing you to basic jewellery processes and techniques to enable you to make a simple piece of jewellery.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £129.00 - ITEC Level 3 Diploma in MassageCourse start date: Thu 9 Jan 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Kean Street Wellbeing Centre
Tutors: Helen RennieConsidering massage therapy as a career? Learn the theory and practice of massage at a professional level. City Lit is a leading training provider in London for Massage and Complementary Therapies, providing outstanding achievement at high industry standards. Our courses are taught by experienced and practising industry professionals who have current knowledge of the massage sector. If you’ve applied for this course and not heard back from us, please email us on health@citylit.ac.uk, or call us (Mon-Fri 10:00-17:00) on 020 8142 4577.
The Free Courses for Jobs initiative is for Londoners aged 24 or over at the start of the course who are: on a low-income; or on certain benefits; or do not have a full level 3 qualification. For more information Click here
The course fee is £1599.00 payable at the time of your enrolment. If you are unable to pay the course fees, you can choose to apply for an Advanced Learner Loan from Student Finance England (SFE) to help cover the course fee, repayable after the course ends. You can find more information about the Advanced Learner Loan www.citylit.ac.uk/advanced-learner-loans
For more information, please call Health & Wellbeing on 020 8142 4577.Full fee £1,599.00 Senior fee £1,599.00 Concession £1,599.00 - Playwriting: a tasterCourse start date: Thu 11 Sep 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Nicole AcquahGive playwriting a try in this fun and supportive one-off taster session. Ideal if you want to unlock your imagination and express yourself, but need a bit of encouragement to get started.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £10.00 - City of words: London's literary landscapeCourse start date: Thu 11 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Blended (learn both online and in-person)
Tutors: Eleanor JacksonLondon 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: 09/10/25. Initial lecture is on zoom . This is followed by 7 guided walks.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £175.00 Concession £142.00 - Drawing into paintingCourse start date: Thu 11 Sep 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Tony HullGain an understanding of the creative journey from a drawing to finished painting. Explore the creative potential when drawing and painting activities are combined.Full fee £389.00 Senior fee £311.00 Concession £253.00 - Anatomy and physiology: access to level 3Course start date: Thu 11 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Kean Street Wellbeing Centre
Tutors: Janet WhiteheadDid you know that 80% of your brain is water or that your tongue is the strongest muscle in the body? Gain a basic understanding of the major systems of the body and how they interact with each other. Tutor: Alan Billington. - English for deaf people: Reading for pleasure (entry 1) - part 1Course start date: Thu 11 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
The aim of this course is to develop your reading skills in a friendly and supportive environment. During this course you will read various book stories chosen by the tutor. You will also be discussing your reading materials in BSL, learning new vocabulary and exploring the structure of English. This course has no exams.
This course is free for learners who have not achieved a GCSE grade C (4) and higher in English. For more information Click here
Full fee £0.00 - The men who built LondonCourse start date: Thu 11 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Eleanor JacksonLondon was shaped by its architects, engineers, bricklayers, navies etc. Our lecture and walks examine London’s buildings and the men (and women) who worked throughout history to create this eclectic and wonderful city.
First lecture will be delivered via zoom followed by 8 guided walks. Break week/no class 09/10/25.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £175.00 Concession £142.00 - ITEC Level 3 Diploma in Massage: fast-trackCourse start date: Fri 2 May 2025 (and 9 other dates)
Location on this date: Kean Street Wellbeing Centre
Tutors: Oge OkohConsidering massage therapy as a career? Learn the theory and practice of massage at a professional level. City Lit is a leading training provider in London for Massage and Complementary Therapies, providing outstanding achievement at high industry standards. Our courses are taught by experienced and practising industry professionals who have current knowledge of the massage sector. If you’ve applied for this course and not heard back from us, please email us on health@citylit.ac.uk, or call us (Mon-Fri 10:00-17:00) on 020 8142 4577.
We have a limited number of free places on this course under the government's Free Courses for Jobs initiative.
The Free Courses for Jobs initiative is for Londoners aged 24 or over at the start of the course who are: on a low-income; or on certain benefits; or do not have a full level 3 qualification. For more information Click here
The course fee is £1599.00 payable at the time of your enrolment. If you are unable to pay the course fees, you can choose to apply for an Advanced Learner Loan from Student Finance England (SFE) to help cover the course fee, repayable after the course ends. You can find more information about the Advanced Learner Loan www.citylit.ac.uk/advanced-learner-loans
For more information, please call Health & Wellbeing on 020 8142 4577.Full fee £1,599.00 Senior fee £1,599.00 Concession £1,599.00 - Film studies tasterCourse start date: Thu 11 Dec 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Paul SuttonLearn how to evaluate and discuss films while enjoying a working example of a City Lit Film Studies class. In this class we will view and explore clips from a number of films, including popular remakes, enabling us to consider and compare themes and techniques from differing filmmaking countries. There will be a chance to review – in brief – film courses at City Lit (January - July 2026).Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £15.00 Concession £12.00 - Tap dance: beginnersCourse start date: Thu 18 Sep 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Jacqueline PertIf you are new to tap then this is the place to start. Come and find your dancing feet. Suitable for students of all ages with good general fitness. Tap shoes are essential.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £139.00 - Ways into screenwritingCourse start date: Wed 7 May 2025 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Nico MensingaLearn to write for the screen on this practical, introductory course. Writing exercises, presentations and screenings will teach you key skills, and you’ll begin to produce work and an outline for a full-length project.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £120.00 - Lipreading and managing hearing loss: improvers module 1Course start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Nicola HicksDevelop your lipreading skills and strategies for face-to-face communication and keep up-to-date with relevant equipment and services. This course is suitable if you have a basic understanding of lipreading consonant and vowel theory, can finger spell and have also either completed beginners modules 1, 2 and 3 or have completed a year’s lipreading classes in the past and want to re-join a course.
This course will be taught in spoken English and not in sign language.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £110.00 Concession £85.00
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