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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260814T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260821T123000
DTSTAMP:20260814T091727Z
CREATED:20260601T082120Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260814T091727Z
UID:10002533-1786703400-1787315400@hlsi.org.uk
SUMMARY:Summer 2026: Edgelands - Architecture at the City’s Limits
DESCRIPTION:24 July | 21 August \nBoth Walks:\nMembers: £40\nNon-Members:  £45\nConcessions: £30 (call the office 020 8340 3343\n \nSingular Walk:\nMembers: £20\nNon-Members:  £25\n \nAll walks devised and led by urban historian and tour guide\, Mike Althorpe – The London Ambler \nAround the fringe of every city lies an Edgeland. Neither town or country these fertile hinterlands were described in the 19th century by novelist Victor Hugo as ’bastard’ places ‘made up of two different natures’ with each rubbing up against the other\, creating dramatic contrasts\, tension and surprise. Skirting the ancient borders of the City of London\, this two-part course explores the liminal buildings\, streets and spaces that have grown up in the shadow of the financial heart through two walking tours. Following a route defined first by the Romans two millennia ago\, it explores the contemporary ‘City Fringe’ to reveal medieval suburbs and sanctuaries\, victorian warehouses and railways\, modernist utopias and 21st century commercial leviathans! Part one looks at the buildings and spaces between The Tower and Broadgate while part two journey’s from Finsbury Square to Holborn Bars.
URL:https://hlsi.org.uk/events/summer-2026-edgelands-architecture-at-the-citys-limits/2026-08-14/
LOCATION:Outdoor\, 11 South Grove\, London\, Greater London\, N66BS\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Architecture,Courses & Workshops,Exercise, Walks & Nature,Friday,Outdoors
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://hlsi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/169-ratio-web-images-10-1-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="HLSI Education":MAILTO:education@hlsi.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260818T080000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260818T170000
DTSTAMP:20260818T101432Z
CREATED:20260818T101432Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260818T101432Z
UID:10004379-1787040000-1787072400@hlsi.org.uk
SUMMARY:Opera Circle - season 2026-27
DESCRIPTION:Encouraging and sharing the appreciation of opera \nOur talks explore lesser-known as well as favourite operas\, and are illustrated by musical examples\, comparing different singers and performances. They are designed to interest both newcomers and enthusiasts\, encouraging an appreciation of opera. \nPlease see below future dates: \n\nYear 2026 \nWednesday\, 14th October 2026\nWednesday\, 04th November 2026 \nWednesday\, 02nd December 2026\nYear 2027 \nWednesday\, 06th January\nWednesday\, 10th February\nWednesday\, 10th March\nWednesday\, 7th April\nWednesday\, 12 May\n\nThere are opportunities to socialise before our evenings with a glass of wine. Please refer to the website for the dates of future meetings and the opera being discussed.
URL:https://hlsi.org.uk/events/opera-circle-season-2026-27/
LOCATION:HLSI\, 11 South Grove\, Highgate\, London\, N6 6BS\, United Kingdom
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260820T150000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260820T170000
DTSTAMP:20260716T114440Z
CREATED:20260630T132925Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260716T114440Z
UID:10002536-1787238000-1787245200@hlsi.org.uk
SUMMARY:Summer 2026: Tree ID Walk - Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Garden
DESCRIPTION:Members: £20\nNon-Members:  £25 \nDiscover the fascinating planting in the newly created Queen Elizabeth II Garden. The emphasis will be on the exotic trees and shrubs. This is a session in plant identification suitable for students with no previous experience and also for those interested in improving their knowledge of trees. The exact location of the meeting place will be announced nearer to the time of the class. Teaching will be interactive with high student participation. Students will be encouraged to share their observations\, make comments\, ask questions and engage in discussions.
URL:https://hlsi.org.uk/events/summer-2026tree-id-walk-queen-elizabeth-ii-memorial-garden/
LOCATION:Outdoor\, 11 South Grove\, London\, Greater London\, N66BS\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Courses & Workshops,Exercise, Walks & Nature,Outdoors,Thursday,Tree Identification
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://hlsi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/169-ratio-web-images-13-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="HLSI Education":MAILTO:education@hlsi.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260825T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260825T153000
DTSTAMP:20260722T081851Z
CREATED:20260630T124834Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260722T081851Z
UID:10002534-1787653800-1787671800@hlsi.org.uk
SUMMARY:Summer 2026: Isaac Rosenberg
DESCRIPTION:Members: £60\nNon-Members:  £70\nConcessions: £30 (call the office 020 8340 3343) \nKilled on a night patrol north east of  Arras on April Fool’s Day 1918\, aged only 27\, Rosenberg left behind him work of such  distinction as to make one wonder what more he might have achieved had he  survived the war. Join Dr James Brown to explore the rich and interesting legacy of war poet Isaac Rosenberg.
URL:https://hlsi.org.uk/events/summer-2026-isaac-rosenberg/
LOCATION:Gosling Room\, 11 South Grove Highgate\, London N6 6BS\, N6 6BS
CATEGORIES:Courses & Workshops,Languages, Literature & Philosophy,Literature,Tuesday
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://hlsi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/169-ratio-web-images-11-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="HLSI Education":MAILTO:education@hlsi.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260911T130000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260911T170000
DTSTAMP:20260720T110056Z
CREATED:20260706T121853Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260720T110056Z
UID:10003000-1789131600-1789146000@hlsi.org.uk
SUMMARY:Jason Sumray: Oil Paintings and Etchings 2020 - 2026
DESCRIPTION:Gallery times \n\nWednesdays to Fridays 13:00-17:00\nSaturdays & Sundays 10:00-16:00\nMondays & Tuesdays closed\nPrivate View: Friday 11 September\n\nJason Sumray returns to the Highgate Gallery for his second solo show\, where he continues to explore the fertile ground of imaginary Still Lifes in oil paintings and etchings. \nHe depicts ordinary objects set on a table\, juxtaposing them to give new meaning: jugs\, bowls\, spoons\, pans\, lemons\, pears and ladders are arranged and rearranged. \nSumray is interested in a ‘narrative’ being played out in his imaginary theatre world\, where the objects seem to exist autonomously; he gives importance to their relationship to one another and to the empty potent space. The ‘conversations’ between the protaganists lend to anthromorphic associations and a drama where the push-pull tensions become an expressive force. \nTwo Jug Conversation with Figs: oil on canvas: 102 x 92cm. © Jason Sumray 2020-2025. All rights reserved\nWith the chiaraoscuro language he loves\, Sumray creates ‘slow time’ images. The dark colour behind sets the tone of the whole image\, pervading the entire mood; deep red-blacks\, dark greens or blue-blacks. There is seldom a recognisable reference in the background that would locate the images; the theatrical stage-like arrangement of the still life in front is isolated in time and space. \nSumray etches from his paintings and paints from his etchings; they inform each other. He loves the blackness of the etching ink and approaches the medium with a painters attitude; trying as much as he can to manipulate\, urging it to respond in more painterly terms. \nVera’s Jug with Apples and Two Spoons:etching and aquatint plate size: 22cm x 25cm. © Jason Sumray 2020-2025. All rights reserved\nJason Sumray lives and paints in North London. He has exhibited in various galleries in London and else where and has been shortlisted for a number of Open Competitions. He won the Discerning Drawing Bursary in 2011 and was joint winner of the Marshwood Arts Award in 2017. His series of paintings based on Samuel Beckett’s ‘Krapp’s Last Tape’ were exhibited as part of the inaugural International Beckett Festival\, Enniskillen\, NI\, in 2012. In 2016 his Fisherman paintings were shown in the Fishing Museum in Cromer. Sumray studied for his Fine Art degree at Brighton Polytechnic. He gained his Masters in Fine Art from the Sir John Cass School of Art. He was awarded distinction for his research on the nature of symbolism and metaphor in paintings. In 2016 he was proud to curate the exhibition of paintings of his friend and mentor Ron Delavigne at the Highgate Gallery. \n  \n  \nContact: \nArtist Jason Sumray: \nWebsite \nEmail \nCoordinator for Highgate Gallery Dawn Finn: \nEmail
URL:https://hlsi.org.uk/events/jason-sumray-oil-paintings-and-etchings-2020-2026/2026-09-11/
LOCATION:Victoria Hall\, Highgate Literary and Scientific Institution\, 11 South Grove\, London\, N6 6BS\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Arts, Crafts & Design,Gallery Exhibitions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://hlsi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Jason-sumray.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Highgate Gallery":MAILTO:gallery@hlsi.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260914T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260914T160000
DTSTAMP:20260722T092112Z
CREATED:20260706T080011Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260722T092112Z
UID:10002387-1789394400-1789401600@hlsi.org.uk
SUMMARY:Autumn 2026: London Walks
DESCRIPTION:Members:  £170\nNon-members: £216\nConcessions: £30 (call the office 020 8340 3343) \nFootprints of London is delighted to partner with HLSI to bring you a programme of Monday afternoon walks and tours. We are a collective of independent\, qualified and insured London tour guides. All our guides research and write their own walks and tours based on their own interests\, bringing unrivalled knowledge and enthusiasm to the stories they tell. Walks will commence at 2:00pm and last two hours. Indicative location of the start point for each tour is shown below. The guide will send you precise details of the meeting point six days prior to the tour. \n14/09/26\nPriories\, playwrights and printers\nYour guide: Sue McCarthy\nStart: Shoreditch High Street Overground\nFinish: Liverpool Street station \n21/09/26\nSisters in The City\nYour guide: Jenny Mill\nStart: Outside the Railway Tavern\, opposite Liverpool Street station.\nEnd: St Paul’s Cathedral  \n28/09/26\nWhitehall Park: How developers created a new suburb in a hidden N19 area.\nYour guide: Oonagh Gay\nStart: outside St Andrew’s Church\, Whitehall Park\, N19 3TN\, convenient for Archway Road buses.\nFinish: outside St Andrew’s Church. \n05/10/26\nHanwell: Amplifiers\, bats and Brunel.\nYour guide: Alan Fortune\nStart: Hanwell station (Elizabeth Line).\nFinish: Hanwell Broadway\, 207 or SL8 bus ride to Ealing Broadway station (Elizabeth\, Central and District Lines). \n12/10/26\nPalaces\, Potteries\, Pubs and a Pleasure Garden in Vauxhall.\nYour guide: Richard Watkins\nStart: outside Vauxhall tube station\, Bridge Foot\, by Pret.\nFinish: outside St Mary\, Lambeth\, the National Garden Museum. \n19/10/26\nCoats of Many Colours: Uncovering the History of Education in Victoria\nYour guide: Jen Pedler\nStart: Plaza outside Westminster Cathedral.\nFinish: Plaza outside Westminster Cathedral. \n26/10/26 No walk: half-term\n2/11/26\nBroomfield Park\, Enfield’s lost Manor House\nYour guide: Rob Smith\nStart: Palmer’s Green station.\nFinish: Palmer’s Green station. \n09/11/26\nRoyal Docks (East London)\nDocks\, Locks and Barriers: from Royalty to regeneration and scientific innovation.\nYour guide: Neil Sinclair\nStart:  next to the Dockers statue close to the western entrance to the Excel Exhibition Centre. Nearest station Customs House (Elizabeth Line & DLR)\nFinish: Pontoon Dock DLR station. \n16/11/26\nReformation in The City \nYour guide: Jill Finch\nStart: The Dutch Church.\nFinish: St Paul’s Cathedral. \n23/11/26\nSecrets of Westminster\nYour guide: Jo Moncrieff\nStart:  Embankment underground station.\nFinish: Charing Cross station. \n30/11/26\nThe end of the line at Morden: suburbia and a country estate.\nYour guide: Stephen Benton\nStart: Morden underground station (Northern Line).\nFinish: Morden underground station (Northern Line). \n07/12/26\nThe Festival of Britain\, its emigre contribution\, and its legacy.\nYour guide: Marilyn Greene\nStart: Waterloo Station.\nFinish: near Waterloo Bridge.
URL:https://hlsi.org.uk/events/autumn-2026-london-walks/2026-09-14/
LOCATION:Outdoor\, 11 South Grove\, London\, Greater London\, N66BS\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Courses & Workshops,Exercise, Walks & Nature,London Walks,Monday,Outdoors
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://hlsi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/169-ratio-web-images-7-1-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="HLSI Education":MAILTO:education@hlsi.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260914T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260914T160000
DTSTAMP:20260714T130245Z
CREATED:20260706T080027Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260714T130245Z
UID:10002610-1789394400-1789401600@hlsi.org.uk
SUMMARY:Autumn 2026: Guilt on Screen
DESCRIPTION:Members:  £190\nNon-members: £240\nConcessions: £30 (call the office 020 8340 3343) \nPlease note that this class takes place on the first floor meaning there is unfortunately no step-free access. \nGuilt is complex and various. It means one thing to a lawyer\, other things to theologians or anthropologists\, and a whole host of contradictory things to psychologists. Some disciplines\, therefore\, seek to pin guilt down with a definition. Within the confines of a particular field\, such as some branches of psychology\, there may good reason to distinguish guilt from\, say\, shame. But such simplifying definitions are only valid within specific discourses\, not in cultural life as a whole. There\, different versions of guilt interact with each other in complex and often confusing ways. \nIn the nineteenth century guilt normally signified the objective state of having violated a law or principle. But increasingly (as the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary noted in 1900) guilt was often ‘misused for sense of guilt’. Increasingly\, guilt divided into two large types: objective and subjective. Another broad division appeared to exist between modern kinds of guilt (mostly tied to evidence and the individual and so\, one might hope\, ultimately rational) and archaic forms of guilt\, which could include things that strike us now as odd or irrational\, including the idea of guilt as ritual pollution rather than as the result of specific wrongdoing\, and the notion that guilt can be transferred or inflicted\, as happens with scapegoating rites. But this division between archaic and modern guilts is more apparent than real. As some whistleblowers today can attest\, the scapegoat is not confined to the past. Nor are all the kinds of guilt we deal with rationally explicable as the consequences of an individual’s action or inaction. As Freud argued\, sometimes guilt precedes wrongdoing. \nFilm is good at representing the complexity of life by revealing relations between disparate things\, even if in practical life we normally seek to keep them apart. It is invaluable in exposing the complexities of guilt in its many forms. We will explore guilt in a variety of films in different genres from around the world. \nProvisional syllabus \n\nMassacres\n\nThe Act of Killing\, dir. Joshua Oppenheimer et al\,  Denmark\, Indonesia\, Norway. UK.\nNostalgia for the Light\, dir. Patricio Guzman\, 2010. France\, Chile\, Germany\, Spain\, USA\nKatyn\, dir. Andrzej Wajda\, 2007. Poland.\n\n\nLove and Sexuality\n\nIn the Mood for Love\, dir. Wong Kar Wai\, 2000. Hong Kong\, France.\nBlack Narcissus\, dir. Powell and Pressburger\, 1947. UK.\nThe Piano Teacher\, dir. Michael Haneke\, 2001. France\, Austria.\n\n\nChildhood\n\nMirror\, dir. Andrei Tarkovsky\, 1975. USSR.\nFallen Idol\, dir. Carol Reed\, 1948. UK.\nCapturing the Friedmans\, dir. Andrew Jarecki\, 2003. USA.\n\n\nInstitutions\n\nThe Trial\, dir. Orson Welles\, 1962. France\, Italy\, West Germany.\nCarandiru. dir. Hector Babenco\, 2003. Brazil\, Argentina.\nThe Stanford Prison Experiment\, dir. Kyle Patrick Alvarez\, 2015. USA.
URL:https://hlsi.org.uk/events/autumn-2026-guilt-on-screen/2026-09-14/
LOCATION:Gosling Room\, 11 South Grove Highgate\, London N6 6BS\, N6 6BS
CATEGORIES:Cinema,Courses & Workshops,Monday,Music & Film
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://hlsi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/169-ratio-web-images-16-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="HLSI Education":MAILTO:education@hlsi.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260914T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260914T160000
DTSTAMP:20260709T072823Z
CREATED:20260706T080042Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260709T072823Z
UID:10002473-1789394400-1789401600@hlsi.org.uk
SUMMARY:Autumn 2026: History - The World of the Early Middle Ages
DESCRIPTION:12 weeks \nMembers: £180\nNon-members:  £226\nConcessions: £30(call the office 020 8340 3343) \nDelivered as a series of lectures\, Dr Mark Patton will take you on a journey through ‘the world of the early middle ages’ from the world of the Balkans to Irish epics. There will be time during the break and following the class for students to ask any follow up questions regarding the material covered. Mark also provides the slides and any handouts in advance of each session\, giving students a time to review the material prior to the lecture. \n  \nReading List:\nGillian Clark: Late Antiquity: A Very Short Introduction. \nTom Holland: In the Shadow of the Sword: The Battle for Global Empire and the End of the Ancient World. \nTom Holland: Dominion: The Making of the Western Mind. \nNeil Price: Children of Ash and Elm: A History of the Vikings. \nRubin: The Middle Ages: A Very Short Introduction.
URL:https://hlsi.org.uk/events/autumn-2026-history/2026-09-14/
LOCATION:Victoria Hall\, Highgate Literary and Scientific Institution\, 11 South Grove\, London\, N6 6BS\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Courses & Workshops,History,History & Politics,Monday
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://hlsi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/169-ratio-web-images-8-1-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="HLSI Education":MAILTO:education@hlsi.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260914T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260914T160000
DTSTAMP:20260721T080906Z
CREATED:20260706T080046Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260721T080906Z
UID:10002546-1789394400-1789401600@hlsi.org.uk
SUMMARY:Autumn 2026: Watercolour (online)
DESCRIPTION:Members:  £190\nNon-members: £240\nConcessions: £30 (call the office 020 8340 3343) \nThis course is suitable for beginners and people with some experience. Students will be introduced to various watercolour techniques such as wet on wet\, mixing colours on the paper\, wet onto dry\, catching the tooth of the paper\, scumbling\, pattering\, use of a rigger and feather\, use of masking fluid\, craft knife\, etc. Students will work at their own pace on subjects of their choice. \n\nYou can create paintings based on real objects\, other artworks\, photographs or your imagination. You can be as “real or unreal” as you want. Where appropriate we will discuss how you might use your watercolours as illustrations. Your tutor also has a wide range of watercolour images in a variety of styles by many other watercolour artists that he supplies as jpegs\, as possible sources of inspiration. Your tutor has a camera set up so that he can demonstrate the various techniques involved\, as and when required. \n\nMaterials\n-B or 2B pencil\n-Eraser\n-Pencil sharpener\n-12” ruler No 4 round watercolour brush\n-No 2 ‘Rigger’ or Liner watercolour brush (very long bristle bristles)\n-A medium / large size (like a No 10\, cheap as in less than £3\n-Mop’ watercolour brush if the shop does not have such a thing wait until class starts and we will sort it out then. (Bring all your watercolour brushes if you have any.\n-Winsor & Newton – Cotman Water Colour 12 Half Pan Sketchers’ Pocket Box (you should be able to get one for approx £9\, but best not to buy a cheap set.\n-A4 or A3 watercolour paper pad- 300gms weight (the weight is quite important as thinner paper tend to buckle) either Langton\, Winsor &Newton’s Cotman\, Aquafine or Bockingford\, preferably ‘rough or cold pressed’ in texture. If you want to create fine\, detailed work\, then a smoother texture would be best\, such as “hot-pressed”.\n-A4 or A3 watercolour paper pad- 300gms weight (the weight is quite important as thinner paper tend to buckle) either Langton\, Winsor &Newton’s Cotman\, Aquafine or Bockingford. I would suggest one with a nice texture (usually the one called “rough” or “Cold Pressed/ NOT”) but if you want to create fine\, detailed work\, then a smoother texture would be best\, such as “hot-pressed”.
URL:https://hlsi.org.uk/events/11530/2026-09-14/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:Arts, Crafts & Design,Courses & Workshops,Monday
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://hlsi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ApplesBananas-scaled-e1784621340249.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="HLSI Education":MAILTO:education@hlsi.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260914T170000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260914T180000
DTSTAMP:20260706T080844Z
CREATED:20260706T080028Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260706T080844Z
UID:10002254-1789405200-1789408800@hlsi.org.uk
SUMMARY:Autumn 2026: Pilates (Mondays)
DESCRIPTION:Members: £144\nNon-members: £180\nConcessions: £30 (call the office 020 8340 3343) \nThis course is aimed at anyone looking to improve strength\, flexibility and posture. Pilates is a complete exercise method that targets the deep postural muscles\, building strength from inside out.  It rebalances the body bringing it into correct alignment whilst improving flexibility and posture. It will energise you as well as help you feel calm and achieve a sense of well-being. \nThe teaching will be adapted to cater for different levels of experience. It will cover the three fundamentals: alignment\, breathing and centring. On top of this will be layered exercises that help build up strength\, flexibility and posture.
URL:https://hlsi.org.uk/events/autumn-2026-pilates-mondays/2026-09-14/
LOCATION:Victoria Hall\, Highgate Literary and Scientific Institution\, 11 South Grove\, London\, N6 6BS\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Courses & Workshops,Exercise, Walks & Nature,Monday,Pilates
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://hlsi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/pilates-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="HLSI Education":MAILTO:education@hlsi.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260914T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260914T190000
DTSTAMP:20260706T072916Z
CREATED:20260706T080029Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260706T072916Z
UID:10002924-1789412400-1789412400@hlsi.org.uk
SUMMARY:Autumn 2026: Musical Theatre Choir
DESCRIPTION:Members/Non-Members: £96\nConcessions: £30(call the office 020 8340 3343) \nIt’s showtime on Monday nights! \nDiscover your voice\, and be part of something joyful\, through the magic of musical theatre\, with a unique emphasis on performance skills\, in the wonderful surroundings of HSLI’s very own Victoria Hall. \nWhether you’re completely new to singing or an experienced chorister\, this choir is for you. No experience\, no audition and no sight-reading required. Just a love of music. Acclaimed Musical Director and Vocal Coach\, Chris Huntley\, with his great experience and infectious enthusiasm aims to bring out the performing potential of every individual and group\, within a fun\, welcoming and exhilarating\, community atmosphere. We sing a varied repertoire\, from golden age favourites to modern concept musicals\, and each term we put those skills to good use performing for the public. \nCome for the music\, stay for the community! \nStill unsure? You’re welcome to attend a taster session\, by contacting the office on 020 8340 3343 or by email
URL:https://hlsi.org.uk/events/autumn-2026-musical-theatre-choir/2026-09-14/
LOCATION:Victoria Hall\, Highgate Literary and Scientific Institution\, 11 South Grove\, London\, N6 6BS\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Courses & Workshops,Monday,Music & Film,Musical Theatre
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://hlsi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/169-ratio-web-images-1-scaled.png
ORGANIZER;CN="HLSI Education":MAILTO:education@hlsi.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260915T090000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260915T100000
DTSTAMP:20260708T133905Z
CREATED:20260706T123940Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260708T133905Z
UID:10002302-1789462800-1789466400@hlsi.org.uk
SUMMARY:Autumn 2026: Fitness for All
DESCRIPTION:Members: £144\nNon-members: £180\nConcessions: £30 (call the office 020 8340 3343) \nThese sessions are open to all men and women regardless of age\, fitness level\, ability or experience.  This physical exercise programme enables everyone to improve their general fitness\, balance\, flexibility\, strength and endurance in a safe\, lively and structured session. \nThe exercises are chosen for their universal benefits with the intention of equipping students with improved ‘functional skills’\, but options will be given to make them achievable for all where adaptations are needed.  The class is low impact and care is taken to ensure the student is in control of their movements and body all the time.  The bulk of the class is standing and moving but sitting down is an option for much of it\, if necessary. \nLed by a teacher specialising in GP Exercise Referral as well as Exercise for the Older Adult\, options will be offered for people with specific injuries or medical conditions.  Gentle but robust\, targeting the major muscle groups\, and incorporating core strength exercises\, this course aims to be fully body-conditioning… and\, hopefully\, fun! \nPlease contact the office to receive a health checklist which must be completed before the start of the course.
URL:https://hlsi.org.uk/events/autumn-2026-fitness-for-all-2/2026-09-15/
LOCATION:Victoria Hall\, Highgate Literary and Scientific Institution\, 11 South Grove\, London\, N6 6BS\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Courses & Workshops,Exercise, Walks & Nature,Fitness for All,Tuesday
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://hlsi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/169-ratio-web-images-10-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="HLSI Education":MAILTO:education@hlsi.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260915T101500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260915T121500
DTSTAMP:20260811T115807Z
CREATED:20260706T080026Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T115807Z
UID:10002747-1789467300-1789474500@hlsi.org.uk
SUMMARY:Autumn 2026: Italian Intermediate
DESCRIPTION:Members:   £190\nNon-members:  £240\nConcessions: £30 (call the office 020 8340 3343) \nPlease note that this class takes place on the first floor meaning there is unfortunately no step-free access. \nThis course is for students who are already proficient and who wish to maintain and develop their skills. In this class speaking will be the main activity\, and students will be encouraged to bring personal\, cultural and topical news to the classroom and make short presentations about them. \nOther activities include: reading and listening comprehensions\, information gap activities in class and written work at home. Starting from the students oral and written production we then extend vocabulary and concentrate on accuracy of language. The target language will be used as much as possible\, but in some cases grammatical explanations will be done in English. Please note that this group of students have just completed “Nuovo Espresso 4” (B2) libro dello studente e esercizi\, Alma Edizioni\, so in September 2026 they will go on to use: “Nuovo Espresso 5” (C1) libro dello studente e esercizi\, Alma Edizioni. We will also chose a book to read and discuss for the Term
URL:https://hlsi.org.uk/events/autumn-2026-italian-intermediate/2026-09-15/
LOCATION:Linden Room\, Highgate Literary and Scientific Institution\, 11 South Grove\, London\, N6 6BS\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Courses & Workshops,Intermediate,Italian,Languages,Languages, Literature & Philosophy,Tuesday
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://hlsi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/nova-POIGO7EP_H8-unsplash-scaled-e1783068684982.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="HLSI Education":MAILTO:education@hlsi.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260915T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260915T123000
DTSTAMP:20260811T120356Z
CREATED:20260706T080007Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T120356Z
UID:10002226-1789468200-1789475400@hlsi.org.uk
SUMMARY:Autumn 2026: French Improvers
DESCRIPTION:Members: £190\nNon-members: £240\nConcessions: £30 (call the office 020 8340 3343) \nPlease note that this event will be taking place on the first floor\, where there is no step-free access \nThis class welcomes students who wish to reconnect with French -whether you studied it long ago\, learn independently\, travel often to France\, or simply enjoy French culture.  \nLearning a language is not only grammar: it is a voice\, a rhythm\, a way of expressing yourself. To build confidence\, explore clear pronunciation\, and develop natural expression while learning the essentials—present‑tense verbs\, gender\, everyday vocabulary\, and simple\, useful structures.  \nWe work with authentic\, contemporary materials such as short articles\, videos\, dialogues\, and cultural extracts. Grammar is taught through real‑life themes: travel\, culture\, food\, society\, and the many aspects that make French life unique.  \nClasses take place in a warm\, respectful\, and friendly atmosphere\, where communication is encouraged\, confidence grows naturally\, and learning becomes a genuine moment of sharing and connection. 
URL:https://hlsi.org.uk/events/autumn-2026-french-improvers/2026-09-15/
LOCATION:Gosling Room\, 11 South Grove Highgate\, London N6 6BS\, N6 6BS
CATEGORIES:Beginners,Courses & Workshops,French,Improvers,Languages,Languages, Literature & Philosophy,Tuesday
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://hlsi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/169-ratio-web-images-7-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="HLSI Education":MAILTO:education@hlsi.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260915T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260915T130000
DTSTAMP:20260706T080810Z
CREATED:20260706T080039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260706T080810Z
UID:10002194-1789470000-1789477200@hlsi.org.uk
SUMMARY:Autumn 2026: Portrait and Clothed Figure Drawing
DESCRIPTION:Members: £275\nNon-Members: £315\nConcessions: £30 (call the office 020 8340 3343) \nStarting with the skull\, we will study basic anatomy\, the structure of the head and how to draw facial features. There will be two models to draw at each session. Students can either concentrate on drawing one or both models. A few short poses will be followed by one long pose allowing time for careful study. The focus will be on working from observation. \nEasels and A1 & A2 size drawing boards are provided in addition to paper. \nPlease bring your own drawing materials – e.g. charcoal\, graphite\, soft pastels and coloured pencils. \nThe fees for this class include payment for the models and the provision of paper.
URL:https://hlsi.org.uk/events/autumn-2026-portrait-and-clothed-figure-drawing/2026-09-15/
LOCATION:Victoria Hall\, Highgate Literary and Scientific Institution\, 11 South Grove\, London\, N6 6BS\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Arts, Crafts & Design,Courses & Workshops,Tuesday
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://hlsi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/A7406301-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="HLSI Education":MAILTO:education@hlsi.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260915T122000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260915T142000
DTSTAMP:20260811T115817Z
CREATED:20260706T080020Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T115817Z
UID:10002936-1789474800-1789482000@hlsi.org.uk
SUMMARY:Italian Higher Intermediate
DESCRIPTION:Members:   £190\nNon-members:  £240\nConcessions: £30 (call the office 020 8340 3343) \nPlease note that this class takes place on the first floor meaning there is unfortunately no step-free access. \nThis course is for students who have studied Italian for several years and aims to consolidate existing language knowledge and develop it further by expanding vocabulary\, grammar and structures. Students will be encouraged to bring personal\, social\, cultural\, and topical news to the group by way of brief presentations. Students will be asked to buy a novel\, which will be read at home but analysed together in class. In this class we discuss different topics focusing on the exchange of ideas and accuracy of language in a friendly atmosphere where everybody can work at their own pace. The class will be taught fully in Italian\, and a variety of teaching methods will be deployed to maximise opportunities to use the language.
URL:https://hlsi.org.uk/events/italian-higher-intermediate/2026-09-15/
LOCATION:Linden Room\, Highgate Literary and Scientific Institution\, 11 South Grove\, London\, N6 6BS\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Courses & Workshops,Higher Intermediate,Italian,Languages,Languages, Literature & Philosophy,Tuesday
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://hlsi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/alessandro-rossi-7DMhEQQqKsM-unsplash-scaled-e1783069579936.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="HLSI Education":MAILTO:education@hlsi.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260915T133000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260915T153000
DTSTAMP:20260703T115027Z
CREATED:20260706T080040Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260703T115027Z
UID:10002181-1789479000-1789486200@hlsi.org.uk
SUMMARY:Autumn 2026: Life Drawing
DESCRIPTION:Members:  £235\nNon-members: £275\nConcessions: £30 (call the office 020 8340 3343) \nThis friendly class welcomes students of all abilities – the sessions are appropriate for complete beginners\, those who want to improve their drawing skills and others with plenty of drawing experience. \nThe course\, taught by Judy Purbeck MA\, will cover: line\, tone\, proportion and basic anatomy; how to draw heads\, hands & feet; and how to use various drawing media. There will be a different model each week in short and longer poses. A1 and A2 size drawing boards are provided in addition to paper. \nThe fees for this course include payment for the weekly model and the provision of paper. \nPlease bring your own drawing materials. To start with you will need charcoal (various widths)\, an eraser\, a putty rubber\, a graphite pencil (6B) and masking tape.
URL:https://hlsi.org.uk/events/autumn-2026-life-drawing/2026-09-15/
LOCATION:Victoria Hall\, Highgate Literary and Scientific Institution\, 11 South Grove\, London\, N6 6BS\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Arts, Crafts & Design,Courses & Workshops,Tuesday
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://hlsi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/169-ratio-web-images-scaled.png
ORGANIZER;CN="HLSI Education":MAILTO:education@hlsi.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260915T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260915T160000
DTSTAMP:20260708T165010Z
CREATED:20260706T080005Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260708T165010Z
UID:10002145-1789480800-1789488000@hlsi.org.uk
SUMMARY:Autumn 2026: Modernist Mavericks - Jessica Dismorr and Helen Saunders as Vorticists
DESCRIPTION:Members:  £70\nNon-members: £90\nConcessions: £30 (call the office 020 8340 3343) \nPlease note that this class takes place on the first floor meaning there is unfortunately no step-free access. \nIn 1914 Jessica Dismorr (1885-1939) and Helen Saunders (1885-1963) were the only women among the eleven artist signatories of the Vorticist manifesto published in Blast. Until relatively recently they had been neglected in the historiographies of English modernism\, their involvement in the Vorticist project viewed as peripheral.  \nThis short course will bring these important artists yet further to the centre of the Vorticist project to explore and highlight each artist’s uniquely personal contributions to Vorticism and the English avant-garde. Charting the emergence of Vorticism as it blasted its way onto London’s artistic scene\, the course will explore Dismorr’s and Saunders’ journeys towards Vorticism as modern artists. It will consider their contributions to the Vorticist project through their engagement with the spaces of the modern city and their responses to the catastrophe of the First World War\, as Vorticists\, cosmopolitans\, and modernist mavericks.  \n 
URL:https://hlsi.org.uk/events/autumn-2026-modernist-mavericks-jessica-dismorr-and-helen-saunders-as-vorticists/2026-09-15/
LOCATION:Gosling Room\, 11 South Grove Highgate\, London N6 6BS\, N6 6BS
CATEGORIES:Courses & Workshops,History of Art
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://hlsi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/dance-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="HLSI Education":MAILTO:education@hlsi.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260915T143000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260915T160000
DTSTAMP:20260811T115827Z
CREATED:20260706T080000Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T115827Z
UID:10002360-1789482600-1789488000@hlsi.org.uk
SUMMARY:Autumn 2026: Italian Improvers
DESCRIPTION:Members:   £150\nNon-members:  £185\nConcessions: £30 (call the office 020 8340 3343) \nPlease note that this class takes place on the first floor meaning there is unfortunately no step-free access. \nSpeaking will be the main activity\, and students will be encouraged to bring personal\, cultural and topical news to the classroom\, and make very short presentations about them. Students will also participate in role plays\, reading and listening comprehensions and written homework. Italian will be used as much as possible\, but often grammatical explanations will be done in English. \nPlease note that the majority of students in this group will have completed three years of learning Italian and will have covered Nuovo Espresso 1 and 2\, Alma Edizioni\, so in September 2026 they will go on to use Nuovo Espresso 3 Plus\, Alma Edizioni.
URL:https://hlsi.org.uk/events/autumn-2026-italian-improvers/2026-09-15/
LOCATION:Linden Room\, Highgate Literary and Scientific Institution\, 11 South Grove\, London\, N6 6BS\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Courses & Workshops,Improvers,Italian,Languages,Languages, Literature & Philosophy,Tuesday
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://hlsi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/169-ratio-web-images-4-1-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="HLSI Education":MAILTO:education@hlsi.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260915T161500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260915T174500
DTSTAMP:20260811T115248Z
CREATED:20260706T080045Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T115248Z
UID:10002877-1789488900-1789494300@hlsi.org.uk
SUMMARY:Autumn 2026: Italian Beginners
DESCRIPTION:Members:   £150\nNon-members:  £185\nConcessions: £30 (call the office 020 8340 3343) \nPlease note that this class takes place on the first floor meaning there is unfortunately no step-free access. \nThis beginners course will help you learn the foundation of this beautiful language\, not only through grammar and exercises but also by taking part in controlled oral activities like role-plays\, with the aim of developing your speaking and listening skills. The teacher will also provide her own material. \nStudents will be expected to buy the textbook Nuovo Espresso Plus 1\, libro per la classe e esercizi\, Alma edizioni
URL:https://hlsi.org.uk/events/autumn-2026-italian-beginners/2026-09-15/
LOCATION:Linden Room\, Highgate Literary and Scientific Institution\, 11 South Grove\, London\, N6 6BS\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Beginners,Courses & Workshops,Italian,Languages,Languages, Literature & Philosophy,Tuesday
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://hlsi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/owen-roth-fg4QjfOpw1s-unsplash-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="HLSI Education":MAILTO:education@hlsi.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260915T200000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260915T210000
DTSTAMP:20260709T100105Z
CREATED:20260623T140906Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260709T100105Z
UID:10002179-1789502400-1789506000@hlsi.org.uk
SUMMARY:Lecture Seasons Autumn 2026 & Spring 2027
DESCRIPTION:  \nHLSI Members can now book the Autumn and Spring seasons together as part of the membership. This runs between 15 September 2026 and 20 April 2027. \nPlease log in and book to receive a link each Tuesday afternoon to watch the live lecture at home from 8pm. \nYou can come along in person too. \n 
URL:https://hlsi.org.uk/events/lecture-seasons-autumn-2026-spring-2027/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:Lectures online,Tuesday Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://hlsi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Lecture-image-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Lectures":MAILTO:admin@hlsi.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260915T200000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260915T210000
DTSTAMP:20260708T164609Z
CREATED:20260624T104622Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260708T164609Z
UID:10002213-1789502400-1789506000@hlsi.org.uk
SUMMARY:The North Road\, a journey through history\, people\, place and time
DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Rob Cowen\, poet\, nature and travel writer \nThe North Road\, the A1\, is Britain’s primary road – a 400-mile arterial link that has run like a backbone through the country between London and Edinburgh for the last 2000 years.  It’s a multiplicity of ancient trackway\, Roman road\, pilgrim path\, coach route and motorway.  The discovery of a skull during a dig for Roman remains within earshot of the roar of the road’s traffic sent Rob Cowen digging through layers of the road’s history and his sense of who he is. Weaving his own histories and memories with the landscapes he moves through\, this is the story of an age\, of coming to terms with time passing\, and the roads that lead us to where we find ourselves. \nRob Cowen is an award-winning poet\, nature and travel writer. Skimming Stones and Other Ways of Being in the Wild won the Roger Deakin Award from the Society of Authors. His second book\, Common Ground\, was shortlisted for the Wainwright\, Portico and Richard Jefferies Society prizes and voted one of Britain’s favourite nature books of all time in a BBC poll. The Heeding\, his sequence of thirty-five poems\, was the best-selling debut poetry book published in 2021. The North Road was published earlier this year. He has contributed to the New York Times\, the Guardian and the Telegraph and written essays and radio programmes for the BBC. \nAttkins Memorial Lecture     \nMembers: Free\, Online or Victoria Hall\nNon-Members: £10\, Online or Victoria Hall. To attend in person\, please pay on the door\nPlease book\, for online link only\, by 1pm on the day of the event\n \nPlease join us for a drink in the Members’ Room after the lecture
URL:https://hlsi.org.uk/events/the-north-road-a-journey-through-history-people-place-and-time/
LOCATION:Victoria Hall / Online\, HLSI\, 1 South Grove\, Highgate London\, London\, N6 6BS\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Lectures online,Tuesday Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://hlsi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Photo-Paul-Crowther-Rob-Cowen-crop.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Lectures":MAILTO:admin@hlsi.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260916T090000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260916T100000
DTSTAMP:20260706T081035Z
CREATED:20260706T080023Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260706T081035Z
UID:10002290-1789549200-1789552800@hlsi.org.uk
SUMMARY:Autumn 2026: Pilates (Wednesdays)
DESCRIPTION:Members: £144\nNon-members: £180\nConcessions: £30 (call the office 020 8340 3343) \nThis course is aimed at anyone looking to improve strength\, flexibility and posture. Pilates is a complete exercise method that targets the deep postural muscles\, building strength from inside out.  It rebalances the body bringing it into correct alignment whilst improving flexibility and posture. It will energise you as well as help you feel calm and achieve a sense of well-being. \nThe teaching will be adapted to cater for different levels of experience. It will cover the three fundamentals: alignment\, breathing and centring. On top of this will be layered exercises that help build up strength\, flexibility and posture.
URL:https://hlsi.org.uk/events/autumn-2026-pilates-wednesdays/2026-09-16/
LOCATION:Victoria Hall\, Highgate Literary and Scientific Institution\, 11 South Grove\, London\, N6 6BS\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Courses & Workshops,Exercise, Walks & Nature,Pilates,Wednesday
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://hlsi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/169-ratio-web-images-9-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="HLSI Education":MAILTO:education@hlsi.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260916T101500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260916T121500
DTSTAMP:20260811T120313Z
CREATED:20260706T080037Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T120313Z
UID:10002239-1789553700-1789560900@hlsi.org.uk
SUMMARY:Autumn 2026: French Higher Intermediate
DESCRIPTION:Members: £190\nNon-members: £240\nConcessions: £30 (call the office 020 8340 3343) \nPlease note that this class takes place on the first floor meaning there is unfortunately no step-free access. \nIn this class\, we revisit the areas verb conjugations\, sentence structure\, listening comprehension\, phonetics\, and diction. Grammar is reviewed à la carte according to your needs. Our materials include press articles\, literature (including the study of a novel)\, video and audio documentaries.  \nThe level we aim for is a confident command of French: recognising present\, past\, and future forms\, using the conditional\, and understanding the role of the subjunctive. The key words in this class are exchange\, simplicity\, and the joy of learning\, with themes drawn not only from everyday life but also from the world of ideas.  \nDrawing on her background in theatre Marie-Pierre\, your tutor\, believes in “breathing the language”—letting it live through voice\, rhythm\, and presence. This is what brings the learning experience to life in a warm\, responsive\, and genuinely human atmosphere. 
URL:https://hlsi.org.uk/events/autumn-2026-french-higher-intermediate/2026-09-16/
LOCATION:Gosling Room\, 11 South Grove Highgate\, London N6 6BS\, N6 6BS
CATEGORIES:Courses & Workshops,Languages,Languages, Literature & Philosophy,Wednesday
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://hlsi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/169-ratio-web-images-8-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="HLSI Education":MAILTO:education@hlsi.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260916T101500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260916T121500
DTSTAMP:20260811T121749Z
CREATED:20260706T080045Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T121749Z
UID:10002362-1789553700-1789560900@hlsi.org.uk
SUMMARY:Autumn 2026: Spanish Intermediate
DESCRIPTION:Members:   £190\nNon-members:  £240\nConcessions: £30 (call the office 020 8340 3343) \nPlease note that this class takes place on the first floor meaning there is unfortunately no step-free access. \nThis course is for those who are confident with basic conversation and want to improve their fluency and accuracy when talking about a wide range of subjects\, and have studied for about 3-4 academic years of equivalent. Students will be expected to have some knowledge of present\, past\, future\, conditional gerund\, and present subjunctive and imperative tenses\, although these will be revised and practiced as needed. They will also be expected to bring personal\, social\, cultural and topical news  to the classroom and make presentations about them. Topics for conversation will include plays\, films\, exhibitions\, current affairs\, and personal interests students may want to talk about. \nWe shall continue to revise and practise the present subjunctive tense\, and will also do the past subjunctive\, and the if clause\, as well as the use of prepositions and ‘to become’. Speaking will be the main activity\, and the target language will be used as much as possible\, but grammatical explanations will be done in English. Students will participate in discussions and debates arriving from their presentations and articles provided by the teacher. Other activities will include reading and listening\, comprehensions\, translation and written homework using handouts provided by the teacher\, as well as exercises from the book we will be reading. \nStudents will be expected to buy: Simple Coincidencia by Salvador Álvaro Garcia ISBN 84-667-0053-6
URL:https://hlsi.org.uk/events/autumn-2026-spanish-intermediate/2026-09-16/
LOCATION:Linden Room\, Highgate Literary and Scientific Institution\, 11 South Grove\, London\, N6 6BS\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Courses & Workshops,Intermediate,Languages,Languages, Literature & Philosophy,Spanish,Wednesday
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://hlsi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/169-ratio-web-images-5-1-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="HLSI Education":MAILTO:education@hlsi.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260916T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260916T123000
DTSTAMP:20260703T084031Z
CREATED:20260706T080016Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260703T084031Z
UID:10002683-1789554600-1789561800@hlsi.org.uk
SUMMARY:Autumn 2026: Music Appreciation - An isle full of noises: a history of British music up to 1934
DESCRIPTION:Members: £85\nNon-Members: £108\nConcessions: £30 (call the office 020 8340 3343) \nA series of lectures taking place in our bright and airy Victoria Hall. \n\nFrom Chapel to Choirbook: English Music in the Late Middle Ages and Early Tudor Age c. 1350-1530 \n\nThe rise of a distinct English sacred tradition before and around the early Tudor period: polyphony for the church\, the flowering of large-scale Marian devotion\, and the importance of liturgical institutions such as cathedrals\, collegiate foundations\, and the Chapel Royal.  \n\n Reformation and Reinvention: Music from Henry VIII to Elizabeth I c. 1530-1603 \n\nHow religious upheaval transformed English music: Latin giving way to English\, then partly returning\, then coexisting. A great age in which composers had to be both artists and political survivors.  \n\n Courts\, Theatres\, and Civil War: From the Late Elizabethans to Purcell c. 1603-1700\n\nThe shift from Tudor sacred and domestic traditions toward the more theatrical and expressive world of the Stuart court\, interrupted by Civil War and Commonwealth\, and crowned by the genius of Purcell.  \n\n Handel and the Georgian Age: Opera\, Oratorio\, and Public Musical Life c. 1700-1800\n\nThe 18th century as the age in which London became one of Europe’s great musical capitals. Though many leading figures were foreign-born\, this period is central to British music because it is about institutions\, audiences\, patronage\, and the creation of a public concert culture in Britain.  \n\n From Glee to Festival: British Music in the Long Nineteenth Century before Elgar\n 1800-1880s\n\nA period of institution-building\, choral expansion\, and stylistic preparation. Britain becomes a land of festivals\, amateur choral societies\, ballad culture\, and imported prestige\, while native composition slowly regathers momentum.  \n\n The English Musical Renaissance and Beyond: Parry\, Stanford\, Elgar\, Delius\, and Holstc. 1880s-1934\n\nThe flowering of British music from the later Victorian period to the deaths of Elgar\, Delius\, and Holst. This is the period in which British composers re-enter international conversation with music of symphonic\, choral\, operatic\, and orchestral distinction. 
URL:https://hlsi.org.uk/events/autumn-2026-music-appreciation-an-isle-full-of-noises-a-history-of-british-music-up-to-1934/2026-09-16/
LOCATION:Victoria Hall\, Highgate Literary and Scientific Institution\, 11 South Grove\, London\, N6 6BS\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Courses & Workshops,Music & Film,Music Appreciation,Wednesday
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://hlsi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/169-ratio-web-images-2-scaled.png
ORGANIZER;CN="HLSI Education":MAILTO:education@hlsi.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260916T123000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260916T143000
DTSTAMP:20260811T121731Z
CREATED:20260706T080059Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T121731Z
UID:10002334-1789561800-1789569000@hlsi.org.uk
SUMMARY:Autumn 2026: Spanish Improvers
DESCRIPTION:Members:   £190\nNon-members:  £240\nConcessions: £30 (call the office 020 8340 3343) \nPlease note that this class takes place on the first floor meaning there is unfortunately no step-free access. \nThis course is for those who have studied for a minimum of two academic years or equivalent\, and want to communicate effectively in a range of topics from everyday situations to home\, family\, work and leisure\, as well as events from the past and plans for the future. Students will be expected to have some knowledge of present\, past and future tenses\, although these will be revised and practised as needed. \nTopics will include: giving instructions and commands\, predictions and probabilities\, telling stories and anecdotes\, making complaints and reporting problems. We will be revising and practising preterite and imperfect tenses and will also do the pluperfect\, and will begin to explore the subjunctive and formal as well and the informal imperative. \nSpeaking will be the main activity\, and students will be encouraged to bring\, personal\, cultural and topical news to the classroom\, and make short presentations about them. Students will participate in role-plays\, pair work\, group work\, games and exercises. Other activities will include: reading and listening comprehensions\, translation\, and written homework using the book and handouts provided by the teacher. The target language will be used as much as possible\, but grammatical explanations will be done in English. \nStudents will be expected to buy the textbook: Sueños 2\, (BBC) ISBN 0-56351912-6\, once we have finished Sueños World Spanish 1 (BBC) ISBN 0-563-47246-4
URL:https://hlsi.org.uk/events/autumn-2026-spanish-improvers/2026-09-16/
LOCATION:Linden Room\, Highgate Literary and Scientific Institution\, 11 South Grove\, London\, N6 6BS\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Courses & Workshops,Improvers,Languages,Languages, Literature & Philosophy,Spanish,Wednesday
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://hlsi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/169-ratio-web-images-1-1-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="HLSI Education":MAILTO:education@hlsi.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260916T131500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260916T151500
DTSTAMP:20260811T120345Z
CREATED:20260706T080016Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T120345Z
UID:10002862-1789564500-1789571700@hlsi.org.uk
SUMMARY:Autumn 2026: French Higher Intermediate Plus
DESCRIPTION:Members:   £190\nNon-members:  £240\nConcessions: £30 (call the office 020 8340 3343) \nPlease note that this class takes place on the first floor meaning there is unfortunately no step-free access. \nDo you enjoy speaking\, thinking\, and exchanging ideas with others through a French book\, a play\, or a press article? Do you already have a solid command of French—its prepositions\, its rules and exceptions\, its tricks and its traps? Are you curious\, engaged with the world\, and interested in the things of life? If so\, this class is your weekly home. A place where you can nourish your enthusiasm\, share your insights\, and explore contemporary culture in a warm\, lively\, and genuinely supportive atmosphere. \nDrawing on her background her theatre\, Marie-Pierre\, your tutor\, believes in “breathing the language”—letting it live through voice\, rhythm\, and presence. This is what brings the learning experience to life in a warm\, responsive\, and genuinely human atmosphere for you to continue to improve your command of the French language through real-world examples.
URL:https://hlsi.org.uk/events/autumn-2026-french-higher-intermediate-plus/2026-09-16/
LOCATION:Gosling Room\, 11 South Grove Highgate\, London N6 6BS\, N6 6BS
CATEGORIES:Courses & Workshops,French,Higher Intermediate,Languages,Languages, Literature & Philosophy,Wednesday
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://hlsi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/silvan-arnet-y0T543d51QQ-unsplash-scaled-e1783074807102.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="HLSI Education":MAILTO:education@hlsi.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260916T144500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260916T164500
DTSTAMP:20260811T121839Z
CREATED:20260706T080012Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T121839Z
UID:10002823-1789569900-1789577100@hlsi.org.uk
SUMMARY:Autumn 2026: German Advanced
DESCRIPTION:Members:   £190\nNon-members:  £240\nConcessions: £30 (call the office 020 8340 3343) \nPlease note that this class takes place on the first floor meaning there is unfortunately no step-free access. \nThis course is for students who are proficient in the language\, having studied it for five to six years or spent time in the country. It is aimed at those who wish to maintain their proficiency and refine their vocabulary\, and who are interested in keeping up to date with social and cultural aspects of the country. \nThe class will be conducted entirely in German\, and there will be discussions of current and past social and cultural aspects of the country. Grammatical issues will be addressed as needed. \nMaterials: A variety of materials will be used\, including short visual clips\, audio clips for listening exercises\, grammar presentations and interactive games. Different texts will be handed out\, and students will be asked to buy a novel.
URL:https://hlsi.org.uk/events/autumn-2026-german-advanced/2026-09-16/
LOCATION:Linden Room\, Highgate Literary and Scientific Institution\, 11 South Grove\, London\, N6 6BS\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Advanced,Courses & Workshops,German,Languages,Languages, Literature & Philosophy,Wednesday
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://hlsi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/michelangelo-azzariti-WXUGWt5ZaTI-unsplash-scaled-e1783071001250.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="HLSI Education":MAILTO:education@hlsi.org.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260916T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260916T210000
DTSTAMP:20260730T145329Z
CREATED:20260730T141332Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260730T145329Z
UID:10004355-1789587000-1789592400@hlsi.org.uk
SUMMARY:Poetry Soirée
DESCRIPTION:  \nPlease join us in the Members’ Room for an evening of performed poetry. \nCharlotte Harker and Adriana Polifrone both regularly perform on the London circuit. With their very different styles\, they will provide us with a stimulating and entertaining event. \nDoor open at 7pm for 7.30pm start \nThere will be a break at 8pm for refreshments and to chat to the artists \nPlease book tickets early as places are limited: HLSI Members £10 / Non-Members £12 \nCharlotte Harker\nCharlotte Harker is a writer\, performer and visual artist. Her work has been supported by\, amongst others\, Arts Council England and the Pollock Krasner Foundation\, New York. She was the inaugural artist in residence at the Heath Robinson Museum and has been shortlisted for the Jerwood Drawing Prize. Her work has been exhibited widely both in the U.K. and abroad. \nHer first collection of poetry and drawings ‘The Wear and Tear of Conversation’ was published by Dempsey and Windle in 2018. Her work has been included in poetry anthologies\, including with Dempsey and Windle and the Writers Forum London e-zine in 2023. \nA collection of illustrated short form prose ‘The Novel and Other Incidents’ was published by TSL Publications in 2022 and ‘Model Boat Club Blues and Other Predicaments’ in 2024 also by TSL Publications \nHer poetry and prose have been described as ranging from satires of the banal to celebrations of the absurd\, exploring the real and imagined and where the surreal seeps into the ordinary. \nShe is a regular performer of her prose and poetry at Survivors Poetry\, Bloomsbury\, London\, Paper Tiger Poetry and the Poetry Shack in London. \nFurther information can be found at TSL Books \nSee the review of ‘The Novel and Other Incidents’ by Carla Scarano here. \nAdriana Polifrone\nAdriana is an Italian born poet\, living and working in London. She started writing poems late in life\, reconnecting with her early passion for literature. She has a degree in English. Adriana writes her poetry in both English and Italian. \nHer poems are predominantly introspective\, born from reflections on the meaning of life\, observations of nature\, our humanity\, and personal relationships. Buddhist philosophy also influences her poetry. \nHer poems have been published on various blogs\, in anthologies in Italy and the UK\, and are published in literary magazines like “Nova” (Italy) and “PenTo Print” (UK). She has also received various awards for her poems\, including: \n\n“ Special award for work from abroad” at the 18th edition of international Poetry\, Literature\, & Arts competition “Albero Andronico”\, Rome – April 2025 for her unpublished collection “Words\, Millimetres and tranquilizers”/“Parole\, Millimetri e Sedativi”.\n“Special Commendation” at the International Poetry and Literature Prize of Isola D’Elba\, 8th Edition – May 2025 for the unpublished poetry collection: “Elements: the wind whispered and woke me up”.\n“ Special award for work from abroad” and Jury Special Commendation at the 32nd edition of national poetry competition for unpublished Poetry “Ossi di Seppia”\, Imperia\, Italy – February2026 for her poetry\, including her unpublished collection “Flowing Lines of Evanescent Moments” /“Righe Fluenti di Momenti Evanescenti”.\n\nShe recently performed at a national poetry festival in Tuscany\, Italy in June 2026. \nIn London she regularly reads at poetry events. \nHer debut poetry collection “Elements: the wind woke me up and whispered ” has just been published in a bilingual edition: English and Italian. \nYou can follow Adriana Polifrone on Facebook \n  \n  \n 
URL:https://hlsi.org.uk/events/poetry-soiree/
CATEGORIES:Special Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://hlsi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Poetry-Soiree-16-September-2026-7-2.jpeg
ORGANIZER;CN="HLSI":MAILTO:admin@hlsi.org.uk
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR