Forthcoming national events
These events are organised by the national u3a and are open to all members. Click on the event title for more information and to book.
| no | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1776434400 | 17th April 2026 2pm | The magic of magic squares In this talk, Alison Eves reveals an intriguing link between a 16th Century Durer etching and a 20th century carving on the Sagrada Familia. Free - online via Zoom |
| 1776780000 | 21st April 2026 2pm | From the dark ages to the Viking age Charles Boundy continues his exploration of early English history with the third of his detailed talks, this time taking us from the so-called Dark Ages through to the first Viking incursions that began to reshape the country in the centuries after Roman rule. Free - online via Zoom Helmet by Leo Reynolds via Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 |
| 1776952800 | 23rd April 2026 2pm | The Missing Pieces project: connecting people and place Learn how you can help uncover hidden stories of England’s historic places through Historic England’s Missing Pieces project. Free - online via Zoom |
| 1777024800 | 24th April 2026 10am | AI news April: AI and geopolitics Alan Freeland explores how nations worldwide use AI to gain advantage from a technology that is both remarkably powerful and deeply flawed. Free - online via Zoom |
| 1777557600 | 30th April 2026 2pm | Oi! Mind yer language! Exploring our English language, as the essential human skill – history, structures, usage, mysteries, magic and more. Free - online via Zoom |
| 1777975200 | 5th May 2026 10am | Flight Inspirations Aviation Group: May The “Spruce Goose,” nickname for the Hughes H-4 Hercules, was built largely of laminated timber during WWII to counter U-boat losses. Driven by Howard Hughes’ bold vision, it became the world’s largest aircraft, flying once in 1947 as proof of his ambition, defiance, and engineering daring. Free - online via Zoom |
| 1777644000 | 1st May 2026 2pm | Kingsmeadow House: the inside story of a modest country house Discover Kingsmeadow House: a hidden country home whose rich history reveals stories of empire, war, scandal, and social change.
Free - online via Zoom Kingsmeadows House by Anthony O'Neil, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons |
| 1778162400 | 7th May 2026 2pm | SAVE buildings at risk: empowering communities Discover how communities can rescue at-risk historic buildings—join Amy Popham from SAVE Britain's Heritage for inspiring real-life success stories. Free - online via Zoom |
| 1778248800 | 8th May 2026 2pm | Enormous numbers and where to find them The number of atoms in the Universe is estimated at 10^80 (that’s a one followed by 80 zeros). Join Dr Richard Elwes to find out more. Free - online via Zoom |
| 1778493600 | 11th May 2026 10am | Exploring World Faiths: May Faith and the media Exploring how faith is portrayed in today’s media—and how those narratives shape understanding, voices, and public perception.
Free - online via Zoom |
| 1778594400 | 12th May 2026 2pm | The Call of the Wild: Stories from the Frontiers of Exploration Join polar explorer and expedition leader Alex McNeil for an illustrated talk drawn from nearly two decades across the Arctic & Antarctica. . Free - online via Zoom |
| 1778666400 | 13th May 2026 10am | Laughter yoga with Judith: May Laughter Yoga combines hearty laughter exercises with deep yoga-style breathing (pranayama). Hosted by Judith Anne Walker of Edinburgh u3a. Free - online via Zoom
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| 1778767200 | 14th May 2026 2pm | Suffering and hope in Tolstoy's Anna Karenina Chris Dowrick explores suffering and hope in Anna Karenina, revealing how literature can deepen our understanding of wellbeing and resilience Free - online via Zoom |
| 1778853600 | 15th May 2026 2pm | The legacy of Edinburgh's Victorian swimming baths Explore Edinburgh’s Victorian swimming baths and discover how they shaped public health, community life, and the city’s heritage. Free - online via Zoom |
| 1779357600 | 21st May 2026 10am | Mindfulness and meditation continuation session: May Join us each month as we continue the practices introduced in the Mindfulness and Meditation Series, and introduce new ones. Free - online via Zoom |
| 1779458400 | 22nd May 2026 2pm | AI news: May How can AI help us to maintain our independence? Explore how AI can help you stay independent as you age, with practical tools, future insights, and guidance from the u3a AI team. Free - online via Zoom |
| 1779976800 | 28th May 2026 2pm | People's Collection Wales: exploring the public archive of Welsh history Explore how People’s Collection Wales helps communities share and preserve Welsh history through a unique public digital archive. Free - online via Zoom |
| 1780063200 | 29th May 2026 2pm | Drones, huh? What are they good for? Dr Steve Bullock gives his view of drones and their growing and evolving role in our skies. Free - online via Zoom |
| 1780394400 | 2nd June 2026 10am | Flight inspiration aviation meeting: June The advent of the heavy bomber: inception to the late 1930s From fragile early aircraft to powerful WWII bombers, explore how aerial warfare—and the bombs themselves—evolved in just three decades. Free - online via Zoom |