Islington u3a

23/08/2026

The Islington u3a monthly meeting will be held on Thursday 27th August at St Mary’s in Upper Street, N1 2TX.
Interested to learn from Quentin Peel, who asks when and how did we get Russia wrong? Quentin, former Financial Times Bureau Chief in Moscow, tries to unravel this riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma. He lives in Islington and continues to contribute regular articles to the Financial Times.
Join us to find out more and receive a friendly welcome.
Doors open at 10:30am for coffee, cake, tea, biscuits and chatting, before starting the talk at 11:00am. To be environmentally friendly, please bring your own coffee mug. More details at islington.u3asite.uk/events
Not a member, you can join Islington u3a online, at only £25 per year, any age welcome, you don’t need to live in Islington, you can even belong to more than one u3a, as long as you are no longer working full time. islington.u3asite.uk/join

19/08/2026

Islington u3a members have being enjoying the warm weather this summer. Step up for a fun retirement and away from the commitment of work. Islington u3a has much on offer, including five walking groups, offering day walks of distances from 3 to 12 miles. This photo is taken on the Thames with members from the Shorter Walking Group, when they did a circular walk from Marlow via Hurley. Check out our walking groups and all our interest groups at islington.u3asite.uk/groups
Interested in joining Islington u3a? You don’t need to live in Islington and there are no restrictions on age, as long as you are not working full time. For a friendly welcome, at only £25 per year, go to islington.u3asite.uk/join



Photo Credit: Celia

16/08/2026

While enjoying a beautiful summer’s day, Islington u3a members got together to collaborate. Group Coordinators shared experiences and brainstormed new ideas for groups. The Islington u3a membership continues to grow and to cater for this, interesting and engaging new groups are constantly being created. Check out all our interest groups here at islington.u3asite.uk/groups
We now have a membership of over 900 with 84 different interest groups. Interested in joining Islington u3a? Only £25 per year, you don’t need to live in Islington, you can even belong to more than one u3a branch, as long as you are no longer working full time. Go to islington.u3asite.uk/join



Photo credit: Derek

12/08/2026

Islington u3a have a monthly outing opportunity for all. The next destination will be right here in Islington, to Charterhouse, for a guided tour on Thursday afternoon 17th September. The tour will include indoor and outdoor historic areas including the medieval monastery remnants, Tudor courtyards, and the Great Hall. These places can only be visited with a tour.
Numbers are limited, so don’t delay in booking. For more details and to book please email Annie or Cressida at [email protected]
Or go to islington.u3asite.uk/events
Not a member of Islington u3a? Only £25 per year, you don’t need to live in Islington, you can even belong to more than one u3a branch, as long as you are no longer working full time. Go to islington.u3asite.uk/join

09/08/2026

Great to see collaboration with Islington u3a and Hackney u3a Birdwatching groups. They had a very successful joint outing in the Lee Valley. Starting from the Filterbeds they made their way up the valley, ending at Walthamstow Wetlands. A satisfying 41 species of birds were spotted. Thanks to Sue and Derek for organising.
If you are interested in birdwatching please email Derek at [email protected].
For more details go to islington.u3asite.uk/u3a_groups/birdwatching
Interested in joining Islington u3a? You don’t need to live in Islington, as long as you are not in full time work. Only £25 per annum, go to islington.u3asite.uk/join




Photo credit: Derek

05/08/2026

There have been more newspaper articles about aging well, arguing that strong social connections are key to a happy later life and good for brain health too. These opportunities are available at Islington u3a. More details at islington.u3asite.uk

We're delighted to be in The Express, The Mirror and the Record today in articles arguing that strong social connections are key to a happy later life and good for brain health too 🌞

Our CEO, Iain Cassidy, says "Many of our members tell me that since finishing full time work their social lives are the best they have ever been. It's a new chapter where, far from fading into the background, they want to feel purposeful and play an active part in their community."

At u3a, people who are no longer in full-time work meet together to learn new things, continue their interests and make new friends. Find your community and join u3a, https://www.u3a.org.uk/

02/08/2026

The Islington u3a Archaeology Group have been out and about again. Last month they travelled to Oxford by train to visit the “Ashmolean Museum”. They focused on the Pre-History and the Egyptian Galleries and were privileged to have the highlights of the stunning artefacts explained by one of the curators. A great day out, thoroughly enjoyed by all.
For more details about the Archaeology group, or to see their future plans and tips for exploring independently, please go to islington.u3asite.uk/u3a_groups/archaeology or email Keith at [email protected]
Not a member of Islington u3a? Only £25 per year, you don’t need to live in Islington, you can even belong to more than one u3a branch, as long as you are no longer working full time. Go to islington.u3asite.uk/join



Photo Credit: Keith

29/07/2026

The Islington u3a new Wine Appreciation group, that visits different locations for wine tastings, recently had a great time at ‘The Corkman’ , just south of the Angel. Steve, the owner presented a selection of five wines with matched cheeses (and some other nibbles). The 15 members attending had various views on each of the wines. The group scored each wine, with the Alberino (Spain) coming out top for the whites and the Barco Real (Italy) for the reds. It was an exceptionally good value evening and the group promised to visit again.
For more details of any of our three wine tasting groups, please email Chris or Derek at [email protected] or
visit islington.u3asite.uk/u3a_groups/wine-appreciation-group-3-tasting-visits
Not a member of Islington u3a? Only £25 per year, you don’t need to live in Islington, you can even belong to more than one u3a branch, as long as you are no longer working full time. Go to islington.u3asite.uk/join



Photo credit: Steve

26/07/2026

Transform your retirement at Islington u3a. Make new friends, give your life purpose, keep busy and have fun.
Whether it’s engaging in hobbies, keeping fit, volunteering, exploring the great outdoors, getting creative, making new social connections, embracing learning or exploring new ideas.
For only £25 per year, Islington u3a offers more than eighty interest groups that offer pétanque, art, languages, wine tasting, long and short walks, philosophy, table tennis, current affairs, opera, chess, yoga, book groups and more. As well, there are Monthly Speaker Meetings, Coffee Mornings, Pub Lunches, Parties, Quizzes, Out-of-Town Visits, and other one-offs.
Find out more at islington.u3asite.uk
Do something brilliant today! Join. You don’t have to live in Islington. All ages welcome, as long as you are not working full time. Go to islington.u3asite.uk/join

22/07/2026

The new Islington u3a group “Dance: Let’s Dance” is proving very popular. The next session will be Friday July 24th, to be held 5-6pm. Everyone is welcome to join the group, but the venue has a maximum capacity, so you must register for each monthly Friday session. Dance in a friendly, sociable setting, to a great mix of music from the 60s, 70s and 80s. You can move at your own pace, whether gentle or energetic, while enjoying a sense of wellbeing. Interested? Go to islington.u3asite.uk/u3a_groups/dance-lets-dance . Or contact Jeanie or Rowena at [email protected]
Not a member of Islington u3a? Any age welcome as long as you are not working full time, you can even belong to more than one u3a branch. You don’t need to live in Islington. Only £25 per year, Go to islington.u3asite.uk/join