Please use this page to announce new events, including times and venues.
Events shown below as a Monthly Talk and Social, Outings or Holidays are open to all our members. Unless stated otherwise, the other events are specifically for members of the relevant group and you need to join the group in order to participate. Outings, Holidays and some group events require booking. Click Outings for more information on booking trips organised by the Outings team. Click Holidays for further information on holidays
The u3a's Monthly Talk and Social meetings are held usually on the first Tuesday of every month (except August) at 2.30pm, in the Countess Free Church, 10 Chapel Street, Ely. See the events list below for details. New members and visitors are welcome (Visitor admission £2).
If your group has an event that you think should be shown here or you see an error or omission please send the details to the Events Editor.
Forthcoming events
Saffron Walden is a charming medieval town in Essex, known for its historic buildings, St Mary’s Church, a Victorian garden, and a unique turf labyrinth. Jackie will lead this visit […]
Venue: Visit Destination
Venue: Domestic Venue
3rd November 2026
2:30 pm
Monthly Talk and Social
Jubilee Gardens, Ely were opened by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh on 11 February 2002 to celebrate the Golden Jubilee year of HM Queen Elizabeth II.The gardens provide the perfect link […]
Venue: Countess Free Church
The extraordinary true story of Julian’s Royal Marine ancestor, a Victorian character whose life featured adventure, prison, punch-ups, family scandals, stolen toys, wandering pigs, and disappearing gold sovereigns.
Venue: Ely Methodist Church
Cost: £2
Nigel will lead our final outdoor trip of the year, revisiting the topic of Night photography. Further details will be announced nearer the time, this is planned to be an […]
Venue: Visit Destination
Venue: Domestic Venue
How the Turnpike Trusts and tolls provided a blueprint for today's highway system.
Venue: Ely Methodist Church
Cost: £2
1st December 2026
2:30 pm
Monthly Talk and Social
Brian has been a strawberry picker, jam technician (also in the field of strawberries), software developer, support analyst, implementation consultant and finally, magician. It's a natural career progression. He is […]
Venue: Countess Free Church
4th December 2026
6:00 pm
Other
Cost: Tickets will be £5 per person and include a buffet mealplus tea and coffee.Venue: Needham’s Hall at Ely College on Downham Road, CB6 2SH.Bishop Laney entrance by the crossing, […]
Venue: Ely College
Cost: £5
Booking Required
Venue: Domestic Venue
Seasonal Social with 2 competitions to judge: our project running quietly all the year 'Same picture - 4 seasons' and Best of the Year where the top 3 entries from […]
Venue: Witcham Village Hall
17th December 2026
9:00 am
Outing
The Hippodrome Christmas Spectacular is a dazzling extravaganza that brings the magic of Christmas to the historic Hippodrome Circus in Great Yarmouth. This year's show promises to be the most […]
Cost: £52
Booking Required
5th January 2027
2:30 pm
Monthly Talk and Social
My name is Dave Pinion, I am a retired international subsea cable engineer. One of my passions is the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration in the first quarter of the 20th […]
Venue: Countess Free Church
One of our regular meetings of talks of 10-15mins each, volunteered by individual members, some new to speaking, always welcome.
Venue: Ely Methodist Church
Cost: Free
2nd February 2027
2:30 pm
Monthly Talk and Social
Lee Miller: 20th Century Woman' focuses on the extraordinary life of the American born photographer Lee Miller, New York model in the 1920s, an artist's muse in 1930's Paris, a […]
Venue: Countess Free Church
11th February 2027
8:45 am
Outing
Visit the many attractions in the area including the National Army Museum where the coach will drop us off. Nearby, find the Chelsea Physic Garden Chelsea Pensioners Museum and the […]
Cost: £22
Booking Required
2nd March 2027
2:30 pm
Monthly Talk and Social
Neil Hanson is a successful author with 70 published books to his name. As well as his own, much-acclaimed work, he’s also a “ghost writer”. His clients include household names […]
Venue: Countess Free Church
Cathy is a maritime historian who gives lectures on Cunard Cruises. She has chosen this particular lecture because of a link between Childers and Ely Cathedral, the estate at Whittlesey […]
Venue: Ely Methodist Church
Cost: £2
10th March 2027
8:45 am
Outing
Lots to see and do including the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford University's Museum of Natural History, and the Pitt Rivers Museum Booking opens December 1st Code: OXF
Cost: £23
Booking Required
6th April 2027
2:30 pm
Monthly Talk and Social
Deborah is a volunteer Puppy Trainer and will bring the Hearing Dog Puppy in Training. At Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, we understand that deafness and hearing loss affect so […]
Venue: Countess Free Church
4th May 2027
2:30 pm
Monthly Talk and Social
The strange Tibetan adventure of Henry Savage Landor, the real-life 'Baron Munchausen' of Victorian explorers): In 1897, eccentric traveller Henry Savage Landor vowed to cross 'The Roof of the World', […]
Venue: Countess Free Church
16th May 2027
to 21st May 2027
Holiday
This holiday is now fully booked with a waiting list in operation
Cost: £599pp. £100 single supplement
1st June 2027
2:30 pm
Monthly Talk and Social
6th July 2027
2:30 pm
Monthly Talk and Social
In 1929 National newspaper headlines declared Borley Rectory (near Sudbury) was the most haunted house in England. This account of the ghostly goings on at the Essex rectory is brought […]
Venue: Countess Free Church
7th September 2027
2:30 pm
Monthly Talk and Social
I became a news presenter for Anglia TV. At last, I had found something I loved that other people thought I was good at. It was a huge relief. I […]
Venue: Countess Free Church
5th October 2027
Monthly Talk and Social
Alastair Cairns Hull will be sharing captivating stories from his journeys around the globe. Alastair qualified as an architect and spent early years on projects in Cambridge, Nepal and Saudi […]
Venue: Countess Free Church
2nd November 2027
2:30 pm
Monthly Talk and Social
We are now in another year and much has happened in the world of wine , but the most exciting thing is the introduction of a lot of indigenous grape […]
Venue: Countess Free Church
7th December 2027
2:30 pm
Monthly Talk and Social
Join Mike Wabe as a Victorian gentleman who is a great friend of Charles Dickens. Charles Dickens was born in 1812 and grew up in poverty. When he died in […]
Venue: Countess Free Church