u3a members can access a wide range of free online talks, workshops, and courses through their membership. Most sessions are led by fellow members, sharing their expertise, with additional talks from notable speakers and organisations.
All events are bookable via Eventbrite. Please ensure you can attend when booking and cancel if you’re unable to make it so others can participate. Events are exclusively for u3a members. Online events are hosted on Zoom and national u3a has some 'How to Guides' for using Zoom if you are unfamiliar with the platform.
You can see the full range of events here: https://www.u3a.org.uk/events/educational-events#Events. You can also subscribe to receive an email each month notifying you of what's coming up. There are regular monthly events such as Laughter Yoga with Maggie and Mindfulness and Meditation. Here is a selection of some of the others on offer in the coming weeks (click on the link to go to the booking page - note that this will open in a separate tab):
SEPTEMBER 2026
Flight Inspirations Aviation Group: September
Discover how NASA’s early years and the Space Race led to the Moon landing and transformed science and technology.
Tuesday, September 1 • 10 AM - 12 PM
Email hosting and generic email addresses for your u3a
Mike Field from the u3a Let's Talk Tech team explains options for how u3as can manage their email hosting and lease a domain name
Wednesday, September 2 • 1 PM - 2:30 PM
Wild, edible autumn seeds
Discover the fascinating world of wild edible autumn seeds, from identification and folklore to safe and practical uses.
Friday, September 4 • 10 AM - 11:30 AM
Triumph to Trauma (940 to 1042): the conquest before The Conquest!
Discover how Queen Emma of Normandy, Cnut and the Danish conquest reshaped England before 1066.
Monday, September 7 • 2 PM - 3:30 PM
Drones, huh? What are they good for? - follow-up discussion
Join Dr Steve Bullock, Bristol Flight Lab, University of Bristol for a discussion on the growing and evolving role of drones in our skies.
Friday, September 11 • 2 PM - 3 PM
Exploring World Faiths: faith and gratitude
Explore how three faith traditions understand gratitude and discover the enduring value of thankfulness in everyday life.
Monday, September 14 • 10 AM - 11:30 AM
Introduction to Cryptic Crosswords
Try your hand at solving cryptic clues on this two-hour taster session with Henry Howarth, u3a Subject Adviser for Cryptic Crosswords.
Tuesday, September 15 • 2 PM - 4 PM
Life in your smallest rooms: the history of personal hygiene
Learn about the history and science of washing, shaving and personal hygiene, with David of Wrekin u3a and Wolverhampton u3a.
Wednesday, September 16 • 10 AM - 11 AM
Mindfulness and meditation series
We welcome back the six week course of Mindfulness and Meditation led by members of Sheffield u3a Mindful Ageing Group John, Mike and Ruth.
Wednesday, September 16-Wednesday, October 21 • 10 AM-11:30 AM
“The Titanic Sails At Dawn” - punk in the 1970s
Join Lee Wellbrook to explore the origins, growth and legacy of punk in the UK in the 1970s.
Thursday, September 17 • 10 AM - 11 AM
Secrets of the human brain: sleep and dreams
The talk explains how different parts of the brain are responsible for keeping us awake and making us go to sleep.
Monday, September 21 • 2 PM - 4 PM
The Enchanted Archipelago - a journey through the Galapagos
Join HX Ambassador Monty Halls as he tells the remarkable story of this most iconic of archipelagos.
Tuesday, September 22 • Starts at 2 PM
Promoting brain health: From evidence to action
Join our panel of researchers as they explore evidence-based ways to improve and maintain brain health.
Thursday 24 September • 2 PM - 3:15 PM
AI news September: four years of AI chatbots
Join the u3a AI for Everyone team as we reflect on four years of AI Chatbots and how AI has been embraced by many u3a members.
Friday, September 25 • 10 AM - 11:30 AM
Live cookery demonstration - try something new
Chef Alex from ‘Vegetarian for Life’ demos his delicious autumn recipes live on Zoom, especially for u3a members.
Friday, September 25 • 10 AM - 11 AM
Experimental brain research: from old suppositions to modern observations
Professor Itamar Ronen describes theories of how the brain works and modern experimental approaches focussing on neuroimaging.
Tuesday, September 29 • 11 AM - 12:30 PM
OCTOBER 2026
Mods versus rockers: a 1960s 'moral panic'?
In the early 1960s, most young people defined themselves as either ‘mods’ or ‘rockers’. This talk charts the development of this phenomenon.
Thursday, October 1 • 2 PM - 3:30 PM
A history of the world according to sheep
Discover how sheep, wool and the wool trade have shaped British history, built fortunes, influenced society and even helped win wars.
Monday, October 5 • 2 PM - 3:30 PM
Flight Inspirations Aviation Group: October
Discover how aviation learned to train pilots, from trial and error to structured flying schools in little more than a decade.
Tuesday, October 6 • 10 AM - 12 PM
First light: the formation of the first stars, blackholes, and galaxies
Professor Stephen Wilkins takes us to space, describing the surprises of our universe being uncovered by the James Webb Space Telescope.
Tuesday, October 6 • 11 AM - 12:15 PM
Darkness on the edge of town: Bruce Springsteen and the American dream
Explore how Bruce Springsteen turned personal alienation into a musical mission to expose the gap between the American dream and reality.
Thursday, October 8 • 2 PM - 3:30 PM
On the threshold of a dream: music, imagination and the late 60s-early 70s
Explore an exciting era of musical change, from the psychedelic sounds of the late 1960s to the rise and evolution of progressive rock.
Friday, October 9 • 2 PM - 3:30 PM
Introducing AI and AI in Scotland
Explore the world of AI: what it is, where it’s found, how u3a members use it, and Scotland’s leading role in AI.
Monday, October 12 • 2 PM - 3:30 PM
Your guide to feeling connected in a digital world
Build confidence online and discover simple, safe ways to stay connected, make friends and communicate with others using technology.
Tuesday, October 13 • 2 PM - 3:30 PM
Last updated 27 August 2026