u3a

South Lakes

Groups

Image shows a scottish dancer's kilt and legs mid step

Dance

a group of walkers oat a cairn enjoying a sunny day

Walking groups

Art groups

A view od a guest house in a german street with tables outside

Languages

A scene from the Classic film Witness

Films

Image showing a guitar being played

Music groups

Poetry, plays and reading groups

Image shows people inspecting some old mining equipment

Science & technology

Image shows an upside down scrabble board with pieces in play

Indoor games

Group of happy cyclists on a cycle way through a wood

Cycling

A garden border with yellow daisy flowers and orange lilies

Garden groups

Image of the National Museum of Prague showing the Ukraine flag

History & Politics

Winner of the 2025 Pickleball Tournament. David Collinson, Barbara Ellwood, Steve Tanham, Steve Smith, David Atkinson (unfortunately Sarah Rashleigh was absent on the presentation day)

Sports

Image shows a woman writing in a notebook

Creative writing

Shelves with bottles of white wine

Wining and dining

Entrance to Yard 39 Tanners Yard in Kendal

Arts & Architecture

One of the main benefits of joining the u3a is being able to participate in our interest groups. We have over 70 groups running very successfully covering a wide range of interests and activities. Whichever group or groups you choose to join you can be sure of a warm and friendly welcome. You can find out more about each of our groups by using the links in the list below.

A group may have a limit on the number of members it can accommodate and may have a waiting list. If a group is full or we don't have a current group that covers your interest, would you consider starting a new group? At present the Overall Groups Coordinator position is vacant - so in the meantime please direct any enquiries to the Chair, Samantha Ridgway to discuss

To join a group contact the Group Coordinator via the Group email link on the group's page.

If you are a group coordinator or considering becoming one we have various resources to support you.

Find out more

Click on the Group name to see more information about the group including venues

Groups listed by category

Art & Crafts

  • Art
    Status: Active
    Weekly on Friday mornings 10:00am-12:30pm
  • Artistic Expression
    Status: Active
    Weekly on Friday mornings 10:00am-12:00pm
    No meetings on Good Friday or between Christmas and New Year
  • Patchwork & Quilting
    Status: Active
    Fortnightly on Tuesday afternoons 1:30pm-3:30pm
    1st & 3rd Tuesday

Arts

  • Architecture Appreciation
    Status: Active
    Monthly on Tuesday mornings 10:00am-12:00pm
    1st Tuesday
  • Art Appreciation
    Status: Active
    Monthly on Tuesday afternoons 2:00pm-4:00pm
    3rd Tuesday. Tea and coffee available from 1:45 pm
  • Philosophy
    Status: Active
    Monthly on Wednesday mornings 10:00am-11:30am
    1st Wednesday. Refreshments from 09:30. No meeting in August.

Cycling

Gardening

  • First Wednesday Garden Group
    Status: Waiting list
    Monthly on Wednesday mornings 10:00am-12:00pm
    1st Wednesday
  • Friday 1 Garden Group
    Status: Dormant
    Monthly on Friday mornings 10:00am-12:00pm
    3rd Friday
  • Friday 2 Garden Group
    Status: Waiting list
    Monthly on Friday mornings 10:00am-12:00pm
    3rd Friday. No meeting in January
  • Monday Garden Club
    Status: Active
    Monthly on Monday mornings 10:00am-12:00pm
    1st Monday except if this is a Bank Holiday - 2nd Monday

General

  • Discussion
    Status: Active
    Monthly on Monday mornings 10:30am-12:00pm
    2nd Monday. No meetings in August
  • Monthly meetings
    Status: Active
    Monthly on Wednesday mornings 10:30am
    3rd Wednesday. No meetings in June, July & August
  • Non Fiction Book Group
    Status: Active
    Monthly on Wednesday afternoons 2:30pm-4:00pm
    1st Wednesday

Health & Mindfulness

  • Gentle Strollers
    Status: Active
    Fortnightly on Wednesday mornings 11:00am
    1st & 3rd Wednesdays. Starting time usually 11am but please check individual walk details. No walks in August or 1st Wednesday in September.
  • Mindfulness Meditation
    Status: Active
    Monthly on Tuesday mornings
  • Moving to Music 1
    Status: Waiting list
    Weekly on Monday mornings 10:45am-12:00pm
    No meetings June to August
  • Moving to Music 2
    Status: Waiting list
    Weekly on Wednesday mornings 12:15pm-1:15pm
    No sessions June to August
  • Tai Chi
    Status: Active
    Weekly on Friday mornings
    Two groups - see below
  • Yoga
    Status: Full
    Weekly on Thursday afternoons 5:00pm-6:30pm

History & Politics

  • American History
    Status: Active
    Monthly on Thursday afternoons 2:00pm-3:00pm
    3rd Thursday. No meetings July & August
  • European History
    Status: Active
    Monthly on Friday mornings 10:00am-12:00pm
    1st Friday. September-July
  • Family History
    Status: Active
    Monthly on Thursday mornings 10:00am-12:00pm
    2nd Thursday from Oct-May. Informal meetings during the summer
  • Political Economy
    Status: Active
    Monthly on Friday mornings 10:00am-12:00pm
    First Friday
  • The Hanoverians
    Status: Active
    Monthly on Tuesday mornings 10:00am-11:30am
    4th Tuesday. No meetings during school holidays
  • Themes in World History
    Status: Active
    Monthly on Monday afternoons 2:00pm-4:00pm
    2nd Monday. Refreshments from 1:45 pm. No meetings in July & August

Indoor games

  • Bridge
    Status: Active
    Weekly on Friday afternoons 1:30pm-4:30pm
  • Chess
    Status: Active
    Weekly on Wednesday mornings 10:00am-12:00pm
  • Cribbage
    Status: Active
    Weekly on Monday afternoons 2:00pm-4:00pm
    We meet throughout the year
  • Mah Jong
    Status: Full
    Fortnightly on Friday afternoons 1:30pm-3:30pm
    1st, 3rd & 5th Friday
  • Scrabble 1
    Status: Active
    Fortnightly on Monday afternoons 2:00pm-4:00pm
    Please check exact dates with Coordinator via links above.
  • Scrabble 2
    Status: Active
    Fortnightly on Tuesday afternoons 2:00pm-4:30pm
    2nd & 4th Tuesday. We do not meet in August
  • Table Top Games
    Status: Active
    Fortnightly on Wednesday afternoons 2:00pm-4:00pm
    1st & 3rd Wednesdays. October until March inclusive.

Languages

  • French - Basic
    Status: Active
    Fortnightly on Monday afternoons 1:30pm-3:30pm
    2nd & 4th Monday. No meeting in July & August
  • French Conversation
    Status: Active
    Fortnightly on Monday afternoons 1:30pm-3:30pm
    2nd & 4th Mondays
  • German Conversation
    Status: Active
    Monthly on Friday mornings 10:00am-12:00pm
    1st & 3rd Fridays
  • Greek Conversation
    Status: Active
  • Italian Conversation
    Status: Active
    Weekly on Wednesday mornings 10:00am-12:00pm
  • Norwegian
    Status: Active
    Fortnightly on Wednesday mornings 9:45am-11:45am
    Alternate weeks

Literature, films & creative writing

  • Books on Tuesday
    Status: Active
    Monthly on Tuesday mornings 10:00am-11:30am
    2nd Tuesday
  • Classic Films
    Status: Active
    Monthly on Thursday afternoons 2:00pm
    1st Thursday. No group - open to all - just turn up. Doors open 1:30 please arrive by 1:45 for a prompt start.
  • Creative Writing
    Status: Active
    Monthly on Thursday afternoons 2:00pm-4:00pm
    1st Thursday. Meet September to November and February to June
  • Literary Studies
    Status: Active
    Monthly on Friday afternoons 2:00pm-3:30pm
    3rd Friday
  • Non Fiction Book Group
    Status: Active
    Monthly on Wednesday afternoons 2:30pm-4:00pm
    1st Wednesday
  • Poetry and Prose
    Status: Active
    Monthly on Thursday afternoons 1:30pm-3:30pm
    Last Thursday. No meeting in December.
  • Shakespeare's Plays
    Status: Active
    Fortnightly on Monday mornings 10:00am-12:00pm
    1st & 3rd Mondays

Music & Dance

  • Ballroom Dancing
    Status: Active
    Weekly on Wednesday afternoons 2:00pm-3:00pm
    No meetings in August
  • Country Dancing
    Status: Waiting list
    On Monday mornings 9:00am-10:30am
    1st, 3rd and 5th Monday
  • Easy Singing Group
    Status: Active
    Fortnightly on Friday mornings 10:00am-11:00am
    2nd & 4th Fridays ( No meeting in August)
  • Folk Music & Song
    Status: Active
    Weekly on Monday afternoons 2:00pm-4:00pm
    No meetings in August
  • Instrumental Music
    Status: Active
    Weekly on Monday mornings 10:00am-12:00pm
  • Jazz Appreciation
    Status: Dormant
    Monthly on Thursday afternoons 2:00pm-4:30pm
    3rd Thursday
  • Jive
    Status: Closed
  • Moving to Music 1
    Status: Waiting list
    Weekly on Monday mornings 10:45am-12:00pm
    No meetings June to August
  • Moving to Music 2
    Status: Waiting list
    Weekly on Wednesday mornings 12:15pm-1:15pm
    No sessions June to August
  • Music for All
    Status: Active
    Monthly on Tuesday mornings 10:30am-12:00pm
    1st or 2nd Tuesday
  • Recorder Ensemble
    Status: Waiting list
    Weekly on Wednesday mornings 10:00am-12:00pm
  • Scottish Dancing
    Status: Active
    Fortnightly on Monday mornings 9:00am-10:30am
    2nd & 4th Mondays
  • Singing for Fun
    Status: Full
    Fortnightly on Tuesday mornings 10:30am-12:00pm
    No meetings in August

Photography

  • Digital Photography
    Status: Active
    Monthly on Wednesday mornings 10:00am-12:00pm
    2nd Wednesday. Summer meetings (June-September) are at photography locations

Science, & Nature

Sport

  • Badminton
    Status: Full
    Weekly on Wednesday afternoons 3:45pm-5:15pm
    No meetings July and August
  • Crown Green Bowling
    Status: Waiting list
    Weekly on Tuesday mornings 9:30am-11:30am
    We only bowl during the bowls season which runs from Late March/early April until late August/early September (weather and green condition dependant).
  • Indoor Bowling
    Status: Active
    Weekly on Tuesday afternoons 2:00pm-4:00pm
  • Pickleball
    Status: Active
    Weekly
    Five groups: see info below
  • Table Tennis (Doubles)
    Status: Active
    Weekly on Tuesday afternoons 1:30pm-3:00pm
    No meeting in August
  • Table Tennis (Singles)
    Status: Active
    Weekly on Wednesday afternoons 2:00pm-3:30pm
  • Tennis
    Status: Active
    Weekly on Tuesday afternoons 2:00pm-3:30pm
    April to September

Walking

  • All Walking Groups
    Status: Active
  • Amblers 1
    Status: Active
    Fortnightly on Thursdays 10:15am
    1st & 3rd Thursday
  • Amblers 2
    Status: Active
    Fortnightly on Thursdays 10:30am-2:30pm
    1st & 3rd Thursday
  • Amblers 3
    Status: Active
    Fortnightly on Thursdays 10:00am
    1st & 3rd and occasionally 5th Thursdays
  • Amblers 4
    Status: Active
    Monthly on Thursday mornings 10:00am-1:00pm
    3rd in month
  • Amblers Plus 2
    Status: Active
    Monthly on Thursdays 10:00am
    4th Thursday
  • Fellwanderers
    Status: Waiting list
    Monthly on Thursdays
    3rd Thursday
  • Fellwanderers Plus
    Status: Full
    Monthly on Thursdays 9:30am
    1st Thursday plus occasional walks on the third Thursday of the month
  • Gentle Strollers
    Status: Active
    Fortnightly on Wednesday mornings 11:00am
    1st & 3rd Wednesdays. Starting time usually 11am but please check individual walk details. No walks in August or 1st Wednesday in September.
  • Over the Hill
    Status: Active
    Fortnightly on Thursdays 8:30am-4:30pm
    2nd & 4th Thursday
  • Ramblers
    Status: Active
    On Thursdays 10:00am-3:30pm
    2nd & (possibly) 5thThursday
  • Ramblers Plus
    Status: Closed
  • Strollers
    Status: Active
    Fortnightly on Thursdays 10:30am-12:30pm
    2nd & 4th Thursdays
  • Tuesday Walkers
    Status: Active
    Weekly on Tuesdays
    Main group 1st & 3rd Tuesdays, Explorers subgroup 2nd, 4th & 5th Tuesdays

Wining & Dining