u3a - Online learning events

Free online talks, workshops and courses

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. Sign up to our events mailing to get our monthly online events straight to your inbox.

If you are considering offering a talk or workshop please get in touch at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - we'd love to hear from you.

Discover upcoming events

Help with accessing Zoom for our online events

If you would like help with joining a Zoom call, see this article: Joining a Zoom meeting.

Once you have booked your place for an online event, please note that reminder emails will be sent to you from 2 days before the event. In these emails, scroll down to click the long blue Zoom link to join the event.

The u3a Festival Fringe

Events from 25 June - 10 July

Take part in the fun of u3a Festival 26 from home with u3a Festival Fringe. This series of online events will take place in the lead up to, and following on from, the Festival in York on 1-3 July. The programme includes a mixture of talks and interactive activities, giving all u3a members a chance to be part of our celebration of learning and fun.

You can find the Fringe Festival events highlighted in lilac below.

Online learning events - book now!

u3a radio podcast - May

Listen to our monthly radio series on our YouTube and podcast platforms. This month:

Cycling the Ganges
Cream horns & vol-au-vents
Sudbury powerlifting

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.

Thursday 21 May at 10am

Free - online via Zoom

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.

Friday 22 May at 2pm

Free - online via Zoom

Laughter yoga with Merrie Maggie: May

Bring more joy and laughter to your life with Laughter Yoga - an aerobic exercise with playful exercises combined with deep yogic breathing.

Tuesday 26 May at 3.30pm

Free - online via Zoom

People's Collection Wales: exploring the public archive of Welsh history

Missing Pieces

Explore how People’s Collection Wales helps communities share and preserve Welsh history through a unique public digital archive.

Thursday 28 May at 2pm

Free - online via Zoom

Drones, huh? What are they good for?

Dr Steve Bullock gives his view of drones and their growing and evolving role in our skies.

Friday 29 May at 2pm

Free - online via Zoom

u3a Yoga Network: summer yoga practice

Are you leading or are involved in a Yoga Group in your u3a? Join Subject Adviser Patricia for a flowing and relaxing summer practice.

Monday 1 June at 10am

Free - online via Zoom

Flight inspirations 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.

Tuesday 2 June at 10am

Free - online via Zoom

scientist holding test tube and pipette with vegetables in the foreground

FoodTech: the technology involved in food processing and food service

John Butler from the u3a Let's Talk Tech team explores the modern technologies taking our food from farm to table.

Wednesday 3 June at 1pm

Free - online via Zoom

Making the most of artificial intelligence (AI)

Join AbilityNet, in partnership with BT Group, for a friendly session designed to help older people build confidence online, stay connected with family and friends, and discover simple digital skills that can make everyday life feel easier and less lonely.

Tuesday 9 June at 2pm

Free - online via Zoom

Learn bridge with u3a

Discover the joy of playing Bridge in this introduction to the game, and find out how to play online, with u3a Bridge Adviser, Steve Carter.

Wednesday 10 June at 10am

Free - online via Zoom

The finding of Moses - Lawrence Alma-Tadema

An ABC of Victorian painting

Simon Evers explores three Victorian painters - Lawrence Alma-Tadema, Ford Madox Brown and Philip Hermogenes Calderon - and a surprising discovery that transformed oil painting forever.

Thursday 11 June at 2pm

Free - online via Zoom

Lost and Found: Recent discoveries by Film is Fabulous!

Professor Justin Smith talks about the work of Film is Fabulous! An initiative to preserve vulnerable film treasures for future generations.

Friday 12 June at 10am

Free - online via Zoom

illustration of brain sitting at a table smiling

Of Mice and Men: how experience shapes the ageing brain

Professor Sarah King tours us through her research into how experience influences brain development and ways of keeping our brains healthy.

Tuesday 16 June at 11am

Free - online via Zoom

Mindfulness and meditation continuation session: June

Join us each month as we continue the practices introduced in the Mindfulness and Meditation Series, and introduce new ones.

Thursday 18 June at 10am

Free - online via Zoom

A history of Britain's roads: why we should feel proud

Discover the surprising stories behind Britain’s roads, from radical legislation to quirky inventors, with Diana Laffin.

Friday 19 June at 10am

Free - online via Zoom

One small triangle to a man, one giant leap for mankind

Explore the phenomenon known as Pascal’s Triangle and follow the number trail contained in it to look at Art, Music, Botany and brackets.

Friday 19 June at 2pm

Free - online via Zoom

Secrets of the human brain: A tour of the brain

Bob Pullen explores how the brain works, from nerve signals to thinking styles, with interactive insights into how we think and behave.

Monday 22 June at 2pm

Free - online via Zoom

Bollywood Laughter Yoga Dance

Judith and Merrie Maggie offer a session of gentle aerobic exercise combining the four elements of joy - laughing, singing, dancing and playing.

Wednesday 24 June at 10am

Free - online via Zoom

Wessex versus the Vikings

u3a Festival Fringe

Charles Boundy gives a gripping exploration of how Alfred the Great and the kingdom of Wessex resisted the Great Viking Army, leading to the establishment of the Danelaw and the emergence of a new England under Alfred’s successors.

Thursday 25 June at 2pm

Free - online via Zoom

Islands of the Venetian Lagoon

This engaging talk with pictures will guide you around twelve islands that can each be reached by public transport (vaporetto, or water bus).

Friday 26 June at 2pm

Free - online via Zoom

The role of wind energy in the UK's electricity system

u3a Festival Fringe

Join Chris Vogel to learn about the UK’s wind resource and the engineering involved as wind energy’s growing importance to UK’s electricity mix.

Tuesday 30 June at 11am

Free - online via Zoom

Laughter yoga with Merrie Maggie: June

Bring more joy and laughter to your life with Laughter Yoga - an aerobic exercise with playful exercises combined with deep yogic breathing.

Tuesday 30 June at 3.30pm

Free - online via Zoom

The technology built into modern cars and trucks

u3a Festival Fringe

John Butler from the u3a Let's Talk Tech team explores the technologies of modern vehicles, live from the u3a Festival in York.

Wednesday 1 July at 11.30am

Free - online via Zoom

Mrs. Charles Dickens tells her story

u3a Festival Fringe

Annie Elliot gives a powerful reimagining of Catherine Dickens’ silenced voice, revealing love, betrayal, and truth behind Charles Dickens’ marriage.

Thursday 2 July at 2pm

Free - online via Zoom

Watercolours with Tony

u3a Festival Fringe

Join Tony Burke, who runs watercolour classes with Huddersfield u3a, for this interactive painting sessions.

Monday 6 July at 2pm

Free - online via Zoom

Laughter yoga with Judith: July

Laughter Yoga combines hearty laughter exercises with deep yoga-style breathing (pranayama). Hosted by Judith Anne Walker of Edinburgh u3a.

Wednesday 8 July at 10am

Free - online via Zoom

The history of shoes

u3a Festival Fringe

Robin Taylor takes us on a journey of shoes, from historical styles to modern trends, sharing insights from his career as a shoe designer.

Wednesday 8 July at 2pm

Free - online via Zoom

Fusion tai qi gong

u3a Festival Fringe

Discover calm, balance and wellbeing with Gordon’s gentle fusion tai chi & qi gong taster session on Zoom.

Thursday 9 July at 10am

Free - online via Zoom

Artemisia - vision or vengeance

u3a Festival Fringe

Join us for a presentation where we delve into the groundbreaking artistry of one of history's most amazing female painters.

Thursday 9 July at 2pm

Free - online via Zoom

Women from an ancient Egyptian illustration

The role of women in ancient Egypt

u3a Festival Fringe

Join Neil Stevenson, Subject Adviser for Egyptology, to explore the status of women in ancient Egypt.

Friday 10 July at 2pm

Free - online via Zoom

Online learning events

Free online talks, workshops and courses

Sign up to our monthly events email

The u3a Festival Fringe

Online learning events - book now!

u3a radio podcast - May

Mindfulness and meditation continuation session: May

AI news: May

Laughter yoga with Merrie Maggie: May

People's Collection Wales: exploring the public archive of Welsh history

Drones, huh? What are they good for?

u3a Yoga Network: summer yoga practice

Flight inspirations aviation meeting: June

FoodTech: the technology involved in food processing and food service

Making the most of artificial intelligence (AI)

Learn bridge with u3a

An ABC of Victorian painting

Lost and Found: Recent discoveries by Film is Fabulous!

Of Mice and Men: how experience shapes the ageing brain

Mindfulness and meditation continuation session: June

A history of Britain's roads: why we should feel proud

One small triangle to a man, one giant leap for mankind

Secrets of the human brain: A tour of the brain

Bollywood Laughter Yoga Dance

Wessex versus the Vikings

Islands of the Venetian Lagoon

The role of wind energy in the UK's electricity system

Laughter yoga with Merrie Maggie: June

The technology built into modern cars and trucks

Mrs. Charles Dickens tells her story

Watercolours with Tony

Laughter yoga with Judith: July

The history of shoes

Fusion tai qi gong

Artemisia - vision or vengeance

The role of women in ancient Egypt