KCWC upcoming events

Mahjong (29/06/2026)

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 09:30:00 GMT

KCWC Mahjong Mornings welcome you to join us for 2 hours (10.30-12.30) every Monday at The Cooper's Arms, 87 Flood Street, SW3 5TB

Prompt arrival at 10.30 is critical, as is registration (by purchasing a ticket below), by noon the Sunday prior each week to ensure we have enough mahjong sets and players.

While new players will be given instructional materials, regular players will need to purchase a Mahjong Book (c.£30) to bring to each meeting.

Please ensure you book a ticket for each date you wish to attend.

For any queries please contact Activity Leader Nicola Harayda at mahjong@kcwc.org.uk

Classical Music & Opera - Opera in Focus: Verdi and Wagner (29/06/2026)

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 12:30:00 GMT

Verdi and Wagner are giants in the world of opera. Their output was (one way or another) vast and deeply influential, and is essential listening for anyone who wants to know more about the genre. Yet it might also seem odd to place them side-by-side: the lyrical Italian tunesmith behind Il Trovatore and La Traviata might at first glance seem to have nothing at all in common with the densely philosophical Germanic creator of such monoliths as Der Ring des Nibelungen and Parsifal. However, their sources of influence, the times they lived through, and their deep concern over issues such as text, drama, and national identity overlap more than we might expect.

This course explores the lives of these two composers in parallel, moving from their inspirations in the early nineteenth century all the way through to the heights of their fame and to their late-nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century successors. Newcomers will get to know the full range of work from both, while those who already know some of these operas will have plenty to discover about their social and historical context, and may well be surprised at how much these two composers have in common in spite of their different musical styles.

This 10-week course (weekly, no class on 4 & 25 May) is suitable for people with or without previous knowledge of opera, though it makes a particularly good next step for those who have already taken the Discovering Opera course.

All classes will be supported by a PowerPoint presentation and plenty of audio and video examples of the operas, and there will opportunities for discussion around the material too, with all opinions welcome.

This classroom-taught course is offered in partnership with KCWC, but is open to everyone.

This course has a 2-step process:

1- Book and pay for the course on the Imperial College website (KCWC members use the "Associate" rate):

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/evening-classes/adult-education-courses-summer-2026/opera-in-focus-verdi-wagner/

2- Please email Eve to let her know you are on the register to be included in communications relating to this course.

For any queries, please contact Eve on opera@kcwc.org.uk

Henley Royal Regatta (30/06/2026)

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 08:00:00 GMT

The Henley Royal Regatta on June 30th is an all day event at Henley-on-Thames. We will be seated in the Phyllis Court which is located at the finish line with a balcony and good view of the boats. It also includes the Riverside Pavilion for our dining.

The ticket is £272 and will include champagne, a 3 course lunch, and tea.

Transport will be organised at an extra cost. There is a train, if preferred.

To "sign-up", please register your interest with the button here, and then it is ESSENTIAL that you also email Eve Mitleton-Kelly at president@kcwc.org.uk ASAP!

Tuesday Tennis at the Westway (30/06/2026)

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT

Join us for competitive, but fun, intermediate level tennis each Tuesday morning at the Westway. For each of the two-hour sessions, we have a coach who works with us on drills and strategy to improve our doubles game.

We play at an indoor facility, so weather is never a problem.

NOTE: New players are welcome but must contact the Activity Leaders, Jennifer Tahany & Rebecca Lin, before signing up.

Please contact them at tennis@kcwc.org.uk

Drop-In Coffee Morning (30/06/2026)

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 09:30:00 GMT

You are Invited to a Drop-In Coffee Morning! Join us for a relaxed morning of coffee, conversation and connection!

Just drop in, purchase a cup, and enjoy some great company. Whether you’re a new member, catching up with familiar faces, or just fancy a cuppa, this is the perfect way to start your day!

It’s a great chance to meet friends, make new connections, and relax in an environment where everyone is welcome. Spread the word and bring along friends and family for a delightful morning filled with warmth, laughter, and good vibes.

Please confirm via email if you are bringing a guest. We can’t wait to see you there!

For any queries contact event organisers Karen Kaldezar and Maria Rologi dropincoffee@kcwc.org.uk

CANCELLED: Evening Speaker - Jonathan Porritt (30/06/2026)

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 18:00:00 GMT

For more than fifty years, Jonathon Porritt has been a leading voice in environmental and social justice advocacy, while also advising governments, businesses, and NGOs.

A highly respected author, Porritt maintains that it is still possible to avoid climate breakdown—but in Love, Anger & Betrayal, he warns that the window for action is rapidly closing. The book reflects on the recently disbanded Just Stop Oil movement, exploring both its controversial impact and the wider case for direct action. Porritt argues that many of the democratic rights we value today—including civil rights and women’s suffrage—were only achieved through civil disobedience and disruptive protest.

“Deeply uncomfortable but overwhelmingly necessary.” — Caroline Lucas, former leader of the Green Party

“A powerful reminder of the debt we owe to those whose passion and commitment challenge us to think differently.” — Tim Smit, Founder of the Eden Project

Interviewer: Claire Armitstead

Claire Armitstead is a British journalist and author, and former Associate Editor (Culture) at The Guardian. She is a prominent cultural commentator on literature and the arts, regularly appearing on radio and television. Claire also leads workshops and chairs literary events in the UK and internationally, and has judged major literary awards including the Royal Society Winton Prize for Science Books, the PEN Pinter Prize, and the Scotiabank Giller Prize.

TICKETS: £25 online (£20 with our KCWC discount code)

Step1 - sign-up on this KCWC site to reserve a spot and indicate your interest.

Step 2 - contact the Activity Leader at eveningspeakers@kcwc.org.uk to request the link and KCWC Discount Code you will need to actually purchase the ticket through Kent House.

Doors open at 7pm, talk begins at 7:30pm

For any queries, contact Activity Leader Ina Messer at eveningspeakers@kcwc.org.uk

Bridge (01/07/2026)

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Bridge is played in a friendly and informal atmosphere at a member's home in Notting Hill Gate using English ACOL and US 5 card major bidding systems.

Please register for your free ticket by clicking on the link below.

Please contact event organiser Katy Cooke for any queries at bridge@kcwc.org.uk

Classical Music & Opera - Classical Music in Focus - The Twentieth Century (03/07/2026)

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 09:30:00 GMT

The twentieth century offers some of most fascinating and wide-ranging classical music, taking in the perky Neoclassical styles of Paris, the hazy minimalist sounds of New York, the forbidding complexity of the Darmstadt School, and everything in between. While a lot of this music is immediately likeable, some of it may sound unappealing or even nonsensical at first hearing. Either way, understanding it often requires some delving into the deep histories and ideas behind it.

This course offers a comprehensive guide to twentieth-century classical music for the complete beginner, covering many of the major themes of the century in (very) broadly chronological order. You will get to hear some of the iconic, must-hear pieces, but we will also explore some of the less well-known voices as well, making a truly diverse experience. In the process you will discover how all of this music interacts with its historical context and cultural ideas which shaped it, all of which gives the sound its meaning.

The 10-week course (weekly, no class on 1 May) is suitable for people with or without previous knowledge of classical music, though it makes a particularly good next step for those who have already taken the Discovering Classical Music course.

All classes will be supported by a PowerPoint presentation and plenty of audio and video examples of the music, and there will opportunities for discussion around the material too, with all opinions welcome.

This classroom-taught course is offered in partnership with KCWC, but is open to everyone.

This course has a two-step registration process:

1- Book and pay for the course on the Imperial College website (KCWC members use the "Associate" rate):

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/evening-classes/adult-education-courses-summer-2026/classical-music-twentieth-century/

2- Email Eve to let her know you are on the register to be included in communications relating to this course.

For any queries, contact Eve on opera@kcwc.org.uk

Café Society - Coffee Morning at Ham Yard Restaurant in Soho (03/07/2026)

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 09:30:00 GMT

We are very excited to invite you to our Coffee Morning in July at Ham Yard in Soho. Tucked between the vibrant streets of Soho and a moment’s walk from Mayfair, Ham Yard Hotel is a celebration of contemporary art, craft and design.

If weather permits we will sit in the Courtyard.

Amanda and Catarina invite you to come and meet up with other members for some great conversation, delicious drinks of your choice (your own tab) in these wonderful surroundings.

Please register your interest by booking a free ticket below, as numbers are limited.

If the tickets are sold out, please book a waitlist ticket, and the Activity Leaders will get in touch with you should a place become available.

Looking forward to seeing you again!

Please contact event coordinators Amanda Thompson and Catarina Granryd with any queries at cafesociety@kcwk.org.uk

Classical Music & Opera - Opera in Focus: Verdi and Wagner (06/07/2026)

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 12:30:00 GMT

This classroom-taught course is offered in partnership with KCWC, but is open to everyone.

This course has a 2-step process:

1- Book and pay for the course on the Imperial College website (KCWC members use the "Associate" rate):

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/evening-classes/adult-education-courses-summer-2026/opera-in-focus-verdi-wagner/

2- Please email Eve to let her know you are on the register to be included in communications relating to this course.

For any queries, please contact Eve on opera@kcwc.org.uk

Mix'n Mingle Coffee Morning - Heidi Bakery Chelsea (07/07/2026)

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 09:15:00 GMT

Please come and join us at the delightful Heidi Chelsea bakery and cafe.

Heidi Chelsea is located in the stunning Grade II listed Soane Stable Yard, part of the historic Royal Hospital Chelsea and home of the Chelsea Pensioners. This forty-cover bakery is within the historic horse stalls of the stable yard, which was built by Sir John Soane between 1814 and 1817.

The entrance is located opposite the Ormonde gate.

Please contact event organiser Lisa Woodcock for any queries at mixnmingle1@kcwc.org.uk

Volunteer With Us At The Wandsworth Food Bank (07/07/2026)

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 13:00:00 GMT

You can make a difference by joining us for just 2 hours on the first Tuesday of every month.

KCWC supports the Wandsworth Foodbank by helping to sort, label and organise the food donations. You'll find that the 2 hours just flies by!

The Wandsworth Foodbank Warehouse is located at 9 Ferrier Street, Wandsworth, SW18 1SW, conveniently located 2 minutes walk from Wandsworth Town Station and easily accessed by many bus routes.

Make a difference by signing up and help KCWC and Wandsworth Foodbank to support those less fortunate!

If tickets are sold-out for this event, you are welcome to join the waitlist - please note that we typically only get to the first one or two members on the waitlist, so please don't be disappointed if you are not contacted.

Please email event organiser Christie Bachmann for any queries at charityvolunteers@kcwc.org.uk

*Note: If you're interested in regular volunteering, Wandsworth Foodbank are also looking for kind and compassionate people who can commit to volunteering once a week for a minimum of six months.

Volunteer at Refettorio Felix Community Kitchen (13/07/2026)

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Join us at Refettorio Felix, St Cuthbert’s in Earl’s Court. Help us serve a restaurant-quality 3-course lunch in a decorative community kitchen!

Refettorio Felix proudly opens itself to people who struggle with many issues including loneliness, mental health difficulties, substance misuse, and rough sleeping. Their stated mission is “to bring dignity back to the table and promote a sense of community whilst tackling the dual issues of food waste and food poverty with our surplus food lunch service.”

We are looking for volunteers to assist with meal service, once per month. The three-hour shift begins at 11:00am with an induction followed by set up, lunch service, and table clearance. Afterwards, you are invited to join the staff for a lovely hot meal.

Please get involved in helping our shared community.

Signing Up: We request volunteers to sign up at least one week in advance to inform the organisers of all members of our group and review all guidelines. Should you be unable to attend, please notify us immediately so we can contact someone from the waitlist to replace you as the kitchen will depend on our KCWC commitment. If tickets are sold-out for this event, you are welcome to join the waitlist - please note that we typically only get to the first one or two members on the waitlist, so please don't be disappointed if you are not contacted.

Please email event organiser Dina McCormick for any queries at charityvolunteers@kcwc.org.uk

Foodies - Foods of Italy: Campania (17/07/2026)

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Join Floriana as she demonstrates how to prepare two dishes from the food tradition of the Campania region: spaghetti alla Nerano and parmigiana di melanzane.

Spaghetti alla Nerano is a pasta dish invented in the village of Nerano, on the Sorrento Peninsula, made with spaghetti, fried courgette, provolone del Monaco, Parmesan, extra virgin olive oil, black pepper, garlic, basil, and salt.

Parmigiana is an Italian dish made with fried, sliced aubergine layered with mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce, then baked. The origin of the dish is claimed by the region of Campania (as well as Sicily and Emilia-Romagna).

Ticket costs £30.00 and includes demo, tasting and recipes. Please bring your own wine if you would like to enjoy some with your meal.

For any queries, please contact the organiser on foodies@kcwc.org.uk.

Book Group - "The Leopard" by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa (20/07/2026)

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT

In the spring of 1860, Fabrizio, the charismatic Prince of Salina, still rules over thousands of acres and hundreds of people, including his own numerous family, in mingled splendour and squalor. Then comes Garibaldi's landing in Sicily and the Prince must decide whether to resist the forces of change or come to terms with them.

For any queries, contact event organizers Roopa Girard and Marika Carle at bookgroup@kcwc.org.uk

Photography & Glorious Gardens: RHS Botanical Art & Photography Show 2026 (21/07/2026)

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Join us for a look at some amazing contemporary botanical art and photography from around the world.

The exhibition, in its sixth year, is presented across three galleries - we will walk around the exhibition at our own pace (not a guided tour) and gather at the end for a coffee or light lunch in the area.

Tickets cost £6.00 or £10.00. Please purchase your own at the link below. RHS Members and Saatchi Gallery Members go free on production of a valid membership card. Pre-booking is not required with membership.

1- Book your ticket on the Saatchi gallery website for Tuesday 21 July at 11:00am:

https://www.saatchigallery.com/product/rhs-botanical-art-and-photography-show-2026

2- Please book a free ticket on this page to be included in KCWC communications about this event.

For any queries, contact the organisers on photography@kcwc.org.uk

Bark in the Park - Kensington Gardens, Albert Memorial (24/07/2026)

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 09:45:00 GMT

Come and join us for a mid-Summer's Walk in beautiful Kensington Gardens.

Enjoy a stroll around the Serpentine, finishing at the Colicci Serpentine Coffee House for a chat and catch up. Can't wait to see you in the sunshine!

As always, everyone is welcome to join us with or without a dog.

Meeting Point: Albert Memorial

For any queries, please contact Karen Kaldezar on +447973178737 or barkinthepark@kcwc.org.uk

Volunteer With Us At The Wandsworth Food Bank (04/08/2026)

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 13:00:00 GMT

You can make a difference by joining us for just 2 hours on the first Tuesday of every month.

KCWC supports the Wandsworth Foodbank by helping to sort, label and organise the food donations. You'll find that the 2 hours just flies by!

The Wandsworth Foodbank Warehouse is located at 9 Ferrier Street, Wandsworth, SW18 1SW, conveniently located 2 minutes walk from Wandsworth Town Station and easily accessed by many bus routes.

Make a difference by signing up and help KCWC and Wandsworth Foodbank to support those less fortunate!

Please email event organiser Christie Bachmann for any queries at charityvolunteers@kcwc.org.uk

*Note: If you're interested in regular volunteering, Wandsworth Foodbank are also looking for kind and compassionate people who can commit to volunteering once a week for a minimum of six months.

Mix'n Mingle Coffee Morning - Heidi Bakery Chelsea (11/08/2026)

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 09:15:00 GMT

Please come and join us at the delightful Heidi Chelsea bakery and cafe.

The entrance is located opposite the Ormonde gate.

Please contact event organiser Lisa Woodcock for any queries at mixnmingle1@kcwc.org.uk

Volunteer With Us At The Wandsworth Food Bank (01/09/2026)

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 13:00:00 GMT

You can make a difference by joining us for just 2 hours on the first Tuesday of every month.

KCWC supports the Wandsworth Foodbank by helping to sort, label and organise the food donations. You'll find that the 2 hours just flies by!

The Wandsworth Foodbank Warehouse is located at 9 Ferrier Street, Wandsworth, SW18 1SW, conveniently located 2 minutes walk from Wandsworth Town Station and easily accessed by many bus routes.

Make a difference by signing up and help KCWC and Wandsworth Foodbank to support those less fortunate!

Please email event organiser Christie Bachmann for any queries at charityvolunteers@kcwc.org.uk

*Note: If you're interested in regular volunteering, Wandsworth Foodbank are also looking for kind and compassionate people who can commit to volunteering once a week for a minimum of six months.

Foodies - Spanish Tapas (03/09/2026)

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Join Helen from Cook'd London as she demonstrates how to prepare a selection of fabulous Spanish tapas/pintxos, inspired by a recent trip to Girona and San Sebastian.

We will make a proper tortilla, jamón and manchego croquetas, gazpacho and helado con Pedro Ximénez.

Tickets cost £55.00 and include welcome coffee + Almendrados, demonstration, recipes + lunch.

Please book a free ticket here and email the organizer on foodies@kcwc.org.uk for payment instructions.

Glorious Gardens - Parham House and Gardens, Tea at Amberley Castle (04/09/2026)

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 09:00:00 GMT

Parham is an absolute gem of an Elizabethan House inhabited by the family that has owned it for generations. They are intimately involved with the preservation and upkeep of house and garden.

We will discover the beautiful, traditional gardens at their peak including a walled garden with its famous Wendy House, a rose garden, a stone maze, a vegetable and herb garden and romantic wide herbaceous borders with their tapestry of colours. The park predates the house, before the advent of landscape gardens.

There will be time to tour and experience the wow effect of this immaculate house and have a bite for lunch in the cafeteria.

Afterwards we will proceed by taxi to the beautiful, picture book village of Amberley where we can have a cream tea (optional) at 12th Century Amberley Castle, which now houses a luxury hotel with beautiful grounds. From here it is short walk back to Amberley Station for our return trip to London.

NB This is a catch up tour as the original trip had to be cancelled. The tickets have to be bought from another member who now cannot go . . . ticket price is GBP 33.45 The activity leader will get in touch with you about payment details once you have signed up.

Ticket/Price Info:

Please book a member ticket either with or without the "Cream Tea" (scones, cream, jam). These tickets include taxis to and from Parham House and Gardens.
- If the ticket category you desire is no longer available, please contact the Activity Leader to change the category setting.

Train tickets £33 (£21.95 with Railcard) to be booked and paid by you

Entrance to Parham House and Gardens is £18.15 (not included). Historic Houses and RHS members go free.

For queries, please contact the Event Organiser Judith Neuling at gloriousgardens@kcwc.org.uk

If you register anonymously, you must then contact the event organizer with your contact information in order to receive up to date additional information.

German Conversation (09/09/2026)

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 09:00:00 GMT

Come and practice your spoken and written German in a friendly and supportive environment.

Our meetings usually take place in one of the member’s home to discuss current affairs and read a topical text from a German magazine or newspaper.

So book your attendance to find out where the next meeting will take place.

Please contact Activity Leader Bianca Maclean if you have any queries at german@kcwc.org.uk

French Conversation (15/09/2026)

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 09:30:00 GMT

Welcome to the French Conversation Group! If you would like to maintain and improve your French, we will give you opportunities to practice this language amongst a pleasant group of international ladies.

Themes will be given in advance so you can prepare them at home before discussing with the group when we meet, every fortnight, at a member's home. A good level of French is required.

Meeting location details will be sent to registered participants before each meeting.

Please book a ticket below to indicate your intention to participate in this meeting. For any queries contact event organiser Genevieve Sentier at french@kcwc.org.uk

Antiques & Design - A Private Evening Preview at Olympia Auctions (15/09/2026)

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 17:00:00 GMT

KCWC Antiques and Design is honoured to have been invited by Olympia Auctions for a preview evening just for our members!

Welcomed by managing director Thomas del Mar and house experts, we will privately view London themed items in their inaugural London Sale alongside Jewellery and Watches all to be auctioned two days post viewing September 17.

Bring your spouse, partner, or friend to enjoy a glass of bubbly, canapés and luxury in what promises to be a special evening.

For any queries contact Mary Narvell at antiques1@kcwc.org.uk

Antiques & Design - A Private Evening Talk and View: Queen Elizabeth II - Her Life in Style (17/09/2026)

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 17:30:00 GMT

To celebrate the centenary of the birth of HM Queen Elizabeth II, the Royal Collection Trust has organised at the King's Gallery the most comprehensive display of her fashion ever assembled. 200 items of the late Queen's clothing from her childhood through her decades' long reign will be on exhibit.

Preceded by a lecture, our private visit will allow you to see - without crowds - the coordinated ensembles designed to help eager onlookers spot Her Majesty on walkabouts. Special highlights will be jewellery, her 1947 Hartnell Wedding Dress, and one of her earliest outfits worn to the 1934 wedding of the Duke of Kent. Curator Caroline de Guiltaut explains the exhibit will "tell the story of a lifetime of thoughtful style choices - from HM's hands-on-role and understanding of the soft power behind her clothing to the exceptional craftsmanship behind each garment".

Join us for some English fizz, fashion fun, a 10% gift shop discount AND a pass for Free Gallery readmission through 16/9/2027!

NOTE: Please do NOT unclick "include name in list of event registrants" when purchasing your ticket as you may miss important communications about this event.

For any queries contact Mary Narvell at antiques1@kcwc.org.uk

French Conversation (22/09/2026)

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 09:30:00 GMT

Themes will be given in advance so you can prepare them at home before discussing with the group when we meet, every fortnight, at a member's home. A good level of French is required.

Meeting location details will be sent to registered participants before each meeting.

Please book a ticket below to indicate your intention to participate in this meeting. For any queries contact event organiser Genevieve Sentier at french@kcwc.org.uk

Art History - Revisiting the Greats - Peter Paul Ruben: Part 1 (23/09/2026)

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 08:30:00 GMT

This is the first lecture in a two part series where Chantal Brotherton-Ratcliffe will look at Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640), one of the most celebrated painters of the 17th century.

Rubens was a man of many skills, multilingual and highly intelligent. He worked for the rulers of Flanders, Spain, Mantua and England, employed both as a painter and as a diplomat. He was often under tremendous pressure from many of his patrons to produce multiple pictures for various schemes. He ran a large studio, creating paintings in huge quantities and of enormous size, yet without compromising on quality.

His paintings overflow with an exuberance and joy in life as he turned his eye to almost every subject during his career. As court painter, he created portraits, mythologies and massive schemes for palaces, as well as creating religious paintings for churches and convents. His domestic paintings – often made for his own enjoyment – include remarkable depictions of his family and the countryside he loved around Antwerp. The lectures will also look at the social context in which he lived – the values, customs and dress, as well as the joys and fears.

This lecture on the 23rd will cover his work in the court and church. (Part 1)

The lecture on 30th will cover him as a friend and family man. (Part 2)

Please come at 9:30 for a coffee or tea. The lecture begins promptly at 10:00 and we aim to finish by 12:15. Please remember it is a dress code at the club so please no jeans or trainers.

For any queries, please contact event organiser Susan Shriver at arthistory@kcwc.org.uk

German Conversation (23/09/2026)

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 09:00:00 GMT

Come and practice your spoken and written German in a friendly and supportive environment.

Our meetings usually take place in one of the member’s home to discuss current affairs and read a topical text from a German magazine or newspaper.

So book your attendance to find out where the next meeting will take place.

Please contact Activity Leader Bianca Maclean if you have any queries at german@kcwc.org.uk

Antiques & Design - A Private Tour of World-Renowned Theatrical Costumier Angels (24/09/2026)

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 09:00:00 GMT

Established in 1840, Angels has supplied award winning costumes to West End productions, movie and tv sets as well as Madame Tussauds’. Seven generations of family ownership have maintained this rich heritage. With over one million pieces organised over eight miles of hanging racks, a treasure trove awaits discovery on our private tour of the world’s largest costume house. As we visit multiple tailoring departments and warehouse spaces, join us for firsthand accounts of the actors and productions fitted out by Angels.

NOTE: irrespective of the theatrical vernacular “Break a Leg”, please don’t on this tour! It will involve about two hours of walking through a working business with few if any rest stops provided.

For any queries contact Mary Narvell at antiques1@kcwc.org.uk

French Conversation (29/09/2026)

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 09:30:00 GMT

Themes will be given in advance so you can prepare them at home before discussing with the group when we meet, every fortnight, at a member's home. A good level of French is required.

Meeting location details will be sent to registered participants before each meeting.

Please book a ticket below to indicate your intention to participate in this meeting. For any queries contact event organiser Genevieve Sentier at french@kcwc.org.uk

Art History - Revisiting the Greats - Peter Paul Ruben: Part 2 (30/09/2026)

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 08:30:00 GMT

This is the second lecture in a two part series where Chantal Brotherton-Ratcliffe will look at Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640), one of the most celebrated painters of the 17th century.

The lecture on the 23rd covered his work in the court and church. (Part 1)

This lecture on the 30th will cover him as a friend and family man. (Part 2)

Please come at 9:30 for a coffee or tea. The lecture begins promptly at 10:00 and we aim to finish by 12:15. Please remember it is a dress code at the club so please no jeans or trainers.

For any queries, please contact event organiser Susan Shriver at arthistory@kcwc.org.uk

Evening Speaker - "Quake, Wave, War" Illustrated Talk by Diana Penn (30/09/2026)

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 17:00:00 GMT

We are invited to join members of The Rag to meet and hear from the lovely Diana Penn as she talks about her fascinating memoir Quake, Wave, War.

For 25 years Diana worked in international finance before making a life changing decision on her children leaving home, to change direction, gain the necessary experience and go on to work in overseas aid. The talk shares an understanding of the extraordinarily sensitive job that aidworkers on the ground undertake.

We shall see Diana’s own unique moment photography and hear readings from her diary entries and letters home, as we learn more of the vast challenges and even moments of joy in the lives being lived in very demanding circumstances.

Wine and soft drinks are included. Books available to buy.

For any queries, contact Activity Leader Bee Robb at eveningspeakers@kcwc.org.uk

Antiques & Design - An Exploration of Chinese Wallpaper (01/10/2026)

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 09:45:00 GMT

The fashion for all things Chinese – Chinoiserie – is a hallmark of grand 18^th century British domestic style. Beyond lacquer furniture and porcelain, most noble residences had one room decorated with Chinese hand painted wallpapers.

First appearing for sale in 17^th century London as part of the East India Company trade, these sumptuous papers portrayed exotic subjects in rich colourways. Birds and Chinese figures were stunningly depicted in detailed garden backdrops of sinuous trees, flowers and pagodas.

Learn about this luxurious, sophisticated decorating trend from V and A lecturer and Orientalist expert, Anne Haworth. Glorious Gardens will love this too!

For any queries contact Mary Narvell at antiques1@kcwc.org.uk

Discovering Opera - Part 1 (02/10/2026)

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 09:30:00 GMT

The aim of this course is to give you new ways of listening to opera, whether you are getting to know the form for the first time or you are already familiar with it and looking for something unusual.

Together we will explore a wide variety of operas and their social and cultural contexts, ranging from the eighteenth century to the present day, catering to all tastes. If you are new to the genre, you will get to hear some of the most famous works in the form. If you are more familiar with opera, you will gain fresh perspectives on the works you already know, and will have the opportunity to discover some less well-known works as well.

The course will introduce the various elements of opera production in the first term, and will explore some of the more general ideas around opera in the second term (separate enrollment later). Each class takes a single opera as a case study and considers its composer, context, themes, and production through rich audio-visual material.

Discussions will range across music, staging, characterisation, plot, and performance traditions, enabling learners to critically engage with the opera as both an art form and a social product.

The tutor, Dr Bruno Bower (FHEA, FRSA), is a lively and enthusiastic tutor whose love of music is infectious. He is a musicologist, performer, composer, and music editor, as well as a highly experienced teacher. He currently teaches at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Imperial College London. He is also the principal oboist of West London Sinfonia and the cor anglais player for Chelsea Opera Group.

Lectures will take place on the following Fridays:

October: 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd

November: 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th

December: 4th

Cost: £200

Two-Part Ticketing Process: This is a unique joint venture between KCWC and Imperial College, so there is a two part ticketing process:

Step #1: Please use the normal KCWC ticket purchase process in the "Tickets" section below (there is no charge, but we need you registered on the KCWC system for tracking and communication purposes).

Step #2: Please make your actual payment directly to Imperial College using the link below. You must use the "Internal rate (Friends & Family)" to get the £200 price.

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/evening-classes/winter-courses-list/discovering-opera-daytime/

For any queries, please contact activity leader Eve Mitleton-Kelly at opera@kcwc.org.uk

Discovering Classical Music - Part 1 (05/10/2026)

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 12:30:00 GMT

Are you baffled by Brahms? Perplexed by Prokofiev? Stumped by Strauss?

On this course join Dr Bruno Bower on a journey to discover new ways to understand classical music, without any of the obscure jargon. Knowing who, how, and why people created, played, and listened to music makes it much easier to relate to the deeper levels of texture and structure that lie behind the sounds we hear.

Each session will focus on different musical concepts, structures, genres, and historical periods, guiding learners through a rich and engaging exploration of the Western classical tradition.

The course is suitable for people with or without previous knowledge of classical music. You will gain fresh perspectives on famous works of classical music, and discover lesser-known pieces along the way.

Held in association with the Kensington and Chelsea Women's Club, this course is open to everyone, with no previous experience necessary. All welcome!

Lectures will take place on the following Mondays:

October: 5th, 12th, 19th

November: 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th

December: 7th

Cost: £200

Two-Part Ticketing Process: This is a unique joint venture between KCWC and Imperial College, so there is a two part ticketing process:

Step #2: Please make your actual payment directly to Imperial College using the link below. You must use the "Internal rate (Friends & Family)" to get the £200 price.

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/evening-classes/winter-courses-list/discovering-classical-music-daytime/

For any queries, please contact activity leader Eve Mitleton-Kelly at opera@kcwc.org.uk

Art History - Revisiting the Greats: Peter Paul Ruben at the National Gallery (11am Tour) (06/10/2026)

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 09:45:00 GMT

Following on from our two lectures in September, we will visit the National Gallery and look at some Ruben Paintings up close.

Meet promptly at 10:45 in the Sainsbury Wing - the tour will begin at 11am.

Please make sure you come to one lecture before you sign up for this event. Susan Shriver

For any queries, please contact event organiser Susan Shriver at arthistory@kcwc.org.uk

Art History - Revisiting the Greats: Peter Paul Ruben at the National Gallery (12:15pm Tour) (06/10/2026)

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 11:00:00 GMT

Following on from our two lectures in September, we will visit the National Gallery and look at some Ruben Paintings up close.

Meet promptly at 12:00 in the Sainsbury Wing - the tour will begin at 12:15 pm.

Please make sure you come to one lecture before you sign up for this event. Susan Shriver

For any queries, please contact event organiser Susan Shriver at arthistory@kcwc.org.uk

Volunteer With Us At The Wandsworth Food Bank (06/10/2026)

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 13:00:00 GMT

You can make a difference by joining us for just 2 hours on the first Tuesday of every month.

KCWC supports the Wandsworth Foodbank by helping to sort, label and organise the food donations. You'll find that the 2 hours just flies by!

The Wandsworth Foodbank Warehouse is located at 9 Ferrier Street, Wandsworth, SW18 1SW, conveniently located 2 minutes walk from Wandsworth Town Station and easily accessed by many bus routes.

Make a difference by signing up and help KCWC and Wandsworth Foodbank to support those less fortunate!

Please email event organiser Christie Bachmann for any queries at charityvolunteers@kcwc.org.uk

*Note: If you're interested in regular volunteering, Wandsworth Foodbank are also looking for kind and compassionate people who can commit to volunteering once a week for a minimum of six months.

Theatre - "Sinatra: The Musical" (06/10/2026)

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 18:30:00 GMT

It is New Year’s Eve 1942, a skinny 27- year-old Italian-American singer is about to step onto the stage of New York City’s Paramount Theatre and give a performance that will change music history. But as Frank Sinatra’s voice captures a nation, his heart is torn between his wife, Nancy, and movie goddess, Ava Gardner. When a scandal and a hostile press send his career into a tailspin, the young crooner fights back and stages the greatest comeback in show business history.

Featuring over twenty classic hits, including “That’s Life”, “One for my Baby” and many others, don’t miss Sinatra: The Musical. It is the most revealing portrait ever told about the legendary singer!

“You only live once and the way I live, once is enough.” Frank Sinatra

NOTE: There will be an optional Pre-Theatre Dinner at your own expense. Details will be emailed from the Activity Leader closer to the event to the KCWC members who have purchased a ticket to the musical.

For any queries contact event organiser Viola Hindley at theatre@kcwc.org.uk

German Conversation (07/10/2026)

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMT

Come and practice your spoken and written German in a friendly and supportive environment.

Our meetings usually take place in one of the member’s home to discuss current affairs and read a topical text from a German magazine or newspaper.

So book your attendance to find out where the next meeting will take place.

Please contact Activity Leader Bianca Maclean if you have any queries at german@kcwc.org.uk

Discovering Opera - Part 1 (09/10/2026)

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 09:30:00 GMT

Discussions will range across music, staging, characterisation, plot, and performance traditions, enabling learners to critically engage with the opera as both an art form and a social product.

Lectures will take place on the following Fridays:

October: 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd

November: 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th

December: 4th

Cost: £200

Two-Part Ticketing Process: This is a unique joint venture between KCWC and Imperial College, so there is a two part ticketing process:

Step #2: Please make your actual payment directly to Imperial College using the link below. You must use the "Internal rate (Friends & Family)" to get the £200 price.

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/evening-classes/winter-courses-list/discovering-opera-daytime/

For any queries, please contact activity leader Eve Mitleton-Kelly at opera@kcwc.org.uk

Discovering Classical Music - Part 1 (12/10/2026)

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:30:00 GMT

Are you baffled by Brahms? Perplexed by Prokofiev? Stumped by Strauss?

Each session will focus on different musical concepts, structures, genres, and historical periods, guiding learners through a rich and engaging exploration of the Western classical tradition.

Held in association with the Kensington and Chelsea Women's Club, this course is open to everyone, with no previous experience necessary. All welcome!

Lectures will take place on the following Mondays:

October: 5th, 12th, 19th

November: 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th

December: 7th

Cost: £200

Two-Part Ticketing Process: This is a unique joint venture between KCWC and Imperial College, so there is a two part ticketing process:

Step #2: Please make your actual payment directly to Imperial College using the link below. You must use the "Internal rate (Friends & Family)" to get the £200 price.

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/evening-classes/winter-courses-list/discovering-classical-music-daytime/

For any queries, please contact activity leader Eve Mitleton-Kelly at opera@kcwc.org.uk

French Conversation (13/10/2026)

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 09:30:00 GMT

Themes will be given in advance so you can prepare them at home before discussing with the group when we meet, every fortnight, at a member's home. A good level of French is required.

Meeting location details will be sent to registered participants before each meeting.

Please book a ticket below to indicate your intention to participate in this meeting. For any queries contact event organiser Genevieve Sentier at french@kcwc.org.uk

Art History - Know Before You Go - "Painting the French Riviera": Part 1 (14/10/2026)

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMT

The story of how the Côte d'Azur dazzled modern art's great innovators.

To Monet, it was like "swimming in blue air." To Braque, a "joyful revelation." Derain compared its cerulean hues to "sticks of dynamite . . . primed to discharge light."

The radiance of the French Riviera left an indelible mark on artists. It roused the imaginations not only of the 19th and 20th centuries' greatest painters - among them Picasso, Matisse, Cézanne, Renoir and Klein - but giants of literature, cinema and fashion, whose works helped define the carefree glamour and eternal romance of the Côte d'Azur.

From the 1870's, the azure seas and sapphire skies of the French Riviera beckoned artists, writers, intellectuals and aristocrats searching for an escape from their drab and crowded industrial cities. What they discovered was the landscape of their dreams - one that propelled the Impressionists, Post-Impressionists and Modernists to new creative heights.

In these two lectures, Jo Rhymer will discuss the exhibition at the Royal Academy "Painting The French Riviera" from 2 October 2026 - 31 January 2027, which looks at how the French Riviera supported the rise of modern art - and later became a travel destination and film location that epitomised midcentury sophistication.

Immerse yourself, just as these artists did, in a Mediterranean paradise.

Please join us from 9:30am for coffee.

For any queries, please contact event organiser Susan Alloun at arthistory1@kcwc.org.uk

October 2026 Guest Speaker Address - Sanam Naraghi-Anderlini (15/10/2026)

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 08:30:00 GMT

Our guest speaker for October is Sanam Naraghi-Anderlini, MBE, the founder and CEO of the International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN) in 2006.

Sanam has three decades of experience as a peace strategist working globally on conflicts, crises, violent extremism and peacebuilding with civil society, governments and the UN. Throughout her career, she has led groundbreaking initiatives in research, thought leadership, policy and practice relating to peacebuilding, human security and social cohesion. This includes being a civil society architect of the seminal UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women Peace and Security, director of the Women Waging Peace Policy Commission in 2002-2004 with design and delivery of the first multi-country research initiative on the evidence of women’s contributions to peace processes encapsulated in her book, Women Building Peace: What They Do, Why it Matters (Rienner, 2007).

In 2011 she was appointed the first Senior Expert on Gender and Inclusion by the UN’s Standby Team (SBT) of Mediation Experts working in Somalia, Libya, Syria and Sudan among other countries. Since 2018, she has been an adjunct Professor at the Columbia University School of International Public Affairs (SIPA). From 2020 to September 2022, Sanam served as Director of the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) Centre for Women, Peace and Security, working to deepen links between scholarship, policy and practice as part of the Women, Peace, and Security agenda. In 2024, Sanam became a Richard von Weizsacker Fellow at the Robert Bosch Academy. Sanam has served on numerous boards including the UK’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security and Prevention of Sexual Violence Board, the Commonwealth’s Panel of Experts on Countering Violent Extremism (CVE), and the Women Mediators Across the Commonwealth Steering Committee.

Her media appearances include Channel 4 News, CNN’s Amanpour, and Al Jazeera. She has published numerous articles in Foreign Affairs, Le Monde Diplomatique and the UK’s Observer. Sanam is host of the podcast, If You Were in Charge: People, Power and Possibilities currently in its third season, with guests Abigail Disney, Steven Walt and Professor Dame EJ Milner-Gullner. She was the recipient of the 2014 Washington DC UN Association Perdita Huston Award for human rights and the 2016 Greeley Peace Scholar at the University of Massachusetts. Sanam was awarded an MBE by Queen Elizabeth II in 2020 in recognition of her combined services to international peacebuilding and women’s rights. In 2022, she was the first Andrew Mellon Fellow at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, US.

Tentative schedule for the day:

9:30am - 10:45am - Registration, tea/coffee, Activity Leader and vendor tables

10:50am - Members to take their seats in the auditorium

11:00am - Introductions

11:10am - Guest Speaker

12:05pm - Q&A

12:30pm - Meeting conclusion

For any queries, contact Katy Cooke at programmes1@kcwc.org.uk

Discovering Opera - Part 1 (16/10/2026)

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 09:30:00 GMT

Discussions will range across music, staging, characterisation, plot, and performance traditions, enabling learners to critically engage with the opera as both an art form and a social product.

Lectures will take place on the following Fridays:

October: 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd

November: 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th

December: 4th

Cost: £200

Two-Part Ticketing Process: This is a unique joint venture between KCWC and Imperial College, so there is a two part ticketing process:

Step #2: Please make your actual payment directly to Imperial College using the link below. You must use the "Internal rate (Friends & Family)" to get the £200 price.

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/evening-classes/winter-courses-list/discovering-opera-daytime/

For any queries, please contact activity leader Eve Mitleton-Kelly at opera@kcwc.org.uk

Discovering Classical Music - Part 1 (19/10/2026)

Mon, 19 Oct 2026 12:30:00 GMT

Are you baffled by Brahms? Perplexed by Prokofiev? Stumped by Strauss?

Each session will focus on different musical concepts, structures, genres, and historical periods, guiding learners through a rich and engaging exploration of the Western classical tradition.

Held in association with the Kensington and Chelsea Women's Club, this course is open to everyone, with no previous experience necessary. All welcome!

Lectures will take place on the following Mondays:

October: 5th, 12th, 19th

November: 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th

December: 7th

Cost: £200

Two-Part Ticketing Process: This is a unique joint venture between KCWC and Imperial College, so there is a two part ticketing process:

Step #2: Please make your actual payment directly to Imperial College using the link below. You must use the "Internal rate (Friends & Family)" to get the £200 price.

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/evening-classes/winter-courses-list/discovering-classical-music-daytime/

For any queries, please contact activity leader Eve Mitleton-Kelly at opera@kcwc.org.uk

German Conversation (21/10/2026)

Wed, 21 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMT

Come and practice your spoken and written German in a friendly and supportive environment.

Our meetings usually take place in one of the member’s home to discuss current affairs and read a topical text from a German magazine or newspaper.

So book your attendance to find out where the next meeting will take place.

Please contact Activity Leader Bianca Maclean if you have any queries at german@kcwc.org.uk

Antiques & Design - An Evening Tour and Reception at the College of Arms (21/10/2026)

Wed, 21 Oct 2026 17:30:00 GMT

BADA Friends invites us to this exclusive evening made special by our guide: Dr Clive Cheesman, officially titled Norroy and Ulster King of Arms and Earl Marshal’s Secretary. No one is better placed to explain the august profession of herald officer of arms, the practice and laws of heraldry and the modern work of the College. Founded in 1484, the College is part of the Royal Household creating/registering arms and maintaining pedigrees under Crown Authority.

Light refreshments follow the tour exploring rooms and documents not usually on view.

For any queries contact Mary Narvell at antiques1@kcwc.org.uk

London Walks - Passport to Pimlico (22/10/2026)

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 13:30:00 GMT

This overlooked neighbour to Belgravia is a delight!

Not only was it home to four special women - an innovative fashion designer, a progressive dancer, an author recently honoured with a Blue Plaque, and a nursery school teacher who married a future king - there are two iconic housing estates that illustrate different ways of designing well thought-out, high-density blocks. If that is not enough, you have the inventor of lawn tennis, Larry O, public art, mention of Pimlico on film (this is a Rachel Kolsky tour after all!) and a statue commemorating the first rail fatality.

Note: We will be meeting inside the Pimlico tube station

For any queries contact event organiser Geneviève Sentier at londonwalks@kcwc.org.uk

Discovering Opera - Part 1 (23/10/2026)

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 09:30:00 GMT

Discussions will range across music, staging, characterisation, plot, and performance traditions, enabling learners to critically engage with the opera as both an art form and a social product.

Lectures will take place on the following Fridays:

October: 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd

November: 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th

December: 4th

Cost: £200

Two-Part Ticketing Process: This is a unique joint venture between KCWC and Imperial College, so there is a two part ticketing process:

Step #2: Please make your actual payment directly to Imperial College using the link below. You must use the "Internal rate (Friends & Family)" to get the £200 price.

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/evening-classes/winter-courses-list/discovering-opera-daytime/

For any queries, please contact activity leader Eve Mitleton-Kelly at opera@kcwc.org.uk

French Conversation (27/10/2026)

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 10:30:00 GMT

Themes will be given in advance so you can prepare them at home before discussing with the group when we meet, every fortnight, at a member's home. A good level of French is required.

Meeting location details will be sent to registered participants before each meeting.

Please book a ticket below to indicate your intention to participate in this meeting. For any queries contact event organiser Genevieve Sentier at french@kcwc.org.uk

Theatre - "The Cherry Orchard" (27/10/2026)

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 19:30:00 GMT

Kristin Scott Thomas is starring in Chekhov's final master piece that captures a world in delicate, inevitable transition - and remains as timeless and resonant as ever.

When Lyubov Ranevskaya (Scott Thomas) returns to her childhood estate after years abroad, she finds her family home and beloved cherry orchard under threat. As old loyalties falter and new ambitions rise, a world of privilege begins to crumble. Can Lyubov embrace the future, or will the pull of memory prove impossible to escape?

Don't miss this deeply moving portrait of love, loss and letting go . . .

NOTE: There will be an optional Pre-Theatre Dinner at your own expense. Details will be emailed from the Activity Leader closer to the event to the KCWC members who have purchased a ticket.

For any queries contact event organiser Viola Hindley at theatre@kcwc.org.uk

Art History - Know Before You Go - "Painting the French Riviera": Part 2 (28/10/2026)

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

The story of how the Côte d'Azur dazzled modern art's great innovators.

To Monet, it was like "swimming in blue air." To Braque, a "joyful revelation." Derain compared its cerulean hues to "sticks of dynamite . . . primed to discharge light."

Immerse yourself, just as these artists did, in a Mediterranean paradise.

Please join us from 9:30am for coffee.

For any queries, please contact event organiser Susan Alloun at arthistory1@kcwc.org.uk

Foodies - Day of the Dead Celebration Lunch (29/10/2026)

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT

The Day of the Dead is not intended as a sad or macabre day - it’s meant to celebrate your loved ones' lives and all the good they brought into the world when they were here with us.

Come and share happy memories whilst learning how to cook some Mexican dishes, then sit down to a simple feast and a spicy margarita (non alcoholic also available).

Ticket costs £60.00 and includes mini cookery demo, cocktails, recipes and sit down lunch.

Please book a free ticket here and contact the organizer on foodies@kcwc.org.uk for payment instructions.

Evening Speaker - The Battle of Isandlwana, a Talk by Douglas Rattray (29/10/2026)

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 19:00:00 GMT

The Battle of Isandlwana, A Talk by Douglas Rattray

Experience a vivid, moving account of the Battle of Isandlwana from both the English and Zulu perspectives. Douglas Rattray—son of the internationally renowned Anglo-Zulu War expert David Rattray—brings the courage of desperate soldiers and the gallantry of proud Zulu warriors to life, capturing the events of 22 January 1879 with passion and brilliant storytelling.

Anyone who has heard Douglas speak on the battlefields of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift knows his deep knowledge, passion, and wonderful ability to captivate an audience.

Douglas Rattray, from Fugitives’ Drift Lodge near the Anglo-Zulu War battlefields in South Africa, continues his father’s legacy with authority and warmth.

Join us for an unforgettable evening of history and storytelling! Refreshments included. This event is open to partners and guests.

TICKETS: £31.05 online with our KCWC 20% discount code provided by the Activity Leader.

Step1 - sign-up on this KCWC site to reserve a spot and indicate your interest.

Step 2 - contact the Activity Leader at eveningspeakers@kcwc.org.uk to request the link and KCWC Discount Code you will need to actually purchase your ticket through the Royal Geographical Society.

For any queries, contact Event Organiser Ina Messer at eveningspeakers@kcwc.org.uk

Discovering Classical Music - Part 1 (02/11/2026)

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 13:30:00 GMT

Are you baffled by Brahms? Perplexed by Prokofiev? Stumped by Strauss?

Each session will focus on different musical concepts, structures, genres, and historical periods, guiding learners through a rich and engaging exploration of the Western classical tradition.

Held in association with the Kensington and Chelsea Women's Club, this course is open to everyone, with no previous experience necessary. All welcome!

Lectures will take place on the following Mondays:

October: 5th, 12th, 19th

November: 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th

December: 7th

Cost: £200

Two-Part Ticketing Process: This is a unique joint venture between KCWC and Imperial College, so there is a two part ticketing process:

Step #2: Please make your actual payment directly to Imperial College using the link below. You must use the "Internal rate (Friends & Family)" to get the £200 price.

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/evening-classes/winter-courses-list/discovering-classical-music-daytime/

For any queries, please contact activity leader Eve Mitleton-Kelly at opera@kcwc.org.uk

Volunteer With Us At The Wandsworth Food Bank (03/11/2026)

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 14:00:00 GMT

You can make a difference by joining us for just 2 hours on the first Tuesday of every month.

KCWC supports the Wandsworth Foodbank by helping to sort, label and organise the food donations. You'll find that the 2 hours just flies by!

The Wandsworth Foodbank Warehouse is located at 9 Ferrier Street, Wandsworth, SW18 1SW, conveniently located 2 minutes walk from Wandsworth Town Station and easily accessed by many bus routes.

Make a difference by signing up and help KCWC and Wandsworth Foodbank to support those less fortunate!

Please email event organiser Christie Bachmann for any queries at charityvolunteers@kcwc.org.uk

*Note: If you're interested in regular volunteering, Wandsworth Foodbank are also looking for kind and compassionate people who can commit to volunteering once a week for a minimum of six months.

German Conversation (04/11/2026)

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Come and practice your spoken and written German in a friendly and supportive environment.

Our meetings usually take place in one of the member’s home to discuss current affairs and read a topical text from a German magazine or newspaper.

So book your attendance to find out where the next meeting will take place.

Please contact Activity Leader Bianca Maclean if you have any queries at german@kcwc.org.uk

Discovering Opera - Part 1 (06/11/2026)

Fri, 06 Nov 2026 10:30:00 GMT

Discussions will range across music, staging, characterisation, plot, and performance traditions, enabling learners to critically engage with the opera as both an art form and a social product.

Lectures will take place on the following Fridays:

October: 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd

November: 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th

December: 4th

Cost: £200

Two-Part Ticketing Process: This is a unique joint venture between KCWC and Imperial College, so there is a two part ticketing process:

Step #2: Please make your actual payment directly to Imperial College using the link below. You must use the "Internal rate (Friends & Family)" to get the £200 price.

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/evening-classes/winter-courses-list/discovering-opera-daytime/

For any queries, please contact activity leader Eve Mitleton-Kelly at opera@kcwc.org.uk

Discovering Classical Music - Part 1 (09/11/2026)

Mon, 09 Nov 2026 13:30:00 GMT

Are you baffled by Brahms? Perplexed by Prokofiev? Stumped by Strauss?

Each session will focus on different musical concepts, structures, genres, and historical periods, guiding learners through a rich and engaging exploration of the Western classical tradition.

Held in association with the Kensington and Chelsea Women's Club, this course is open to everyone, with no previous experience necessary. All welcome!

Lectures will take place on the following Mondays:

October: 5th, 12th, 19th

November: 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th

December: 7th

Cost: £200

Two-Part Ticketing Process: This is a unique joint venture between KCWC and Imperial College, so there is a two part ticketing process:

Step #2: Please make your actual payment directly to Imperial College using the link below. You must use the "Internal rate (Friends & Family)" to get the £200 price.

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/evening-classes/winter-courses-list/discovering-classical-music-daytime/

For any queries, please contact activity leader Eve Mitleton-Kelly at opera@kcwc.org.uk

French Conversation (10/11/2026)

Tue, 10 Nov 2026 10:30:00 GMT

Themes will be given in advance so you can prepare them at home before discussing with the group when we meet, every fortnight, at a member's home. A good level of French is required.

Meeting location details will be sent to registered participants before each meeting.

Please book a ticket below to indicate your intention to participate in this meeting. For any queries contact event organiser Genevieve Sentier at french@kcwc.org.uk

Art History - Know before you go: Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell, The Bloomsbury Group's Most Famous Duo (11/11/2026)

Wed, 11 Nov 2026 09:30:00 GMT

To mark the opening of Tate Britain’s major exhibition on the 12th of November, Cindy Polemis delves into the lives of two of Britain’s most famous artists of the early 20th century: Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant - core members of the non-conformist Bloomsbury Group, the circle of British intellectuals and artists famed for their unconventional lives and intense partnerships. They were described by the American writer Dorothy Parker as ‘living in squares, painting in circles and loving in triangles’ and had a pivotal influence on the course of art, design and literature. Bell and Grant had an extraordinary artistic and emotional partnership which spanned more than fifty years which was to mark a crucial moment in the history of modernism in British art.

Please come at 9:30 for a coffee or tea. The lecture begins promptly at 10:00 and we aim to finish by 12:15. Please remember it is a dress code at the club so please no jeans or trainers.

For any queries, please contact event organiser Susan Shriver at arthistory@kcwc.org.uk

Discovering Opera - Part 1 (13/11/2026)

Fri, 13 Nov 2026 10:30:00 GMT

Discussions will range across music, staging, characterisation, plot, and performance traditions, enabling learners to critically engage with the opera as both an art form and a social product.

Lectures will take place on the following Fridays:

October: 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd

November: 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th

December: 4th

Cost: £200

Two-Part Ticketing Process: This is a unique joint venture between KCWC and Imperial College, so there is a two part ticketing process:

Step #2: Please make your actual payment directly to Imperial College using the link below. You must use the "Internal rate (Friends & Family)" to get the £200 price.

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/evening-classes/winter-courses-list/discovering-opera-daytime/

For any queries, please contact activity leader Eve Mitleton-Kelly at opera@kcwc.org.uk

Discovering Classical Music - Part 1 (16/11/2026)

Mon, 16 Nov 2026 13:30:00 GMT

Are you baffled by Brahms? Perplexed by Prokofiev? Stumped by Strauss?

Each session will focus on different musical concepts, structures, genres, and historical periods, guiding learners through a rich and engaging exploration of the Western classical tradition.

Held in association with the Kensington and Chelsea Women's Club, this course is open to everyone, with no previous experience necessary. All welcome!

Lectures will take place on the following Mondays:

October: 5th, 12th, 19th

November: 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th

December: 7th

Cost: £200

Two-Part Ticketing Process: This is a unique joint venture between KCWC and Imperial College, so there is a two part ticketing process:

Step #2: Please make your actual payment directly to Imperial College using the link below. You must use the "Internal rate (Friends & Family)" to get the £200 price.

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/evening-classes/winter-courses-list/discovering-classical-music-daytime/

For any queries, please contact activity leader Eve Mitleton-Kelly at opera@kcwc.org.uk

Art History - Making Sense of Early Christian Art: the Virgin Mary in Icons (18/11/2026)

Wed, 18 Nov 2026 09:30:00 GMT

In this lecture we will be focus on the icons of the early church, mostly at the Virgin Mary in early icon images. The Virgin Mary has such a large range of artwork. We will be looking at the key figures, style, and context of the work against the background of history and conflicts.

We have a new lecturer for you. Elisa Stafferini, art historian, has been highly recommended by one of our members. She specializes in Renaissance and early modern Italian art. Her research interests encompass early modern visual culture, iconography and iconology, gender and politics in art, and the relationship between word and image. She has delivered lectures on Renaissance art and iconography in both Italy and the UK and taught the module “Art in London before 1600” at University College London.

Please come at 9:30 for a coffee or tea. The lecture begins promptly at 10:00 and we aim to finish by 12:15. Please remember it is a dress code at the club so please no jeans or trainers.

For any queries, please contact event organiser Susan Shriver at arthistory@kcwc.org.uk

German Conversation (18/11/2026)

Wed, 18 Nov 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Come and practice your spoken and written German in a friendly and supportive environment.

Our meetings usually take place in one of the member’s home to discuss current affairs and read a topical text from a German magazine or newspaper.

So book your attendance to find out where the next meeting will take place.

Please contact Activity Leader Bianca Maclean if you have any queries at german@kcwc.org.uk

November 2026 Guest Speaker Address - Julie Weston (19/11/2026)

Thu, 19 Nov 2026 09:30:00 GMT

Our guest speaker this month is Julie Weston, the Executive Director of the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond following her appointment in July 2025. The theatre is highly acclaimed and is noted for its artistic excellence including high quality, intimate productions that combine new plays, bold revivals and rarely seen classics. It was named Joint Theatre of the Year at The Stage Awards in 2025.

Julie is an experienced leader in the arts and not-for-profit sectors, with a career dedicated to organisational development and change. She has held senior leadership roles with a variety of cultural and arts organisations including that of Administrative Director at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, at the Audience Agency, Wac Arts and Cardboard Citizens. Julie has a track record of creating values-led, resilient organisations and environments where people feel empowered to take responsibility.

She will tell us about the successful running of the Orange Tree Theatre and how to stage a play, including the programming and liaison with the actors. In spite of an environment which receives no financial support from the Arts Council or the government, Julie will explain how the theatre has managed to achieve consistent commercial and critical success.

Tentative schedule for the day:

9:30am - 10:45am - Registration, tea/coffee, Activity Leader and vendor tables

10:50am - Members to take their seats in the auditorium

11:00am - Introductions

11:10am - Guest Speaker

12:05pm - Q&A

12:30pm - Meeting conclusion

For any queries, contact Katy Cooke at programmes1@kcwc.org.uk

Discovering Opera - Part 1 (20/11/2026)

Fri, 20 Nov 2026 10:30:00 GMT

Discussions will range across music, staging, characterisation, plot, and performance traditions, enabling learners to critically engage with the opera as both an art form and a social product.

Lectures will take place on the following Fridays:

October: 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd

November: 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th

December: 4th

Cost: £200

Two-Part Ticketing Process: This is a unique joint venture between KCWC and Imperial College, so there is a two part ticketing process:

Step #2: Please make your actual payment directly to Imperial College using the link below. You must use the "Internal rate (Friends & Family)" to get the £200 price.

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/evening-classes/winter-courses-list/discovering-opera-daytime/

For any queries, please contact activity leader Eve Mitleton-Kelly at opera@kcwc.org.uk

Discovering Classical Music - Part 1 (23/11/2026)

Mon, 23 Nov 2026 13:30:00 GMT

Are you baffled by Brahms? Perplexed by Prokofiev? Stumped by Strauss?

Each session will focus on different musical concepts, structures, genres, and historical periods, guiding learners through a rich and engaging exploration of the Western classical tradition.

Held in association with the Kensington and Chelsea Women's Club, this course is open to everyone, with no previous experience necessary. All welcome!

Lectures will take place on the following Mondays:

October: 5th, 12th, 19th

November: 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th

December: 7th

Cost: £200

Two-Part Ticketing Process: This is a unique joint venture between KCWC and Imperial College, so there is a two part ticketing process:

Step #2: Please make your actual payment directly to Imperial College using the link below. You must use the "Internal rate (Friends & Family)" to get the £200 price.

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/evening-classes/winter-courses-list/discovering-classical-music-daytime/

For any queries, please contact activity leader Eve Mitleton-Kelly at opera@kcwc.org.uk

French Conversation (24/11/2026)

Tue, 24 Nov 2026 10:30:00 GMT

Themes will be given in advance so you can prepare them at home before discussing with the group when we meet, every fortnight, at a member's home. A good level of French is required.

Meeting location details will be sent to registered participants before each meeting.

Please book a ticket below to indicate your intention to participate in this meeting. For any queries contact event organiser Genevieve Sentier at french@kcwc.org.uk

Theatre - "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" (24/11/2026)

Tue, 24 Nov 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Gillian Anderson and Billy Crudup star in a new revival of Edward Albee’s Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf? at @sohoplace.

In the early hours of the morning on the campus of an American college, Martha, much to her husband George’s displeasure, has invited the new professor Nick and his wife Honey to their home for some after-party drinks. As the alcohol flows and dawn approaches, the young couple are drawn into George and Martha’s toxic games until the evening reaches its climax in a moment of devastating truth-telling.

Edward Albee’s drama remains one of the most powerful and unflinching portrayals of marriage ever written. Brutal, funny and deeply human. "Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf?" continues to shock and captivate audiences long after its debut.

For any queries contact event organiser Viola Hindley at theatre@kcwc.org.uk

Discovering Opera - Part 1 (27/11/2026)

Fri, 27 Nov 2026 10:30:00 GMT

Discussions will range across music, staging, characterisation, plot, and performance traditions, enabling learners to critically engage with the opera as both an art form and a social product.

Lectures will take place on the following Fridays:

October: 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd

November: 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th

December: 4th

Cost: £200

Two-Part Ticketing Process: This is a unique joint venture between KCWC and Imperial College, so there is a two part ticketing process:

Step #2: Please make your actual payment directly to Imperial College using the link below. You must use the "Internal rate (Friends & Family)" to get the £200 price.

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/evening-classes/winter-courses-list/discovering-opera-daytime/

For any queries, please contact activity leader Eve Mitleton-Kelly at opera@kcwc.org.uk

Discovering Classical Music - Part 1 (30/11/2026)

Mon, 30 Nov 2026 13:30:00 GMT

Are you baffled by Brahms? Perplexed by Prokofiev? Stumped by Strauss?

Each session will focus on different musical concepts, structures, genres, and historical periods, guiding learners through a rich and engaging exploration of the Western classical tradition.

Held in association with the Kensington and Chelsea Women's Club, this course is open to everyone, with no previous experience necessary. All welcome!

Lectures will take place on the following Mondays:

October: 5th, 12th, 19th

November: 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th

December: 7th

Cost: £200

Two-Part Ticketing Process: This is a unique joint venture between KCWC and Imperial College, so there is a two part ticketing process:

Step #2: Please make your actual payment directly to Imperial College using the link below. You must use the "Internal rate (Friends & Family)" to get the £200 price.

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/evening-classes/winter-courses-list/discovering-classical-music-daytime/

For any queries, please contact activity leader Eve Mitleton-Kelly at opera@kcwc.org.uk

Volunteer With Us At The Wandsworth Food Bank (01/12/2026)

Tue, 01 Dec 2026 14:00:00 GMT

You can make a difference by joining us for just 2 hours on the first Tuesday of every month.

KCWC supports the Wandsworth Foodbank by helping to sort, label and organise the food donations. You'll find that the 2 hours just flies by!

The Wandsworth Foodbank Warehouse is located at 9 Ferrier Street, Wandsworth, SW18 1SW, conveniently located 2 minutes walk from Wandsworth Town Station and easily accessed by many bus routes.

Make a difference by signing up and help KCWC and Wandsworth Foodbank to support those less fortunate!

Please email event organiser Christie Bachmann for any queries at charityvolunteers@kcwc.org.uk

*Note: If you're interested in regular volunteering, Wandsworth Foodbank are also looking for kind and compassionate people who can commit to volunteering once a week for a minimum of six months.

Pop Up: Festive Trip to Prague (02/12/2026)

Wed, 02 Dec 2026 00:00:00 GMT

There are few cities that conjure up the image of Christmas more than Prague. We are offering a festive trip to Prague, staying three nights from December 2-5th. Hotel Josef (4/5*) will be our base, conveniently situated in the heart of the historic old town.

The trip provides a perfect balance of guided tours and free time to meander around this historic city. Tour One is a six hour day trip which entails a guided walking tour of the city, entrance to St. Charles Bridge museum, a traditional Czech lunch, and a boat cruise on the River Vitava. The following morning , a three hour guided tour of the various Christmas markets is offered, with a free afternoon to explore on your own.

There are only ten places on this trip so be sure to register soon. A £3 registration fee will be charged, and then we will send you a link to pay your deposit to the travel company. See details below . . .

Trip Includes:

Round trip air flights with British Airways to Prague (one suitcase)
Round trip airport transfers to Hotel Josef
Daily breakfast
Guided tour of the old city, lunch and a boat ride with refreshments
Guided morning tour of Christmas markets
unless specified above, all other meals on your own tab

Costs:

The price is £875 pp if sharing with a KCWC friend in a twin bedded room OR the price is £1225 pp for a private Superior king bedroom
A £300 non- refundable deposit must be made to ensure your place. A link for the payment to the travel agency will be sent to you.
The remainder of the payment will be made at a later date and is subject to a refund 8 days or more in advance of the start date. (minus the deposit)

After purchasing your spot here on the KCWC site, please contact event organisers Ina Messer and Alison Wacker at popup@kcwc.org.uk It's going to be magical!

German Conversation (02/12/2026)

Wed, 02 Dec 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Come and practice your spoken and written German in a friendly and supportive environment.

Our meetings usually take place in one of the member’s home to discuss current affairs and read a topical text from a German magazine or newspaper.

So book your attendance to find out where the next meeting will take place.

Please contact Activity Leader Bianca Maclean if you have any queries at german@kcwc.org.uk

Discovering Opera - Part 1 (04/12/2026)

Fri, 04 Dec 2026 10:30:00 GMT

Discussions will range across music, staging, characterisation, plot, and performance traditions, enabling learners to critically engage with the opera as both an art form and a social product.

Lectures will take place on the following Fridays:

October: 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd

November: 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th

December: 4th

Cost: £200

Two-Part Ticketing Process: This is a unique joint venture between KCWC and Imperial College, so there is a two part ticketing process:

Step #2: Please make your actual payment directly to Imperial College using the link below. You must use the "Internal rate (Friends & Family)" to get the £200 price.

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/evening-classes/winter-courses-list/discovering-opera-daytime/

For any queries, please contact activity leader Eve Mitleton-Kelly at opera@kcwc.org.uk

Discovering Classical Music - Part 1 (07/12/2026)

Mon, 07 Dec 2026 13:30:00 GMT

Are you baffled by Brahms? Perplexed by Prokofiev? Stumped by Strauss?

Each session will focus on different musical concepts, structures, genres, and historical periods, guiding learners through a rich and engaging exploration of the Western classical tradition.

Held in association with the Kensington and Chelsea Women's Club, this course is open to everyone, with no previous experience necessary. All welcome!

Lectures will take place on the following Mondays:

October: 5th, 12th, 19th

November: 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th

December: 7th

Cost: £200

Two-Part Ticketing Process: This is a unique joint venture between KCWC and Imperial College, so there is a two part ticketing process:

Step #2: Please make your actual payment directly to Imperial College using the link below. You must use the "Internal rate (Friends & Family)" to get the £200 price.

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/evening-classes/winter-courses-list/discovering-classical-music-daytime/

For any queries, please contact activity leader Eve Mitleton-Kelly at opera@kcwc.org.uk

Theatre - "The Lives of Others" (07/12/2026)

Mon, 07 Dec 2026 19:30:00 GMT

Listening changes everything.

1984. East Germany. A writer and an actor are placed under state surveillance. From the attic above their apartment, a Stasi man listens for evidence of subversion. But . . . what was first an operation to prove guilt becomes a story about empathy and complicity. To observe a life is to risk changing your own.

Olivier Award-winner Robert Icke (Oedipus, Oresteia, Romeo & Juliet) adapts and directs this first stage version of Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck’s acclaimed film , starring:

Keira Knightley (Black Doves, Atonement, The Misanthrope)

Stephen Dillane (Game of Thrones, The Tunnel, Vigil)

Luke Thompson(Bridgerton, Dunkirk, Oresteia)

"The Lives of Others" revisits a story that has only grown more contemporary over time. Living in a culture shaped by surveillance, technological identification, and loose definition of freedom, this play asks us to ponder what lives on when our thoughts and speeches are captured, even in our most intimate moments, and what the cost of humanity means.

For any queries contact event organiser Viola Hindley at theatre@kcwc.org.uk

French Conversation (08/12/2026)

Tue, 08 Dec 2026 10:30:00 GMT

Themes will be given in advance so you can prepare them at home before discussing with the group when we meet, every fortnight, at a member's home. A good level of French is required.

Meeting location details will be sent to registered participants before each meeting.

Please book a ticket below to indicate your intention to participate in this meeting. For any queries contact event organiser Genevieve Sentier at french@kcwc.org.uk

German Conversation (16/12/2026)

Wed, 16 Dec 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Come and practice your spoken and written German in a friendly and supportive environment.

Our meetings usually take place in one of the member’s home to discuss current affairs and read a topical text from a German magazine or newspaper.

So book your attendance to find out where the next meeting will take place.

Please contact Activity Leader Bianca Maclean if you have any queries at german@kcwc.org.uk

Art History - Know Before you go - Van Eyck "The Portriats" (13/01/2027)

Wed, 13 Jan 2027 09:30:00 GMT

Jan Van Eyck’s portraits will all be together for the first time at the National Gallery. Portraiture as we know it begins with Van Eyck. His vision and skill launched painting into a new era of unrivaled realism.

Van Eyck captured his subjects in all their intimate details. Though these people sat for their portraits 600 years ago, they feel alive today.

Breathing life into Van Eyck’s world, the exhibition introduces the men and women he spent his life around. They are not kings, queens and aristocrats; they are successful craftsmen, merchants and the artist’s relatives. This is a story of people. This is the moment when access to art widened.

The exhibition marks the first and only time these works can be brought together. And this incredible display can only happen here, at the National Gallery. We are very lucky to have Chantal Brotherton-Radcliff lecture for us on the exhibit.

Please come at 9:30 for a coffee or tea. The lecture begins promptly at 10:00 and we aim to finish by 12:15. Please remember there is a dress code at the club, so please no jeans or trainers.

For any queries, please contact event organiser Susan Shriver at arthistory@kcwc.org.uk

2027 Guest Speaker Address - TBA (21/01/2027)

Thu, 21 Jan 2027 09:30:00 GMT

Information on our Guest Speaker will be added shortly.

Tentative schedule for the day:

9:30am - 10:45am - Registration, tea/coffee, Activity Leader and vendor tables

10:50am - Members to take their seats in the auditorium

11:00am - Introductions

11:10am - Guest Speaker

12:05pm - Q&A

12:30pm - Meeting conclusion

For any queries, contact Katy Cooke at programmes1@kcwc.org.uk

Art History - Art in 18th Century Britain in 5 Parts: Part 1 (27/01/2027)

Wed, 27 Jan 2027 09:30:00 GMT

Part 1: Hogarth and His World

Eighteenth-century London was squalid, drunk, foul-mouthed, and dominated by scandal. It was also a great place to achieve success whether in business, trade, entertainment, or art.

In London and elsewhere, new stately homes and townhouses needed decoration, and both old money patrons and the nouveau-riche vied to demonstrate their status and good taste by buying art.

By the end of the eighteenth century, a recognisably British style in landscape and portrait painting had developed, and the foundation of the Royal Academy of Arts set the seal on the prestige of British art.

In this series of five lectures, Julia Musgrave - an Art Historian many of you are familiar with - will look at some of the social, political, philosophical and scientific background to these changes, and the impact of the Grand Tour on art, architecture and the decorative arts.

Together we will explore the work of William Hogarth, Sir Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough, as well as their competitors and colleagues, George Romney, and Joseph Wright 'of Derby'. We will also look at the continuing contribution of non-native artists: from Germany, Switzerland, America and Ireland, many of whom were Royal Academicians.

There will be FIVE sessions on:

Wed 27 January: Part 1 "Hogarth and His World"

Wed 10 February: Part 2 "Defining a British Style - from St Martin's Lane to the Royal Academy"

Wed 24 February: Part 3 "A Mirror of Society - New Patrons, Portraits and Satire"

Wed 10 March 2: Part 4 "Influences from Abroad - The Grand Tour and Other Travels"

Wed 24 March: Part 5 "Imagination, Introspection and Industry - How the Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution Shaped British Art"

Please join us from 9:30am for coffee.

For further information, please contact activity leader Susan Alloun at arthistory1@kcwc.org.uk

Art History - Art in 18th Century Britain in 5 Parts: Part 2 (10/02/2027)

Wed, 10 Feb 2027 09:30:00 GMT

Part 2: Defining a British Style - from St Martin's Lane to the Royal Academy

Eighteenth-century London was squalid, drunk, foul-mouthed, and dominated by scandal. It was also a great place to achieve success whether in business, trade, entertainment, or art.

In London and elsewhere, new stately homes and townhouses needed decoration, and both old money patrons and the nouveau-riche vied to demonstrate their status and good taste by buying art.

There are 4 sessions left in the 5 part series on:

Wed 10 February: Part 2 "Defining a British Style - from St Martin's Lane to the Royal Academy"

Wed 24 February: Part 3 "A Mirror of Society - New Patrons, Portraits and Satire"

Wed 10 March 2: Part 4 "Influences from Abroad - The Grand Tour and Other Travels"

Wed 24 March: Part 5 "Imagination, Introspection and Industry - How the Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution Shaped British Art"

Please join us from 9:30am for coffee.

For further information, please contact activity leader Susan Alloun at arthistory1@kcwc.org.uk

Art History - Art in 18th Century Britain in 5 Parts: Part 3 (24/02/2027)

Wed, 24 Feb 2027 09:30:00 GMT

Part 3: A Mirror of Society - New Patrons, Portraits and Satire

Eighteenth-century London was squalid, drunk, foul-mouthed, and dominated by scandal. It was also a great place to achieve success whether in business, trade, entertainment, or art.

In London and elsewhere, new stately homes and townhouses needed decoration, and both old money patrons and the nouveau-riche vied to demonstrate their status and good taste by buying art.

There are 3 sessions left in the 5 part series on:

Wed 24 February: Part 3 "A Mirror of Society - New Patrons, Portraits and Satire"

Wed 10 March 2: Part 4 "Influences from Abroad - The Grand Tour and Other Travels"

Wed 24 March: Part 5 "Imagination, Introspection and Industry - How the Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution Shaped British Art"

Please join us from 9:30am for coffee.

For further information, please contact activity leader Susan Alloun at arthistory1@kcwc.org.uk

Art History - Art in 18th Century Britain in 5 Parts: Part 4 (10/03/2027)

Wed, 10 Mar 2027 09:30:00 GMT

Part 4: Influences from Abroad - The Grand Tour and Other Travels

Eighteenth-century London was squalid, drunk, foul-mouthed, and dominated by scandal. It was also a great place to achieve success whether in business, trade, entertainment, or art.

In London and elsewhere, new stately homes and townhouses needed decoration, and both old money patrons and the nouveau-riche vied to demonstrate their status and good taste by buying art.

There are 2 sessions left in the 5 part series on:

Wed 10 March 2: Part 4 "Influences from Abroad - The Grand Tour and Other Travels"

Wed 24 March: Part 5 "Imagination, Introspection and Industry - How the Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution Shaped British Art"

Please join us from 9:30am for coffee.

For further information, please contact activity leader Susan Alloun at arthistory1@kcwc.org.uk

Art History - Art in 18th Century Britain in 5 Parts: Part 5 (24/03/2027)

Wed, 24 Mar 2027 09:30:00 GMT

Part 5: Imagination, Introspection and Industry - How the Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution Shaped British Art

Eighteenth-century London was squalid, drunk, foul-mouthed, and dominated by scandal. It was also a great place to achieve success whether in business, trade, entertainment, or art.

In London and elsewhere, new stately homes and townhouses needed decoration, and both old money patrons and the nouveau-riche vied to demonstrate their status and good taste by buying art.

This is the last session in the 5 part series on:

Wed 24 March: Part 5 "Imagination, Introspection and Industry - How the Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution Shaped British Art"

Please join us from 9:30am for coffee.

For further information, please contact activity leader Susan Alloun at arthistory1@kcwc.org.uk