KCWC upcoming events

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

Fri, 09 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

Art History - Revisiting the Greats: Peter Paul Ruben at the National Gallery (11am Tour) (09/10/2026)

Fri, 09 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) (09/10/2026)

Fri, 09 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

Passion For Fashion - Unmasked: The Journey Beyond Appearances (10/10/2026)

Sat, 10 Oct 2026 12:30:00 GMT

Join me as we view a fabulous fashion show plus enjoy a makeup experience. This event is to raise awareness of mental health and emotional well being.

Duke Street Church is just across from Richmond tube station.

Two step ticket process:

Step 1: Register here online with KCWC so we know exactly who is attending from KCWC.

Step 2: Then book online through EVENT BRITE (Link below)

Contact Barbara Welch at fashion@kcwc.org.uk for the 20% discount code *after* you have signed up here (KCWC). Be sure to add the discount code specially for KCWC members approx cost £38 :

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/2000692094913?aff=oddtdtcreator

NOTE: YOU WILL NOT BE ADMITTED IF YOU DO NOT BUY YOUR TICKET ONLINE THROUGH EVENT BRITE.

For any queries, contact event coordinator Barbara Welch at fashion@kcwc.org.uk

Mahjong (12/10/2026)

Mon, 12 Oct 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

Volunteer at Refettorio Felix Community Kitchen (12/10/2026)

Mon, 12 Oct 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

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?

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

Tuesday Tennis at the Westway (13/10/2026)

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMT

We play intermediate level social, fun, but competitive tennis and have a coach for each of the two-hour sessions. We play indoors so the weather is never an issue.

(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

French Conversation (13/10/2026)

Tue, 13 Oct 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

Contemporary Art - Bow Arts: Private Curator-led Gallery & Meet the Artist (13/10/2026)

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Join us for a unique behind-the-scenes experience that offers a rare opportunity to discover how contemporary art develops from the artist’s first idea to the gallery wall.

Our visit will take us to Bow Arts, one of London’s leading organisations supporting artists through studio spaces, professional development and public exhibitions. By bringing together artists, curators and audiences, Bow Arts plays an important role in London’s contemporary art scene.

We will begin with an exclusive visit to The Nunnery Gallery, closed to the public that day and reserved exclusively for our group.

A member of the curatorial team will introduce us to Bow Arts and guide us through the exhibition Bhajan Hunjan: Speaking Through Materials, sharing insights into the exhibition and the ideas behind the works on display.

Following the tour, Bhajan Hunjan will join us in the gallery to meet the group and talk about her work, creative process and the ideas behind the exhibition, with an opportunity for participants to ask questions and engage directly with the artist.

This is far more than a gallery visit. It is an opportunity to discover how artists are supported, how exhibitions come together and how an artwork evolves from the first spark of an idea to the finished work, while hearing directly from the artist herself.

NOTE: Participants are welcome to stay for lunch at the Bow Arts café after the visit. If you would like to join, please let me know in advance. Further details will be provided closer to the event.

Nearest Underground station: Bow Road (District and Hammersmith & City lines) - approx 6 min walk

For any queries, contact Event Organiser Anna Bianchi at contemporary1@kcwc.org.uk

Quiz Night (13/10/2026)

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Join us for a pub quiz at the Crabtree - it's £2 per person quiz entry fee paid directly to the quiz master on the evening.

The quiz gives you the chance to win a £50 bar tab for first place to a bottle of wine for second-to-last-place. The quiz normally starts at 8pm, but we're planning to meet from 7pm so we can grab a table and form a team or two.

Partners are bery welcome, so feel free to bring them along and test your general knowledge!

Please note: This is an established pub quiz and we're looking to form teams on the evening with KCWC members as well as partners and friends.

For any queries, please contact Activity Leader Sarah-Jane Luckhurst at eveningevents@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

Latin Dance (14/10/2026)

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Join us for Latin Dance every Wednesday at 11:00. Our new meeting place will be announced soon! Our teacher is Rafal Lautenbach who is a true professional, and we cover a range of Latin dances including Salsa, Cha Cha, Rumba, Bachata, Samba. You don't need any prior dance experience as Rafal explains everything again when new people join us. This is not an exercise class, it is just pure dance fun.

You can wear whatever you feel comfortable in but make sure that your shoes slide on the floor - not trainers. If you decide to come on a regular basis I will let you know where you can buy dance practice shoes.

For any queries contact Event organiser Jenni Kravitz at latindance@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

Hospitality Lunch - Maison François (15/10/2026)

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT

For our last Hospitality lunch in Mayfair, we will be going to Maison François, a modern French brasserie inspired by the grand dining rooms of Paris and Lyon.

Lunch will be pre-ordered according to the menu which will be sent out after enrolling. We will be having a main course comprising of either meat or fish, with accompanying salads.

Each participant will be responsible for her own drinks and dessert.

Please note that our tables are booked for 1.00pm, so it would be appreciated if members did not arrive beforehand.

Please contact event organisers Mimi Rolbant & Larysa Kotsiuba for any queries at hospitality@kcwc.org.uk

Passion For Fashion - VIP Bicester Village Shopping Trip (16/10/2026)

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 08:30:00 GMT

Join us for another super fun day out of town, at the fabulous Bicester Village. This is a VIP Shopping trip! Do you need to revamp your wardrobe for winter? Or perhaps do some early Christmas shopping?

Whether you decide to take the train with me from Marylebone Station or drive, we will start our morning with complimentary croissant and coffee/teas at Ottolenghi in Bicester Village. Our VIP Concierge will give us our individual QR codes, so that we will have access to hands free shopping all day at incredible stores such as Christian Dior, Gucci, Prada, Celine . . . etc. All at discount prices!

There is a Saint Laurent special event on October 15-17th. We will be invited to preview exclusive Saint Laurent pieces and latest arrivals in The Apartment while sipping refreshments. This is a VIP only access that is complimentary for our group.

Lunch reservations can be booked in advance by the concierge, if you wish. This and any transportation will be on your own tab.

For any queries, please contact activity leader Barbara Welch at fashion@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

Café Society - Coffee Morning at Martino's in Sloan Square (16/10/2026)

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 09:30:00 GMT

We are very excited to invite you to our October Coffee Morning at Martino’s!

Martino’s is a glamorous yet relaxed Italian-inspired brasserie in Sloane Square. White tablecloths, candlelit tables, an oxblood floor and a central bar create a stylish, lively setting suited to family lunches, pre-theatre dinners and sociable evenings. Polished service and thoughtful details make the restaurant feel special, although the atmosphere sometimes outshines the food.

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 join the waitlist, 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

Music Journeys - Lunchtime Concert featuring Ciro Rolon (piano) (16/10/2026)

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT

KCWC invites you to come and enjoy a vibrant and various programme performed by one of the most promising talents in Argentine classical music, Ciro Rolón.

An active concert artist, he frequently tours venues across the Americas and Europe.

He has established himself in his international musical career through both technical brilliance and interpretative depth.

Please register your attendance. No other ticket required.

Voluntary donations graciously accepted.

Programme:

Johann Sebastian Bach (1770-1827)

Cesar Franck (1822-1890)

Alexander Scriabin (1872-1915)

Hilda Herrera (1932)

Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992)

”Adios Nonino” Tango Rhapsody

For any queries, contact Event Organiser Maria Puleio at music1@kcwc.org.uk

Mahjong (19/10/2026)

Mon, 19 Oct 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

Book Group - "The Nuremberg Women" by Natalie Livingston (19/10/2026)

Mon, 19 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT

The Nuremberg Women tells the story of eight women: a brilliant American lawyer, three pioneering journalists, two German, one British, an iconoclastic artist, a beautiful refugee aristocrat, a dauntless survivor of Auschwitz, and a young Russian translator.

From the major stories about justice, gender, and politics at a pivotal moment in the twentieth century to the smaller, daily intimate tales of the women’s affairs and bar-room disputes, The Nuremberg Women shows the most famous trial of the twentieth century in a new light—making a brave new case for it having been a more diverse and democratic exercise than has often been recognized.

They reveal a Nuremberg that is more intimate, human, and haphazard; one that was lower paid and less publicized. They demonstrate that the trial was remarkable not because it was perfect but because, against all odds, it happened. Thanks to these women and many others, justice was served.

For any queries, contact event organizers Roopa Girard and Marika Carle at bookgroup@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

Tuesday Tennis at the Westway (20/10/2026)

Tue, 20 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMT

We play intermediate level social, fun, but competitive tennis and have a coach for each of the two-hour sessions. We play indoors so the weather is never an issue.

(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

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

Latin Dance (21/10/2026)

Wed, 21 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

For any queries contact Event organiser Jenni Kravitz at latindance@kcwc.org.uk

Evening Book Group - Kin by Tayari Jones (21/10/2026)

Wed, 21 Oct 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Join us for this month's book discussion which will be on Kin by Tayari Jones (368 pages).

Vernice and Annie are 'cradle friends', born days apart in Honeysuckle, Louisiana, both destined never to know their mothers. The girls are inseparable, bound by a friendship far deeper than sisterhood. But this is the American south in the 1950s. Black girls like Vernice and Annie have to fight for every opportunity they can, and neither one can build the future they hope for in Honeysuckle.

Gradually, inevitably, the girls drift apart. Vernice pursues her education; Annie is lured by the promise of a heady first love affair and a growing obsession with finding her mother. But her search pulls her even further into a world of danger that soon leaves her oldest friend battling to save her.

For any queries, contact Claudia on eveningbookgroup@kcwc.org.uk

British History - A "Feminist" Jack the Ripper Walking Tour (21/10/2026)

Wed, 21 Oct 2026 17:30:00 GMT

We are publicising a walk organized by the American Women Lawyers in London (AWLL) . . .

It’s b-a-a-a-c-k!

By popular demand, we (AWLL) are bringing back our much-loved spooky themed London historical tours!

This year we are putting a new twist on the Jack the Ripper narrative and giving a voice to the women who were previously reduced to mere footnotes in a serial killer's story. Join us as we honour the "Canonical Five" victims, exploring their real lives, their personalities, and the brutal socio-economic realities faced by working-class women in 1880s Victorian London.

2-Step ticketing process:

Step1 - "buy" a free ticket on this KCWC site to indicate your interest

Step 2 - email the KCWC Activity Leader at the address below to receive the link to the actual AWLL ticket site where you can purchase a £25 Guest ticket

For any inqueries, please contact Activity Leader Barbara Staley at activitypublishing@kcwc.org.uk

Italian Conversation (22/10/2026)

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 09:30:00 GMT

Join a relaxed Italian conversation group for those who would like to practise the language in an informal setting. Each session is inspired by a short article, providing a starting point for lively discussions about Italy and its culture.

Meetings take place at a café in central London.

A basic knowledge of Italian will help participants follow the discussion more easily, and make the most of the experience.

Come and enjoy speaking Italian in good company!! ☕

Please register to indicate your intention to participate in this meeting. For any queries contact event organiser Anna Bianchi at italian@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

Evening Speaker - Jeremy Hunt: Can We Be Rich Again? (22/10/2026)

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Can Britain rediscover its economic confidence -- and become prosperous again?

Former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt tackles one of the most important questions facing the UK today. Drawing on his experience steering the economy through inflation and recession, he will explore why growth has stalled, what Britain still has going for it, and how the country could build a stronger and more prosperous future.

From Britain's world-leading universities and financial services to its thriving technology sector, Hunt argues that the foundations for success are already in place. He will share his case for optimism and set out practical ideas for getting Britain's economy moving again.

Jeremy Hunt will be in conversation with John Sergeant, the former BBC and ITV Chief Political Correspondent, bringing together two familiar voices for an engaging discussion about Britain's economic future.

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 - you will receive the link to the actual Kent House Series ticket site from the Activity Leader and can then purchase an actual ticket using the KCWC discount code provided in the email.

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

For any queries, contact Activity Leader Ina Messer at popup@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

British History - Bletchley Park (24/10/2026)

Sat, 24 Oct 2026 09:15:00 GMT

Bletchley Park was once the top-secret home of the World War Two Code-breakers. For a long time it was kept very hush-hush, but now all is revealed and we are invited into the site to discover its secrets. The Mansion and various huts where the operators worked have been carefully and authentically restored to how they used to be during World War Two.

There are exhibitions, interactive displays and films which tell the story of this crucially important site. Here is where the complex machines and the brilliant people who operated them were based. There is no doubt that the favourable outcome of the War is a result of their work.

Schedule: There will be an option of a free one-hour guided tour in the grounds if there is availability. We will arrange a break for lunch on the day. There is a lot to see here, so we will not be returning until mid-afternoon.

Transportation: Train from London Euston to Bletchley takes 40 minutes. The site itself is only a few minutes’ walk from the station.

Booking Process:

Step 1: Please purchase a ticket on this site to indicate your attendance

Step 2: Book your entrance ticket online (slightly cheaper than buying on arrival) www.bletchleypark.org.uk (adult up to 64 years £25.87/ seniors over 65 years £23.62). Tickets are actually an annual pass and can be used again for free during the year.

Step 3: Buy your train ticket from London Euston to Bletchley, £18.40 return (£12.20 with Senior Railcard).

Meeting Place: We will meet at Euston in time for departure at 10.23am, return 15.10 or 15.40pm.

For any queries, please contact the event organiser Mimi Rolbant at british1@kcwc.org.uk

New Members Social (26/10/2026)

Mon, 26 Oct 2026 09:30:00 GMT

Calling all new members in the last 6 months. We are excited to welcome you to KCWC!

If you missed the last new members social in February, now is your chance to join us for a chat, meet other new members, activity leaders and KCWC Board members.

Complimentary croissants, tea and coffee.

It is also an opportunity to ask questions about booking events on the website and app.

Please contact event organizer Larysa Kotsiuba at members@kcwc.org.uk if you have any questions

Mahjong (26/10/2026)

Mon, 26 Oct 2026 10:30:00 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

Tuesday Tennis at the Westway (27/10/2026)

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

We play intermediate level social, fun, but competitive tennis and have a coach for each of the two-hour sessions. We play indoors so the weather is never an issue.

(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

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

Drop-In Coffee Morning (27/10/2026)

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 10:30:00 GMT

You're Invited to our Drop-In Coffee Morning!

Start your day with great coffee, friendly conversation and the opportunity to connect with others in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Whether you’re a new member, reconnecting with familiar faces, or simply looking for a relaxed morning and good conversation, we'd love you to join us. Just drop in, purchase a cup of coffee, and enjoy the company!

It’s the perfect opportunity to meet new people, build connections and enjoy a delightful morning together in a relaxed and welcoming setting.

We look forward to welcoming you for a morning of coffee, conversation and connection!

For further information, please contact the event organisers Karen Kaldezar and Maria Rologi, at dropincoffee@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

Latin Dance (28/10/2026)

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 11:00:00 GMT

For any queries contact Event organiser Jenni Kravitz at latindance@kcwc.org.uk

After Six - Buon Appetito (28/10/2026)

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Join the After Six Crew for a modern Italian meal a stone’s throw away from Sloane Square.

Azzurra is part of the Aqua Group ( Aqua Shard) and has restaurants in major global cities. The Chelsea eatery maintains their high standards, whether it be the sustainable fresh fish or the homemade pasta, the food is delicious. The setting is equally impressive, with an elegant coastal theme running throughout, and a striking 16 metre bar as you enter.

There will be a choice of two courses with ample selection of a main, and either a starter or dessert. Pre- orders will be taken closer to the date. The price includes service and table water, but all other drinks are on your own tab.

A presto or see you soon!

Please contact Activity Leaders Alison Wacker and Lisa Woodcock for any queries at aftersix@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.

Music Journeys - Lunchtime Concert featuring Angel Laguna (piano) (29/10/2026)

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 13:00:00 GMT

KCWC invites you to come and enjoy a lunchtime concert in Kensington, performed by Ángel Laguna.

An active concert artist, he frequently tours venues across Europe and UK.

Please register your attendance. No other ticket required.

Voluntary donations graciously accepted.

Programme: Works by Debussy, de Falla, Granados, Schubert

For any queries, contact Event Organiser Maria Puleio at music1@kcwc.org.uk

Passion For Fashion - Roland Mouret (V&A Talk) (29/10/2026)

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 18:30:00 GMT

Join me for a discussion of the renowned French fashion designer and artist as he discusses his life and career, from the family boucherie to creating legendary fashions.

Roland Mouret recently launched his autobiography and will be signing his books post talk while we sip wine after the reception.

It sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? Only 7 tickets available.

For any queries, contact event coordinator Barbara Welch at fashion@kcwc.org.uk

CANCELLED: 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

Bark in the Park - Kensington Gardens, Albert Memorial (30/10/2026)

Fri, 30 Oct 2026 10:45:00 GMT

Come and join us for a brisk Autumn 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 Autumn glory!

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

Mahjong (02/11/2026)

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 10:30:00 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

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

Tuesday Tennis at the Westway (03/11/2026)

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 10:00:00 GMT

We play intermediate level social, fun, but competitive tennis and have a coach for each of the two-hour sessions. We play indoors so the weather is never an issue.

(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

Mix'n Mingle Coffee Morning - Heidi Bakery Chelsea (03/11/2026)

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 10:15:00 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 (03/11/2026)

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Join Us for a 2‑Hour Volunteer Shift – First Tuesday Each Month.

It only takes 2 hours to make a big difference. Every month, KCWC volunteers help the Wandsworth Foodbank sort, label and organise food donations — and the time truly whizzes by.

We meet at the Foodbank Warehouse:

1 Ferrier Street, SW18 1SW, just a quick 2‑minute stroll from Wandsworth Town Station and easy to reach by bus. Please sign up to lend a hand and support KCWC’s partnership with Wandsworth Foodbank in helping local families.

If the event is full, feel free to join the waitlist. We usually only reach the first one or two people, so please don’t be discouraged if you’re 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.

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

Mahjong (09/11/2026)

Mon, 09 Nov 2026 10:30:00 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

Volunteer at Refettorio Felix Community Kitchen (09/11/2026)

Mon, 09 Nov 2026 11:00:00 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!

Please get involved in helping our shared community.

Please email event organiser Dina McCormick for any queries at charityvolunteers@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

Tuesday Tennis at the Westway (10/11/2026)

Tue, 10 Nov 2026 10:00:00 GMT

We play intermediate level social, fun, but competitive tennis and have a coach for each of the two-hour sessions. We play indoors so the weather is never an issue.

(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

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

London Walks - Crossing Oceans at the British Museum (10/11/2026)

Tue, 10 Nov 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Our tailored British Museum tour this November is an invitation to cross oceans and roam the seas.

Lead by expert guide Muriel Carré, we will be looking at objects that reveal incredible sea-faring stories and that will help us understand why men have braved the elements to cross oceans in great voyages of discovery or conquest.

Our humble voyage will start with Odysseus’s long journey home, and we will then travel alongside Vikings, Spanish Conquistadores, traders of the East India Company, the crew of Captain James Cook, Darwin’s Beagle and many more seafarers and adventurers. Welcome aboard!

Note: We will be meeting at 2pm sharp at the Group entrance at the back of the British Museum (Montague Place entrance) for a 2.15pm start time. This entrance has a dedicated reception.

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

Evening Events - Adornment through History (10/11/2026)

Tue, 10 Nov 2026 18:00:00 GMT

From Persian Kings & Nefertiti to Contemporary Art

An intimate evening with artist and jewellery designer Marcela Alatorre.

Join KCWC for a fascinating evening exploring the history, symbolisnm and artistry of the necklace with artist and jewellery designer Marcela Alatorre Shirazi, creator of "Make Near Heaven".

An artist since childhood, Marcela studied at Central Saint Martins and the Victoria & Albert Museum and has spent more than two decades creating distinctive statement necklaces from rare antique and vintage glass beads. Her work combines her love of colour, texture, history and craftsmanship, and has attracted collectors from around the world.

Through an illustrated talk, Marcela will take us on a visual journey from the magnificent jewellery of ancient Persia and Egypt, including the iconic adornments of Nefertiti, through to contemporary art and design. We'll discover how necklaces have been used throughout history to express identity, status, symbolism and personal style.

Following the talk and Q&A, guests will have the opportunity to view Marcela's collection up close. Each statement necklace incorporates antique and vintage glass dating from the 1800s to the present day, giving historical materials new life through a circular approach to fashion. Pieces will also be available to purchase during the evening.

A wonderfully intimate evening of art, history, jewellery and conversation.

For any queries please contact Activity Leader Sarah-Jane Luckhurst at eveningevents@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

EMPIRE: A Notable Storytelling Concert - Part I of V (11/11/2026)

Wed, 11 Nov 2026 14:00:00 GMT

This event cost is £30.00; contact event organizer to pay.

NOTABLE presents “EMPIRE”

A new series of five storytelling concerts tracing the musical history of Central Europe, from imperial Vienna and Budapest to Prague, Trieste and Galicia.

Join virtuoso concert pianist and storyteller Pavel Timofeyevsky, together with an impressive line-up of acclaimed instrumentalists and singers, as they explore the intertwined cultures and histories of the peoples who shaped the extraordinary musical DNA of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Each concert takes place in the intimate setting of a private house in Chelsea and includes afternoon tea with homemade pastries.

*Please note that since this is an event sponsored by Notable: there is a 2-step process for signing up for the event and then paying for the ticket:

1) Use the normal KCWC process for signing up for a "free" ticket on this website.

Once you have registered in that way . . .

2) email the KCWC event coordinator at the email address below, and Alya will send you the link and discount code needed to purchase your actual ticket for £30

Note: if you are interested in bringing a guest, you are free to purchase their ticket at the regular Notable price once on their ticketing website.

For any queries, please contact the event coordinator, Alya Samokhvalova at opera1@kcwc.org.uk

Antiques & Design - The Huguenots: A Tea Time Talk with Nicholas Merchant (11/11/2026)

Wed, 11 Nov 2026 16:00:00 GMT

The story of migration is as old as time itself. But for Europe, the migration of thousands of Protestants from France in the latter part of the 17^th century was to have a profound impact that reverberated through Europe and beyond.

Known as Huguenots, these religious refugees influenced decorative arts from silk to silver, primarily enriching England as the land to which they exited France in droves.

Nicholas Merchant will tell us the story behind this exodus and the rich artistic patrimony that accompanied it.

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

Evening Speaker - Prue Leith: Being Old (11/11/2026)

Wed, 11 Nov 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Join the extraordinary Prue Leith for a lively, candid and thoroughly entertaining conversation about growing older and making the most of life.

A much-loved food writer, restaurateur, author and television personality, Prue has become a familiar face on our screens. Now, in her latest book, Being Old, she turns her attention to something we all have in common: ageing.

With her trademark wit, warmth and refreshing honesty, Prue explores the challenges and taboos of getting older, while also celebrating the unexpected pleasures and opportunities that come with it. Part memoir and part reflection, Being Old is full of amusing anecdotes, thoughtful observations and practical wisdom.

Expect plenty of laughs, fascinating stories and an inspiring look at what it means to grow older with confidence, curiosity and a sense of fun.

As Delia Smith says:“Few people have aged so gracefully and enterprisingly as Prue. How she’s done it is a revelation, full of humour and practical advice.”

Don’t miss this chance to spend an entertaining and thought-provoking evening with Prue Leith.

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 - you will receive the link to the actual Kent House Series ticket site from the Activity Leader and can then purchase an actual ticket using the KCWC discount code provided in the email.

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

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

Café Society - Afternoon Drinks at Aki London in Marylebon (12/11/2026)

Thu, 12 Nov 2026 17:00:00 GMT

We are very excited to invite you to our November afternoon drinks at Kiyori underground cocktail bar. A bar that holds its history close.

Descend into the original bank vaults of Grande II-listed One Cavendish Square and the temperature of changes. Kiyori is a low-lit, subterranean cocktail bar in London shaped by designer Francis Sultana. Original artwork by Aiza Kadyri lines the walls. Mosaics by Bouke de Vries add quiet craft to every corner.

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 join the waitlist, 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

FIWAL 40th Anniversary Gala Dinner & Auction (12/11/2026)

Thu, 12 Nov 2026 18:30:00 GMT

FIWAL (The Federation of International Women's Associations in London) is delighted to invite KCWC members and their partners to celebrate its 40th Anniversary Gala Dinner & Auction, in support of FIWAL initiatives.

Join us for a wonderful evening of dinner, entertainment and dancing, while celebrating 40 years of FIWAL!

Dress Code: Evening or Traditional Wear

Cost: £95

Please note that there is a two-step booking process:

Step 1 - Register here to reserve a "free" KCWC allocated spot.

Step 2 - Complete the FIWAL Form & Payment form using the link below, including your dietary requirements:

https://us.list-manage.com/BM70ve7O41K?e=33315111a4&c2id=1a4d869a00fc8be6df129f345091d1cc

The FIWAL Treasurer will then contact you directly regarding the £95 per ticket payment.

IMPORTANT: Your place is not confirmed until payment has been made to FIWAL through the FIWAL Treasurer. Registering through the KCWC website or app alone does not secure your place.

Booking deadline: 1 November 2026

For any enquiries, please contact Barbara Welch at vp@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

Music Journeys - Lunchtime Concert featuring Antonio Morabito (piano) (13/11/2026)

Fri, 13 Nov 2026 13:00:00 GMT

KCWC invites you to come and enjoy a lunchtime concert taking place in a beautiful Church in Kensington, performed by Italian pianist and composer, Antonio Morabito.

An active concert artist, he frequently tours venues across Europe and UK.

Please register your attendance. No other ticket required.

Voluntary donations graciously accepted.

Programme: works by Chopin

For any queries, contact Event Organiser Maria Puleio at music1@kcwc.org.uk

Mahjong (16/11/2026)

Mon, 16 Nov 2026 10:30:00 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

Book Group - "Washington Square" by Henry James (16/11/2026)

Mon, 16 Nov 2026 13:00:00 GMT

On New York City's Washington Square lives Catherine Sloper, a shy and plain young woman who is tyrannized by her wealthy, overbearing father. When young Morris Townsend begins to court her, Dr. Sloper distrusts his motives, believing that the young man could not possibly love his daughter.

Both lovers are obstinate in their affections; but when Dr. Sloper threatens to disinherit Catherine, Townsend disappears, leaving Catherine to humiliation, heartache, and lonely spinsterhood. Years later, after her father's death, Townsend returns, and Catherine must make up her own mind about his intentions.

For any queries, contact event organizers Roopa Girard and Marika Carle at bookgroup@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

Tuesday Tennis at the Westway (17/11/2026)

Tue, 17 Nov 2026 10:00:00 GMT

We play intermediate level social, fun, but competitive tennis and have a coach for each of the two-hour sessions. We play indoors so the weather is never an issue.

(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

After Six - Cabernet and Kebabs Wine Tasting Event (17/11/2026)

Tue, 17 Nov 2026 18:30:00 GMT

Let’s raise a glass of red! Join After Six for an informative and fun evening of wine tasting, hosted by Honey & Co Great Portland.

Over the course of the evening, four pours of Cabernet Sauvignon will be served, and the kitchen will provide small plates of grilled food including kebabs to complement the wine. Please note that the kitchen cannot accommodate any dietary requirements.

We will meet downstairs in the cellar at 6:30 pm for a 7 pm start. The price includes: 4 wine pours of 75 ml each, small plates of grilled food, and service.

Please contact After Six if the tickets are sold out, and join the wait list too.

Close tube stations include: Great Portland Street, Oxford Circus, Warren Street, and Regent’s Park.

Please contact Activity Leaders Alison Wacker and Lisa Woodcock for any queries at aftersix@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

Hospitality Lunch - San Carlo (19/11/2026)

Thu, 19 Nov 2026 13:15:00 GMT

After the Guest Speaker Address and for our first Hospitality lunch in Knightsbridge, please join us at San Carlo, located on Hans Road, directly adjacent to Harrods.

San Carlo Knightsbridge is one of the most refined Italian restaurants in Knightsbridge. The beautifully designed restaurant was a winner of the 2022 International Restaurant & Bar Design Awards.

We will be having a two-course lunch comprising a starter and main course.

Any side dishes, wine, coffee and dessert will be paid individually.

Please do not arrive earlier than the stipulated time of 1.15pm.

For any queries, please email Event Organisers Mimi Rolbant & Larysa Kotsiuba at hospitality@kcwc.org.uk

Evening Book Group - My Friends by Fredrick Backman (19/11/2026)

Thu, 19 Nov 2026 17:00:00 GMT

This month's discussion will be on My Friends by Fredrik Backman (448 pages).

Twenty-five years ago, a group of teenagers found solace in each other during one unforgettable summer. Their friendship inspired a transcendent work of art, a painting that now mysteriously belongs to eighteen-year-old aspiring artist Louisa.

Driven to learn the story behind its creation, Louisa embarks on a journey to the seaside town where it all began. But as she gets closer to the painting’s birthplace, Louisa learns that happy endings do not always take the form we expect.

For any queries, contact Claudia on eveningbookgroup@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

British History - The Royal Hospital Chelsea (20/11/2026)

Fri, 20 Nov 2026 14:30:00 GMT

NOTE: Tickets need to be purchased by Oct 22nd

The Royal Hospital Chelsea is a historic building designed by the architect Sir Christopher Wren. It is not actually a hospital caring for the sick, as we know hospitals are today. It is the home to nearly 300 army veterans who come from various backgrounds across the United Kingdom. It has a long history as it has been their home since 1692 when it was founded by King Charles II.

For the Chelsea Pensioners, life at the Royal Hospital Chelsea is full of tradition and activity. They live in their own accommodation, known as ‘berths,’ and enjoy access to a range of facilities and services designed especially for them. They participate in ceremonial duties and public events and engage in social and recreational activities. They are active and involved members of both the Royal Hospital community and the wider society.

We will be led on a 90-minute tour of the beautiful Hospital by one of the Pensioners who will give us an insider’s view of what it is like to live in this unique place.

After the tour we will go to Heidi Bakery which is on the premises for a delicious coffee and cake on our own tab.

For any enqueries, please contact event organiser Mimi Rolbant at british1@kcwc.org.uk

Mahjong (23/11/2026)

Mon, 23 Nov 2026 10:30:00 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

Contemporary Art - Behind the Artwork: Residency, Exhibition & Studio Visit at Gasworks (23/11/2026)

Mon, 23 Nov 2026 11:00:00 GMT

The Art Ecosystem Behind the Artwork

Go behind the artwork and discover the ecosystem of people, ideas and organisations that shapes artistic practice and brings contemporary art to life.

Our visit to Gasworks will offer a unique insight into an organisation dedicated to supporting artists through its residency programme, creative exchange and the development of new work. A member of the Gasworks team will introduce us to the organisation and its residency programme, before guiding us through Disco Inferno, Paloma Contreras Lomas’ first solo exhibition in Europe. We will discover the ideas and research behind the exhibition and how her work developed during her residency at Gasworks.

We will also have the rare opportunity to meet a residency artists in their studios, gaining a glimpse into the environment where new ideas and projects are taking shape.

As the studio space can accommodate only a limited number of visitors, places for the visit will be limited.

Whether you are already familiar with contemporary art or simply curious to discover more, this visit offers a rare opportunity to look beyond the finished artwork and discover the people, ideas and creative journeys that shape contemporary art before it reaches the public.

For any queries, contact Event Organiser Anna Bianchi at contemporary1@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

Tuesday Tennis at the Westway (24/11/2026)

Tue, 24 Nov 2026 10:00:00 GMT

We play intermediate level social, fun, but competitive tennis and have a coach for each of the two-hour sessions. We play indoors so the weather is never an issue.

(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

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

Drop-In Coffee Morning (24/11/2026)

Tue, 24 Nov 2026 10:30:00 GMT

You're Invited to our Drop-In Coffee Morning!

Start your day with great coffee, friendly conversation and the opportunity to connect with others in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

It’s the perfect opportunity to meet new people, build connections and enjoy a delightful morning together in a relaxed and welcoming setting.

We look forward to welcoming you for a morning of coffee, conversation and connection!

For further information, please contact the event organisers Karen Kaldezar and Maria Rologi, at dropincoffee@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.

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

Evening Speaker - Fergal Keane (25/11/2026)

Wed, 25 Nov 2026 19:00:00 GMT

One of the BBC’s most respected journalists joins us to talk about his extraordinary life and career. An award-winning broadcaster and writer, Fergal Keane began his career reporting on ‘the Troubles’ in Northern Ireland and for more than three decades has been a witness to conflicts around the world, including the Rwandan genocide, the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, the war in Ukraine, and the Israel - Palestine conflict.

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 - you will receive the link to the actual Kent House Series ticket site from the Activity Leader and can then purchase an actual ticket using the KCWC discount code provided in the email.

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

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

Glorious Gardens - Chelsea Physic Garden Christmas Fair (26/11/2026)

Thu, 26 Nov 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Please join us for our annual visit to Chelsea Physic Garden’s Christmas Fair. For the Christmas Fair, the garden is transformed into a festive wonderland with over 100 stalls featuring independent businesses selling a range of gifts - from wreaths to clothing, accessories to homewares and specialty food and drink. You can indulge in festive treats, hot chocolate and mulled wine at the stalls and their cafe.

We will have a coffee/tea get together at their cafe after we’ve had time to peruse all the wonderful stalls.

Two Step sign-up process:

1) Please buy your ticket directly from Chelsea Physic Garden website for the 10:00am time slot via the link below. Please DO NOT sign up for this activity on the KCWC site until you have purchased an actual ticket as the tickets can sell out quite quickly.

https://chelseaphysicgarden.seetickets.com/event/chelsea-physic-garden-christmas-fair/chelsea-physic-garden/3707884

2) Sign-up a for a ticket here on the KCWC website so we can track who is coming

For any queries, contact Event Organiser Evelyn Jin Hipperson at GloriousGardens@kcwc.org.uk

Music Journeys - Lunchtime Concert featuring Geoffrey Silver (violin) & Alberto Portugheis (piano) (26/11/2026)

Thu, 26 Nov 2026 13:00:00 GMT

We invite you to our very special lunchtime concert, taking place in a beautiful Church in Kensington featuring extraordinary international musicians, such as Geoffrey Silver (violin) & Alberto Portugheis (piano).

They will perform an amazing programme celebrating Beethoven’s 256^th Birthday.

Please register through KCWC website. No other ticket required.

Programme to include the famous Spring’ Sonata:

Beethoven …………… Sonata for Violin & Piano No. 3 in E flat, Op.12

Beethoven …………… Sonata for Violin & Piano No. 5 in F Major, Op. 24, “Spring”

For any queries, contact Event Organiser Maria Puleio at music1@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

Bark in the Park - Battersea Park (27/11/2026)

Fri, 27 Nov 2026 10:45:00 GMT

Come and join us for a late Autumn walk in Battersea Park.

Enjoy a stroll and catch up as we make our way towards Battersea Power Station to treat the doggies and ourselves with refreshments and some browsing.

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

Meeting Point: Chelsea Gate

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

Mahjong (30/11/2026)

Mon, 30 Nov 2026 10:30:00 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

Drama: Christmas Party/Murder Mystery (30/11/2026)

Mon, 30 Nov 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Please join us for our first ever Christmas party, where we will be playing a murder mystery role play game over lunch at a member‘s house.

A murder has occurred at the theatre. Everyone is a suspect……..

You will be allocated a role in this mystery beforehand and will have to use tactics and cunning to find out which member of the group is the murderer, while also defending yourself against accusations by the others.

You will be given clues and a character description to help immerse yourself into your role.

This is just spontaneous fun where you can try out your acting skills in a friendly group during lunch!

If you register as anonymous, you must please inform the activity leader of your name and contact details in order to be included.

For any queries, please contact event organiser Judith Neuling drama@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

Tuesday Tennis at the Westway (01/12/2026)

Tue, 01 Dec 2026 10:00:00 GMT

We play intermediate level social, fun, but competitive tennis and have a coach for each of the two-hour sessions. We play indoors so the weather is never an issue.

(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

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

Tue, 01 Dec 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Join Us for a 2‑Hour Volunteer Shift – First Tuesday Each Month.

It only takes 2 hours to make a big difference. Every month, KCWC volunteers help the Wandsworth Foodbank sort, label and organise food donations — and the time truly whizzes by.

We meet at the Foodbank Warehouse:

If the event is full, feel free to join the waitlist. We usually only reach the first one or two people, so please don’t be discouraged if you’re 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.

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

Evening Speaker - Jimmy Wales: The Seven Rules of Trust (02/12/2026)

Wed, 02 Dec 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Join Jimmy Wales, the visionary entrepreneur and founder of Wikipedia, for a fascinating and thought-provoking conversation about one of the most important issues of our time:trust.

Best known for creating Wikipedia, the world’s largest and most widely read reference work, Jimmy Wales has transformed the way we access and share information. Now, in his latest book,The Seven Rules of Trust, he explores why trust matters more than ever in a world where misinformation, uncertainty and declining confidence in institutions are increasingly part of everyday life.

Drawing on his extraordinary experience of building Wikipedia from a revolutionary idea into a globally trusted source of knowledge, Jimmy explores the principles that make trust possible – and why they matter not only online, but in our businesses, schools, families and wider society.

Expect an insightful, lively and engaging evening with one of the internet’s most influential pioneers, as Jimmy considers how we can rebuild trust and what it takes to create a more trustworthy future.

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 - you will receive the link to the actual Kent House Series ticket site from the Activity Leader and can then purchase an actual ticket using the KCWC discount code provided in the email.

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

For any queries, contact Activity Leader Ina Messer at popup@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

Mahjong (07/12/2026)

Mon, 07 Dec 2026 10:30:00 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

Contemporary Art - Private Guided Visit: Art and AI at Gazelli Art House (07/12/2026)

Mon, 07 Dec 2026 11:00:00 GMT

Art, Artificial Intelligence & New Technologies

Join us for a special opportunity to explore the fascinating relationship between art, artificial intelligence and new technologies at Gazelli Art House, a leading contemporary art gallery renowned for its forward-looking programme. The gallery is particularly known for its exploration of the intersection between art, science, technology and new forms of artistic practice.

During the visit, we will be guided through AI Then and Now by Paul Luckraft, Head of Programme at Gazelli Art House. Curated by Jasia Reichardt, the pioneering curator behind the landmark Cybernetic Serendipity exhibition at the ICA in London in 1968, the exhibition brings together the work of 50 artists, rare archival material and live contributions from engineers working at the forefront of AI innovation.

Through the exhibition, we will consider how artists have engaged with technology over time and how artificial intelligence is influencing new forms of creative practice today. The exhibition also examines how these cross-disciplinary experiments may give rise to new forms of culture across the visual arts, music and literature.

The visit provides valuable insight into the ideas behind the exhibition, its curatorial vision, and the collaboration between artists, researchers and technologists exploring new possibilities for creativity.

Whether you are already familiar with contemporary art or simply curious to discover more, this experience offers a fascinating glimpse into the evolving relationship between human creativity, technology and the future of artistic expression.

The gallery will kindly provide refreshments for the group during the visit.

For any queries, contact Event Organiser Anna Bianchi at contemporary1@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

Tuesday Tennis at the Westway (08/12/2026)

Tue, 08 Dec 2026 10:00:00 GMT

We play intermediate level social, fun, but competitive tennis and have a coach for each of the two-hour sessions. We play indoors so the weather is never an issue.

(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

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

Save the Date: Christmas Lunch w/KCWC (08/12/2026)

Tue, 08 Dec 2026 12:30:00 GMT

Our traditional Christmas gathering returns this year!

This festive luncheon is a wonderful chance to share the KCWC spirit with those closest to you. Bring along your husbands, partners, family and friends to celebrate inclusively, while offering guests a taste of what KCWC is all about and helping us grow our vibrant community. Beyond fine food, wine and music, it's about reconnecting, sharing laughter and embracing the joy of the season together.

✨ Save the date and join us very special occasion – one of the true highlights of the KCWC calendar! ✨

London Walks - London Silver Vaults, A Pre-Christmas Tour (09/12/2026)

Wed, 09 Dec 2026 10:15:00 GMT

Ahead of Christmas we all need a bit of sparkle, and sparkle galore awaits us at the London Silver Vaults!

Our tour will start with a 30-minute walk along the picturesque medieval brick walls and the Victorian neo-Gothic arches of Lincoln’s inn Fields before we head underground through Fort Knox-style security doors, and wow!

The Silver Vaults are a unique hidden gem where some thirty specialised antique dealers showcase their treasures: from the grandest baroque centrepieces to the much more affordable English teapots, napkin rings or elegantly-curved ladles, everything is for sale, and this is where our guide Muriel Carré does her Christmas shopping!

We’ll talk hallmarks, solid and plated silver, Georgian and Art Nouveau style in a fun and informative way, and who knows, you may head back home with bags full of Christmas gifts!

Note: We will be meeting at 10.15am for a 10.30am sharp start

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

Foodies - Christmas Edible Art & Tablescaping Workshop (09/12/2026)

Wed, 09 Dec 2026 11:00:00 GMT

Join us for a fun morning sculpting sugar and decorating with edible icing and glitter.

Get some great tips and tricks for elevating your Christmas table whilst you enjoy a few nibbles and a glass of fizz to help inspire creativity!

Cost: £40.00 per person (includes all materials, a welcome drink and snacks)

Please contact the Activity Leader for payment instructions or for any queries on foodies@kcwc.org.uk

Evening Speakers - Christmas Carols with Special Guest Readers (09/12/2026)

Wed, 09 Dec 2026 18:00:00 GMT

KCWC is invited to the The Mayor of Kensington and Chelsea’s Charity Christmas Carols.

A wonderful festive evening at St Mary’s Church, The Boltons, in Kensington, with special guest readers starting at 6:30pm.

Refreshment and mulled wine will be served at 7:30pm

Meet-up: the nearest tube station is Earls Court (11 min walk to the church) We can meet at Earls Court tube station at 5:45pm and walk 11 minutes together or meet directly in the Church at 6:00pm to start at 6:30pm.

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 Event Organisers Maria Puleio and Bee Robb at Eveningspeakers@kcwc.org.uk

Antiques & Design - The Lady Lever Collection: A Tea Time Talk with Nicholas Merchant (10/12/2026)

Thu, 10 Dec 2026 16:00:00 GMT

The story of the famed Lever Art Collection began with the simplest of household items – soap. William Hesketh Lever (1851-1925) built a fortune from Sunlight Soap and, with it, built one of the biggest and most varied artistic collections of the 19^th century. When his wife died in 1913, Lever created the Lady Lever Gallery in her beloved memory filling it with furniture, sculpture, ceramics and paintings.

Join us to learn about this philanthropist aesthete and the industrial wealth that fueled his passion for collecting.

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

Mahjong (14/12/2026)

Mon, 14 Dec 2026 10:30:00 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

Book Group - "The Correspondent" by Virginia Evans (14/12/2026)

Mon, 14 Dec 2026 13:00:00 GMT

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans is an acclaimed epistolary novel told entirely through letters and emails.

The story follows Sybil Van Antwerp, a retired attorney in her 70s living in Annapolis, Maryland, who is grappling with aging, declining eyesight, and a tragic family history—most notably the childhood death of her son. Over the course of a decade (2012–2022), she uses her lifelong habit of writing letters to connect with a wide variety of people

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

Book Group - Christmas Nibbles with Guest Author of "The Tennis Champion who Escaped the Nazis" (14/12/2026)

Mon, 14 Dec 2026 15:30:00 GMT

Dear ladies,

Welcome to join us for some Christmas drinks and nibbles at The Duchess of Kensington. We thought it would be a nice way to end a year of many interesting book meetings. We are fortunate to have the author, Felice Hardy, who will join us and make a presentation of her book “The Tennis Champion Who Escaped the Nazis”.

The story is based on the dramatic escape of Felice’s grandparents and mother from Nazi-occupied Vienna in the months before the Second World War. Her grandmother, Liesl, came from a wealthy family of distillers and was a celebrated athlete. Tennis Champion of Austria in 1930, she was still ranked No. 2 in 1937, when her Jewish heritage forced her to stop competing.

By contrast, Felice’s grandfather David was one of eleven children from a desperately poor family in rural Slovakia. He left home at fifteen for Vienna, where he began work as a butcher. By twenty-one, he owned a major textiles company manufacturing silk stockings.

Still in his twenties, David became president of the largest sports club in Europe. He took its football team to London, where they beat West Ham 5–0 at Upton Park – the first foreign team to defeat a British league side. On the journey home, he rewarded his players with a weekend in Paris and, at the Louvre, met Liesl, his social opposite.

Their daughter Dorli, Felice’s mother, was twelve when the family left everything behind to escape to Britain, with David crawling eighteen miles through the snow across the Czech-Polish frontier.

Once safely in London, Liesl resumed her tennis career. She beat Tim Henman’s grandmother to qualify for the 1939 Wimbledon Championships, where she played singles and doubles. After the war, Liesl and Dorli played competitive tennis together. In 1946, they became the only mother and daughter to have played doubles together at Wimbledon. Dorli went on to compete there for six consecutive years and also played at the US Open.

The book also reveals the terrible fate of the relatives they left behind, including Liesl’s elder sister, who joined the resistance in Slovakia.

Woven through the story is Felice’s search for her own identity. Born and raised in London by a British father and refugee mother, she grew up in a family scarred by survivor’s guilt. Her mother and grandparents buried their pre-war lives beneath a blanket of silence that concealed their dead relatives, their religion and their origins. For half her life, Felice knew little of her roots. Only after her mother and grandparents had died did she begin the journey to discover who she really was.

For any queries, contact event organizers Roopa Girard and Marika Carle at bookgroup@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

EMPIRE: A Notable Storytelling Concert - Part II of V (20/01/2027)

Wed, 20 Jan 2027 14:00:00 GMT

This event cost is £30.00; contact event organizer to pay.

NOTABLE presents “EMPIRE”

A new series of five storytelling concerts tracing the musical history of Central Europe, from imperial Vienna and Budapest to Prague, Trieste and Galicia.

Each concert takes place in the intimate setting of a private house in Chelsea and includes afternoon tea with homemade pastries.

*Please note that since this is an event sponsored by Notable: there is a 2-step process for signing up for the event and then paying for the ticket:

1) Use the normal KCWC process for signing up for a "free" ticket on this website.

Once you have registered in that way . . .

2) email the KCWC event coordinator at the email address below, and Alya will send you the link and discount code needed to purchase your actual ticket for £30

Note: if you are interested in bringing a guest, you are free to purchase their ticket at the regular Notable price once on their ticketing website.

For any queries, please contact the event coordinator, Alya Samokhvalova at opera1@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

Travel: VIETNAM, CAMBODIA and LAOS (28/01/2027)

Thu, 28 Jan 2027 00:00:00 GMT

Has it been a dream to travel to South East Asia?

Make your dream a reality as KCWC is now offering a private luxury tour to three countries for our members through Ambercrombie and Kent Travel Agency this winter.

The trip is 13 days/12 nights and is for 6 members (including partners). Internal flights, transfers, accommodation, and private guiding/activities are included. External return flights from London to Asia are to be arranged on your own or through the travel agent.

Some of the many highlights include:

Vietnam:

* Hanoi historic tour, and cycle tour through the Old Quarter

* Ha Long Bay: luxury boat cruise for one night with balcony room

* Hoi An: traditional house, temple and calligraphy experience and a separate cooking class

Cambodia:

* Sunrise at Angkor Wat (world famous Unesco World Heritage Site)

* Private boat cruise to Tonie Sap

* Houses on water

* Cambodian Circus VIP seats

Laos:

* Luang Prabang: gem of a city with temples, authentic night market

* Mandalao Elephant Family Rescue visit

* Private sunset cruise on the Mekong River - stunning backdrop

* Give alms in the morning to the hundreds of monks walking the streets

COST:

£5318 pp double occupancy room

£6342 pp single occupancy room

Deposit of 15% payable before 20th October to secure place

DATES: 28 January to 8 February 2027

REGISTRATION STEPS:

#1) "buy" a free ticket on this site to indicate your interest

#2) email Manjula Rai, a member of KCWC who is kindly organising the bespoke trip, at travel1@kcwc.org.uk and she will send you the full itinerary and instructions on how to pay the travel agency a deposit to officially reserve your spot.

Bark in the Park - Kensington Gardens, Albert Memorial (28/01/2027)

Thu, 28 Jan 2027 10:45:00 GMT

Come and join us in Kensington Gardens for a New Year walk in a beautiful park. Everyone is welcome - whether you have a dog or not.

We’ll enjoy a gentle one-hour walk through the park, making our way to Colicci’s Serpentine Coffee House for refreshments.

A great way to add activity steps, catch up with friends and create new memories!

If you would like to bring a guest give me a call.

Meeting Point: Albert Memorial

For any queries, please contact Karen Kaldezar on +447973178737 or barkinthepark@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

EMPIRE: A Notable Storytelling Concert - Part III of V (17/02/2027)

Wed, 17 Feb 2027 14:00:00 GMT

This event cost is £30.00; contact event organizer to pay.

NOTABLE presents “EMPIRE”

A new series of five storytelling concerts tracing the musical history of Central Europe, from imperial Vienna and Budapest to Prague, Trieste and Galicia.

Each concert takes place in the intimate setting of a private house in Chelsea and includes afternoon tea with homemade pastries.

*Please note that since this is an event sponsored by Notable: there is a 2-step process for signing up for the event and then paying for the ticket:

1) Use the normal KCWC process for signing up for a "free" ticket on this website.

Once you have registered in that way . . .

2) email the KCWC event coordinator at the email address below, and Alya will send you the link and discount code needed to purchase your actual ticket for £30

Note: if you are interested in bringing a guest, you are free to purchase their ticket at the regular Notable price once on their ticketing website.

For any queries, please contact the event coordinator, Alya Samokhvalova at opera1@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

Evening Speaker - Honey & Co."Daily" (24/02/2027)

Wed, 24 Feb 2027 19:00:00 GMT

Join Itamar Srulovich and Sarit Packer, the much-loved couple behind London’s Honey & Co., for a delicious and entertaining evening celebrating the joy of everyday food.

Since opening their first restaurant in 2012, Itamar and Sarit have become renowned for their warm hospitality and vibrant Middle Eastern cooking, creating food that is generous, flavourful and full of character. Alongside their restaurants, they have written five acclaimed cookbooks and host the popular podcast Honey & Co: The Food Sessions.

Their latest book, Honey & Co. Daily, is all about making everyday cooking more enjoyable – from a quick lunch or Tuesday-night supper to a cake baked simply because you fancy one. The recipes are designed to be easy, achievable and full of flavour, without spending hours in the kitchen.

Expect an evening filled with stories, inspiration and plenty of ideas for bringing a little more flavour and joy to your everyday table.

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 - you will receive the link to the actual Kent House Series ticket site from the Activity Leader and can then purchase an actual ticket using the KCWC discount code provided in the email.

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

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

Bark in the Park - Battersea Park (25/02/2027)

Thu, 25 Feb 2027 10:45:00 GMT

Come and join us for a winter walk in Battersea Park.

Enjoy a stroll and catch up as we make our way towards Battersea Power Station to treat the doggies and ourselves with refreshments and some retail therapy.

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

If you would like to bring a Guest, let me know

Meeting Point: Chelsea Gate

For any queries, please contact Karen Kaldezar on +447973178737 or barkinthepark@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

EMPIRE: A Notable Storytelling Concert - Part IV of V (17/03/2027)

Wed, 17 Mar 2027 14:00:00 GMT

This event cost is £30.00; contact event organizer to pay.

NOTABLE presents “EMPIRE”

A new series of five storytelling concerts tracing the musical history of Central Europe, from imperial Vienna and Budapest to Prague, Trieste and Galicia.

Each concert takes place in the intimate setting of a private house in Chelsea and includes afternoon tea with homemade pastries.

*Please note that since this is an event sponsored by Notable: there is a 2-step process for signing up for the event and then paying for the ticket:

1) Use the normal KCWC process for signing up for a "free" ticket on this website.

Once you have registered in that way . . .

2) email the KCWC event coordinator at the email address below, and Alya will send you the link and discount code needed to purchase your actual ticket for £30

Note: if you are interested in bringing a guest, you are free to purchase their ticket at the regular Notable price once on their ticketing website.

For any queries, please contact the event coordinator, Alya Samokhvalova at opera1@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

Bark in the Park - Kensington Gardens, Albert Memorial (25/03/2027)

Thu, 25 Mar 2027 10:45:00 GMT

Come and join us in Kensington Gardens for a walk in this beautiful park. Everyone is welcome - whether you have a dog or not.

We’ll enjoy a gentle one-hour walk through the park, making our way to Colicci’s Serpentine Coffee House for refreshments.

A great way to add activity steps, catch up with friends and create new memories!

If you would like to bring a guest give me a call.

Meeting Point: Albert Memorial

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

EMPIRE: A Notable Storytelling Concert - Part V (final) (28/04/2027)

Wed, 28 Apr 2027 13:00:00 GMT

This event cost is £30.00; contact event organizer to pay.

NOTABLE presents “EMPIRE”

A new series of five storytelling concerts tracing the musical history of Central Europe, from imperial Vienna and Budapest to Prague, Trieste and Galicia.

Each concert takes place in the intimate setting of a private house in Chelsea and includes afternoon tea with homemade pastries.

*Please note that since this is an event sponsored by Notable: there is a 2-step process for signing up for the event and then paying for the ticket:

1) Use the normal KCWC process for signing up for a "free" ticket on this website.

Once you have registered in that way . . .

2) email the KCWC event coordinator at the email address below, and Alya will send you the link and discount code needed to purchase your actual ticket for £30

Note: if you are interested in bringing a guest, you are free to purchase their ticket at the regular Notable price once on their ticketing website.

For any queries, please contact the event coordinator, Alya Samokhvalova at opera1@kcwc.org.uk