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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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
For any queries, contact event organizers Roopa Girard and Marika Carle at bookgroup@kcwc.org.uk
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Programme: Works by Debussy, de Falla, Granados, Schubert
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.
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
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
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
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 17th 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Programme: works by Chopin
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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 256th 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”
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.
Meeting Point: Chelsea Gate
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
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.
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.
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
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
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
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 19th 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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
If you would like to bring a Guest, let me know
Come and join us in Kensington Gardens for a walk in this beautiful park. Everyone is welcome - whether you have a dog or not.
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