London Museums 28mar2026
Wisley Glow 06dec2025
There’s something very nice about not having to organise advance tickets or drive to a venue, and when you add to those challenges the extra one of driving in darkness the U3A’s outings organisers (Mary Tricker and team) really do make the practicalities a breeze. Top Marks’ coach driver Carl was competent and friendly; coach parking was easy and close to the garden entrance.
This is not the first year that RHS Wisley has put on a light show over the shortest days of the year and the organisation is slick. The route is clearly marked and roped off, so all visitors must walk in the same direction which reduces but does not altogether eliminate the risk of tripping over a buggy or a very excited small child intent on evading parental control. Volunteer guides in hi-vis are calm and knowledgeable. Wisley has lit up hundreds if not thousands of trees, shrubs, hedges and water features in an exciting array of brightness and colour. They really have nailed the WOW factor. There are food stalls offering all kinds of food and drink, even a plastic tub of candy floss which the two children ahead of me in the queue fought over until their dad bought it and they wrested the lid off and tasted it. The two young boys pronounced it “yuk” and that was the end of it. I think we’ve all been there.
The route finishes by bringing visitors through a brightly lit tunnel to stand in front of a triple fountain with fantastic colour changes. I’ve still no idea how they got the water to appear to have pink and white stripes - amazing. Another excellent outing by Alton U3A excursions.
(Penny Cushing)
Oxford 08nov2025
Bath 11oct2025
Fishbourne & Bosham 16aug2025
Saturday 16 August dawned warm and pleasant, in this no-raincoat summer. Our journey to Fishbourne was short, and our arrival at what seemed like a Primary School was surprising. The welcome was in the cafe, where we had individually made proper coffee and a choice of homemade biscuits, scone or cake. Marvellous.
It is difficult to comprehend the scale of this 1st century AD Roman site. This not a villa, it is a PALACE with a footprint larger than Buckingham Palace, and what we were looking at was only two thirds of the Northern Wing. The rest is still buried under grass, houses, gardens and the A 259. The mosaic floors were impressive, though some had been damaged by ploughing in the past. The Dining Room, with the Cupid on a Dolphin, was the most complete. The leaf scroll border included a tile with a small bird on a tendril. Probably the tile maker's mark. There are so many questions raised by this site. Who was able to build on this scale? And why, after the Romans left, was it allowed to sink into the ground and disappear for centuries, until a farmer eventually unearthed a mosaic floor whilst ploughing.
On to unspoiled Bosham for lunch, overlooking the harbour and all its activities, with a proud swan leading a line of seven large cygnets for our admiration. Thanks to the driver who avoided traffic jams and MaryT for a lovely and rewarding day. (Report by Anne Lofthouse)
Bletchley Park 12jul2025
Gardener's World Spring Fair 03may2025
Athelhampton House 05apr2025
Welford snowdrops 20feb2025
Kensington Palace 25oct2024
Another day in the capital city. We had an extra pitstop at Osterley Park on the way up - bacon baps were excellent, but the house was rather dismal and dark. Kensington Palace itself was very regal - some lovely rooms and lots of Victoria memorabilia. The temporary exhibition "Untold Lives" was perhaps a little disappointing, overall we had a lovely day, and the weather was kind until the last 10 minutes.
Brighton 10sep2024
Speaker's House 14aug2024
An excellent day out, but unfortunately the Speaker’s House does not allow photography... 🙁 ...except in the hallway!
The house, which is within the Houses of Parliament, is fine and grandiose, panelled walls and fine furniture, and all the walls in every room are “graced” with portraits of former Speakers. It is a guided tour and lasts about 90 minutes. Unfortunately the tour is really all about the Speakers and not the House. The guide feels the need to tell the life story of each of the portrayed Speakers in each of the rooms, which gets a bit wearing. Visual star of the show was the Formal Dining Room, laid out for a banquet (photo from brochure).
We arrived in London well before the time of our visit, so some of us made a quick trip across the road to the Supreme Court (where photography IS allowed when courts are not in session). The building dates back to early 20th century, but the interior has obviously had a fairly recent upgrade and looks very modern and spruce. The actual courtrooms are very attractive. (An excursion here is being investigated for 2025!)
RNLI Training Centre 04jul2024
Twenty four slightly bleary eyed land-lubbers left Alton at 8.45am on 4 July with Poole as their first port of call. There we were divided in to three groups and given a fascinating 2-hour tour of the RNLI’s national training centre: founded in 1824 by Sir William Hillary (forebear of Sir Edmund) the RNLI now manages 238 lifeboat stations around Great Britain and Ireland (at an annual cost of nearly £200million raised from charitable donations). In addition they travel world-wide offering training to further their mission of saving life. Some of us were left feeling slightly queasy after a spell in a force-4 gale simulator, but most recovered sufficiently to sample the delights of their Riggers Restaurant before the onward voyage to Bournemouth! With a stiff breeze but warm sunshine we variously enjoyed walks along the prom’ and the pier or a visit to the iconic Russell-Cotes Museum & Art Gallery. The combination of its seafront location, eccentric Victorian architecture and stunning collection made for a fascinating afternoon. But all too soon we had to be back on the bus, arriving home at 6.30pm, and ready for a well-earned "sun-downer".
West Dean Gardens 13jun2024
Windsor boat trip 02may2024
Whitchurch silk mill 01mar2024
