What we’re about
Welcome to the London Cultureseekers Group!
If you're interested in exploring London's history & culture with other like minded people, then this is the only group you need to join! We are London's largest & most active cultural and history group!
We meetup 2-3 times a week to explore museums, art galleries, historical buildings, go on guided walks and attend history talks. We also have historic treasure hunts, visit the theatre, coffee evenings, social evenings, meals and attend classical music concerts. In the summer we also have day trips outside of the capital by train or coach to explore historical towns and the countryside.
The group is very friendly, we have members from 20 to 80 years old and across all backgrounds. The group has been running for over 16 years and is a great way to meet and make new friends. Plus after events we generally head to a local pub or cafe to chat.
You can either pay as you go at events or we do have an optional annual membership fee (details below).
Membership Fee
The group charges an optional annual membership fee of £14 per person.
Benefits of paying the membership fee and becoming a Full Member are:
- Discounted entry at 11 museums and galleries around London (You can view them here: https://www.meetup.com/london_cultureseekers/messages/boards/thread/53768500)
- 10% discount on any purchases at Foyles bookshops or from their website
- All treasure hunts we do will be FREE (normally £7 each)
- The 'Wren City Churches', 'Charlie Chaplin', 'Roman Wall', 'Have I Got Mews For You', ‘What’s in a Name’ and 'Shakespeare's London' Guided Walks will all be FREE (normally £7 each)
- All talks the group does will be FREE (normally £6 each)
- All Thames foreshore visits will be FREE (normally £6 each)
- Guided highlights tour around the Museum of London & Museum of London Docklands will be FREE (normally £6 each)
- All ‘London’s Lost Rivers’ hikes will be FREE (normally £6 each)
- All day trips by train out of London will be FREE to attend (normally £6)
- All coach day trips out of London will be discounted by £6 per trip
- All the Blue Badge guided walks we do will be discounted by £2 per walk
- Entry to 20-30 paying museums & historical buildings that we visit across the year will be discounted by £2 each
Once you pay the membership fee, you will receive a membership card, go to (https://www.meetup.com/london_cultureseekers/dues) to pay online or you can pay cash at an event.
Events
Have a look at the events page: https://www.meetup.com/London_Cultureseekers/events/ to see what's coming up and where we have been. London Cultureseekers is a brilliant place to make friends in London whilst experiencing some of the very best areas of culture and history which the city has to offer.
We keep costs low and the quality high and have a star rating of 4.6 out of 5 from 19,340 reviews!
Our events always go ahead, regardless of the weather. Feel free to email or text me if you have any questions or would like to suggest somewhere we can visit.
Click on the video clips below to view our day trips to Bath and walking the Seven Sisters:
https://youtu.be/WAXipRxXtnc
https://youtu.be/06scGec8CcY
RSVP'ing
Click on the 'Join Us' button below, enter your details and then RSVP Yes to any events that you would like to attend, it's that simple! All new events get sent out on Friday evenings, so keep a lookout then.
When you turn up for an event, look out for the red & blue 'London Cultureseekers Group' flag and then come over and say hello.
Please be aware of the groups rules, which you can read here: https://www.meetup.com/london_cultureseekers/messages/boards/thread/53768478
Hope to see you at an event soon!
Robert - 07905 901 834 (text only please) / general@cultureseekers.org
I'm a member of the AGTO (Association of Group Travel Organisers) and in 2022 I was a finalist in the GTO (Group Travel Organiser) of the Year Awards!
You can follow us on:
The group blog: www.cultureseekers.blog
YouTube: Cultureseekers channel
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LondonCultureseekers/
Twitter: @Culture_Seekers
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- [ONLINE] Cultureseekers Midweek Coffee EveningLink visible for attendees
On Wednesday 22nd May at 6:30pm, we will be having an online Midweek Coffee Evening!
It's a chance to keep in touch and chat with others in the group.
So nearer the time, pour yourself a coffee (or tea) and click on the link after you RSVP.
Hope to see you there!
Robert
07905 901 834 (prefer text)Please make sure you are aware of the group rules here before RSVPing - https://www.meetup.com/london_cultureseekers/messages/boards/thread/53768478
- Day trip by train - historic Eton!Waterloo Train Station (on the concourse, under the clock), London, AL
Come along on Saturday 25th May for a day trip by train to Eton!
About Eton
The town of Eton in Berkshire sits on the opposite side of the River Thames to Windsor, connected by Windsor Bridge and only has a population of 4,500 people. Its name derives from Old English 'Ēa-tūn', meaning "River-Town"Eton is most famously known for its college. The college educates over 1,300 pupils a year, aged between 13 to 18 years. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"
Eton is one of nine English independent schools, commonly referred to as "public schools". It is a full boarding school, which means all pupils live at the school, and is one of four such remaining single-sex boys' public schools (the others being Winchester College, Harrow School and Radley College) to continue this practice.
Eton has a long list of distinguished former pupils. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson was the 20th British Prime Minister to have attended Eton. The College has also educated generations of British and foreign aristocracy and members of the Royal family, the most recent being Prince William and his brother Prince Harry.
Although there is alot more to Eton than its college, as we will find out on the guided walk!
Itinerary
10:33am - catch train
11:26am - arrive at Eton and meet the guide
11:45am - guided tour of Eton
1:45pm - stop for lunch, plenty of places to eat in Eton or Windsor
3:00pm - boat trip upstream which gives stunning views of the castle
3:45pm - walk around Great Windsor Park which gives great views of the castle
4:30pm - freetime, continue to look around or get the train back to LondonPlease note: we won't be going round Windsor Castle, it takes about 3-4 hours, so we will do it on another day.
Cost
Guided tour of Eton is £10 per person. The 45min boat trip is £10 per person. Payable on the day by cash or PayPal.Both these are optional, you can do one of these, both or do your own thing if you wish.
Train Tickets
GroupSave 3for2 tickets work out at £11.32 per person (Windsor & Eton Riverside). We will purchase these on the day in groups of 3 people when you turn up.Trains going back to Waterloo at: 4:23pm, 4:53pm and the same times past each hour.
Please note, we only wait outside the station for 10 minutes after the advertised meeting time, so please be early or on time.
If you can't see us outside the station, please text.
Look out for the red and blue 'London Cultureseekers' group sign.
Hope to see you there!
Robert
07905 901 834 (prefer text)On the day, if you can’t make the trip, just change your RSVP to No or text me to say you can’t make it.
Please don’t post any messages in the comments that you can’t make it, as this generates spam for everyone else.Please make sure you are aware of the group rules here before RSVPing - https://www.meetup.com/london_cultureseekers/messages/boards/thread/53768478
- Guided Tour of Westminster Cathedral!St James's Park Tube Station (outside the station), London, SW1H 0BD
Come along on Sunday 26th May for a guided tour of Westminster Cathedral! (this is the catholic cathedral just off Victoria Street, not the Abbey in Westminster).
About the cathedral
Westminster Cathedral is a building most people have walked past loads of times without ever going in.The cathedral is the mother church of the catholic faith in England & Wales and is the largest catholic church in the UK.
It opened in 1903 and was described as "a masterpiece in striped brick and stone" that shows "the good craftsman has no need of steel or concrete" Its style is heavily influenced by Byzantine architecture, covers an area of over 5,000 square metres and can seat 3000 people. The cathedral is dominated by its 84 metre high bell tower.
On 28th May 1982, the first day of his six-day pastoral visit to the United Kingdom, Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass in the cathedral.
Cost
The tour is £7 per person for Full Members, £8 per person for everyone else (pay by cash or PayPal on the day).The tour lasts about 1 hour 30mins. After you will be able to look around on your own.
Afterwards
After we will head to 'The Feathers pub' 18-20 Broadway (opposite St. James's Park Tube Station).Please note, we only wait outside the station for 10 minutes after the advertised meeting time, so please be early or on time.
If you can't see us outside the station, please text.
Look out for the red and blue 'London Cultureseekers' group sign.
Hope to see you there!
Robert
07905 901 834 (prefer text)On the day, if you can’t make the trip, just change your RSVP to No or text me to say you can’t make it.
Please don’t post any messages in the comments that you can’t make it, as this generates spam for everyone else.Please make sure you are aware of the group rules here before RSVPing - https://www.meetup.com/london_cultureseekers/messages/boards/thread/53768478
- Day trip by coach - small towns in Cambridgeshire! (NOW FULL)Coach bays on Tothill Street (nearest tube: St James's Park), London, AL£31.00
THE TRIP IS NOW FULL, IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND, ADD YOURSELF TO THE WAITING LIST AND I WILL CONTACT YOU IF SOMEONE DROPS OUT.
Come along on Saturday 1st June for a coach trip to visit some some small, pretty towns in Cambridgeshire.
About the trip
We will be going to the picturesque county of Cambridgeshire and visiting three small towns, spending about 1h 30mins in each one. Each one is about 15mins drive from each other.I will give you a mini guided tour around each one, before leaving you to explore on your own.
The ones we will be visiting are:
Godmanchester
The town sits on the River Great Ouse and is surrounded by countryside.It is located on the site of the Roman town of Durovigutum. The area has been continuously occupied for more than 2,000 years. The Roman settlement was at a crossroads of the Roman roads of Ermine Street and Via Devana, so was a link between the Roman capital of Colchester and Chester.
The town has many timber-framed Tudor houses, the largest being Tudor Farm. The towns largest public works of art and of landscaping is its Chinese Bridge, which connects to a water meadow. It was built in 1827 and replaced in 1960.
Huntingdon
Huntingdon is a market town which also sits on the River Great Ouse. It was also an important trading place in the middle ages, so much so that a castle was built - Huntingdon Castle, of which only the earthworks of the motte survive. It also has a well preserved medieval bridge.Its known for being the birthplace of Oliver Cromwell in 1599 and there is a museum in the town to him. The diarist Samuel Pepys, along with Cromwell went to school in the town.
In 2018, a massive coin hoard dating to from 250 - 274 AD was found in grounds of a building in the town. It consisted of 9724 Roman coins, some of which are in the British Museum and some in the Norris Museum in St Ives.
St Ives
St Ives (not to be confused with the Cornish town of the same name), is a medieval market town which also sits on the River Great Ouse. It was also an important trading point and the size and prosperity of the medieval town can be still seen in its street plan.In the middles ages, it was known for its Abbey (called Ramsay Abbey) and was third in importance in England after Glastonbury Abbey and St. Albans Abbey.
In the early 15th century, St Ives Bridge was constructed across the Great Ouse replacing an earlier crossing at this point. The six-arch stone bridge was one of only four town bridges in England to have a chapel.
From the 17th to the mid 19th century, St Ives remained a hub for trade and navigation in this part of East Anglia. Goods were brought into the town on barges down the river and livestock rested on the last fattening grounds before being sent to London's Smithfield Market.
The town also has a museum on its history called the Norris Museum.
Coach seating
- If you wish to reserve a seat on the coach in advance, after you pay please look at the seating plan in the photos here and then email me (general@cultureseekers.org) with the seat number/s you wish to reserve. Its first come first served.
- The seat you sit on when you board the coach is yours for the day. If you wish to change seats on the coach during the day, you will need to get permission from the individual who is seated there.
Cost
Cost is £25 per person for Full Members and £31 per person for everyone else.After you RSVP:
- you will need to make payment (its not automatic), so either send a direct PayPal payment to: general@cultureseekers.org or if you email me via Meetup here and I will send you my bank details to make a bank transfer payment.
You have 3 days to make a payment, if no payment is received within 3 days, your place will be offered to the first person on the waiting list.
Once you RSVP and then pay, I will confirm your place.
Go here to become a Full Member - www.meetup.com/London_Cultureseekers/dues/
Food & drink
Its up to you whether you wish to bring your own food and drink or purchase items whilst we are there.If you can't see us on Tothill Street, please text.
Please note, we only wait for 10 minutes after the advertised meeting time, so please be early or on time. The coach has to leave at a specific time.
Look out for the red and blue 'London Cultureseekers' group sign.
Hope to see you there!
Robert
07905 901 834 (prefer text)Please make sure you are aware of the group rules here before RSVPing -
https://www.meetup.com/london_cultureseekers/messages/boards/thread/53768478