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- Day trip by coach - Two Castles, an Observatory & a Chalk Man! (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 A PLACE BECOMES AVAILABLE.
Come along on Saturday 18th May for a coach trip visiting a castle, a castles gardens, an observatory science centre and a chalk man in East Sussex!
About the day
We will be visiting four locations in the picturesque county of East Sussex:Bodiam Castle
The castle is set in the heart of an historic landscape, with spiral staircases, battlements and a portcullis, 14th century Bodiam Castle is one of Britain's most picturesque and romantic ancient castles.Enough of the interior ruins survive to give an impression of castle life and gruesome and surprising tales can often be heard from the miller's wife, forester and other colourful characters from the past.
I will tell you a bit about the castle before we go in, its then self-guiding in the castle.
The Observatory Science Centre
The centre is one of the country's leading interactive science centres.
It opened in 1958 with the vision to establish a place where people could explore, discover and learn for themselves.Set among the iconic green copper domes that still house some of the largest telescopes in the country.
We are having a guided tour when we arrive and then you will be free to look around the science centre.
Herstmonceux Castle Gardens
We will be able to visit the stunning gardens and grounds of the castle, but won't be allowed to go inside, as its closed due to structual problems. The moated castle and grounds date back to the 15th century are set in 550 acres of land.We will be self-guiding around the grounds.
The Long Man of Wilmington
The Long Man is a chalk drawing in the side of a hill, it is 235 feet (72 m) tall and holds two "staves".This mysterious guardian of the South Downs has baffled archaeologists and historians for hundreds of years. Its age is unknown and also why its there. Could it be a Fertility symbol? Ancient Warrior? We may never know.
I will tell you more about the site when we arrive.
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.Go here to become a Full Member - www.meetup.com/London_Cultureseekers/dues/
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.
Cost to enter the sites
Entry to Bodiam Castle is £10.45 per person (if you are a National Trust member its free entry), alternatively if you don't wish to come into the castle, its free to walk around the grounds.Entry to the Observatory Science Centre is £10.45 per person which includes a guided tour when we arrive. If you don't wish to come on the tour/come into the centre, the cafe will be open.
Entry to Herstmonceux Castle Gardens is £6 per person.
Entry to the Long Man of Wilmington is free.
The Observatory Science Centre & Herstmonceux Castle Gardens are next door to each other, so you can decide to just visit one if you wish.
Payment for these will be on the day by cash or PayPal.
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 - 'Historic Greenwich Treasure Hunt' - can you find the treasure?Cutty Sark DLR (outside the station), London
Come along on Sunday 19th May for a treasure hunt around historic Greenwich!
The treasure hunts are a good way to get to know an area whilst meeting new people.
About the treasure hunt
Greenwich is notable for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time. The town became the site of a royal palace, the Palace of Placentia from the 15th century, and was the birthplace of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.Greenwich became popular in the Georgian period when many grand houses were built. Today is is home to the National Maritime Museum, the Queens House, the Old Royal Naval College, the Fan Museum and Cutty Sark tea clipper.
How it works
We will be meeting up at 1:30pm, then you will be randomly divided into teams of 3 people (you can pick your own team if you wish).We will then give each team 16-18 written clues which you have to find the answers for. It's up to your team to work together to find the answers. You can answer them in any order and we will provide a map of the area to help you. It's not a race, so you can take your time getting to know the area.
Prizes
The team to get the most correct answers and then returns to base (a local pub or cafe) will win book vouchers for Waterstones bookshops of £10 per person. If more than one team gets the top score, there will be a tie break question back at the pub.A £5 gift voucher per person will be given to each member of the team coming in second place and prizes will be given to each member of the team with the best team name.
Cost
Its £7 per person to take part (payable by cash on the day), apart from Full Members where it is free!To become a Full Member, go to: www.meetup.com/london_cultureseekers/dues
We will be marking the scores back at the pub/cafe at 4:30pm, so it should all be over by 4:45pm.
Look out for the red & blue 'London Cultureseekers' group sign/flag. If you can't see us, please text.
Look forward to seeing you there!
Robert
07905 901 834 (prefer text)On the day, if you can’t make the visit, 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
- [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