A day trip to the Oldest Dickens Festival in the World - in the lovely seaside town in Kent which is situated on Viking Bay and on  part of the Kent Coastal Path

There are so many plans in place by Elizabeth who runs the Festival and owns Bleak House (formally Fort House) to give you an opportunity to make this a really memorable day out. Dickens was a very frequent visitor to Broadstairs for over 20 years from 1837 when he was 25.   He wrote David Copperfield, Nicholas Nickleby and Barnaby Rudge during his visits.

We will leave Odiham/Hook at 08.00 - to start our journey.  First stop after just over an hour at Clackett Lane Services on the M25 for a 30 minute Coffee/Comfort break.  We then journey on aiming to arrive by11.00 in time for the costumed parade from Pierremont House to The Bandstand.  You will be free to plan your day and we have lots of information to share with those going to help you do that.  The return time is expected to be around 18.00 and a repeat the outward journey.

If you want to go and not be disappointed please book your space now. Broadstairs a small quaint and very friendly town and we can only take one coach - so there are only 57 places available to book.  The subsidised cost is £20 which is the coach fare and driver tip.  Everything else during the day is at your own expense.

Please email the events team Events@odihamu3a.org.uk to book

The Events Team

://www.broadstairsdickensfestival.co.uk/events

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s - Christmas Cracker at the Cadogan Hall on  Saturday 5 December 2026 - Is now booking

Firstly my apologies for mentioning the C word in March but we have secured 85 tickets for the concert and a reservation for 85 people at Cote Brasserie in Sloane Square   We expect the payment to be around £65, which includes the performance and return coach fare (inc Driver Tip).  Its an evening performance so we will leave around 14.00 

If you would like to go please Contact Events

At the beginning of September we will email you to check you are still going and inform you that payment is now due.

Matthew Bourne’s ‘Cinderella’ is returning to Sadler’s Wells with the 30^th Anniversary celebration of one of the most popular and beloved productions – a thrilling and evocative love story, set in London during the Second World War.

We are planning our annual visit to the ballet on Thursday 17th January at 2.30pm, 2027.  

Travel will be by train. 

If you are interested in attending, then please let Kathy Venus know ASAP so she can take advantage of the Group booking reduction.

Contact Kathy Venus.