Museums & Galleries

**Meet at Tottenham Court Rd tube outside exit 1.** **"Tottenham Court Road**, a market road, or street, leading from Oxford Street to the prebendal manor of Tothill, Totenhall, or Totenham Court, described in Domesday, and originally appertaining to the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's. In 1560 the manor was demised to Queen Elizabeth for ninety-nine years, in the name of Sir Robert Dudley." In 1639, twenty years before the expiration of Queen Elizabeth's term, a lease was granted to Charles I., in the name of Sir Henry Vane. In 1649, being seized as Crown land, the manor was sold to Ralph Harrison, Esq., of London, for the sum of £3318 : 3: 11. At the Restoration it reverted to the Crown; and in 1661 was granted by Charles II., for the term of forty-one years, in payment of a debt, to Sir Henry Wood. The lease was next possessed by Isabella, Countess of Arlington, in the reign of Charles II., from whom it descended to her daughter, the Duchess of Grafton; and in this way was inherited by the family of the Fitzroys, Dukes of Grafton, descended from Barbara Villiers, Duchess of Cleveland, the notorious mistress of Charles II." **Check out the Flying Horse pub (1793) opposite the tube exit. Previously " The Tottenham", this is the only surviving pub in Oxford St. See pics below.** This is another of our many outside Picture Hunts this year. If any issues with weather, we’ll switch to our 50-50 Trivia in the nearby Wetherspoon Magnus Pyle, so turn up as something will be on regardless. If you’re new to Picture Hunts, check the previous weeks for winners and clue sheets. This time, the event will be centred around different buildings, shops and features on one side of Tottenham Court Rd, so there’s no crossing of busy roads. This road is not touristy like Charing Cross Rd opposite. Please aim to turn up for 1:00-1:30 when teams are being arranged. The Hunt starts at 1:30. You're losing search time if you're late! Bring a pen please. As usual, portions of the road are split up into four areas where teams search for the locations of photographed items in the street, buildings or shop windows, and then record where they found them. Picture Hunts are a great new way to get up to speed with slices of London history while sleuthing around the area. Everyone is presented with twenty partial photos of objects around an area. Your team mission is to find them. Some well known, some well unknown! This makes Picture Hunts more interesting and challenging, bringing out the best of your teams detecting skills. You will also have a map of the area. It will be sub-divided into four sections, P, Q, R, S. Each photo will come from one of these. Four players max per team, but the lower number teams get a point per player start from the biggest team. For example, four teams of one, two, three and four. Four player team, no advantage, (the biggest and theoretically the more knowledge between them, except it doesn't always work like that). Three player team, one point start. Two player team, two point start. One player team, three point start. Scores are always close and around the 15-20 points mark. How many players do you want in your team? There's a dilemma! The clipboard holder enters one of the letters to note its area location. Dead simple, right? 90 minutes to do the hunt. We have the usual prizes of chocolate, including some great new varieties. There is also an equal prize for the funniest team name judged by Sue, my glamorous assistant. Names win prizes too! So there’s everything to play for. We mark up at the quiz finish point. The Wetherspoon Magnus Pyke. Hunts are good fun and the proven experience so far is that members get to know each other better after working in teams as you all have to communicate. Great icebreakers. This is what Meetup is all about. Come and join us. **There is a £7 cash/card charge for this event. Pay on the day.** Contact number is 07422334411 if your transport is delayed. **If you can’t make it, please cancel using the “Edit RSVP Button”.** **Your consideration is greatly appreciated.**

FREE THE FIRST TIME YOU ATTEND. Meet at the Crown pub and draw or paint landscapes in Victoria Park or along the Regent’s Canal. This is a very a friendly and well-established group. You can draw or paint in your own way or the tutor can provide a plan for the session for you to follow. This will help you to understand techniques, motivations, colour and composition. PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN MATERIALS - pencil and a sketchbook or drawing pad and/or your choice of colour medium (pastels, water colour gouache etc.) and pastel or water colour paper.

**Join us on *Discord* to keep updated!** **[(Click me! Online Offline Discord)](https://discord.gg/uuwybw93kj)** We will be star gazing in Hyde Park! If you have a telescope, binoculars or just wish to join a group of star gazers - come and join us! A telescope will be provided. Astrophotography and light painting welcome! Should you all agree - we can head to a local pub after! We will meet outside Royal Albert Hall and then make our way into the park! Please make sure to wait on the main road - Kensington Road (A314) - Royal Albert Hall entrance. By holding up our Online Offline meetup photo - we can easily join the group together! See you there!

**Join us on Monday 25 May for a special Bank Holiday rooftop meetup at Savage Garden Rooftop, located within the Hilton Hotel London.** Expect great music, drinks, skyline views, and a social atmosphere bringing together locals, travelers, professionals, and people looking to meet new connections in one of London’s most iconic rooftop venues. Please note that **we have a limited number of spots available**. [Book Your Ticket : 2£](https://buy.stripe.com/dRmcN71jf0C8aIX0mNfUQ09)

**ISLINGTON EDGES.**............Brand new for 2025 On this tour we touch various parts of London from Islington to Camden, from Kings Cross to Bloomsbury from Clerkenwell to Angel. But central to it all is Islington so why not call it Islington edges ! London at its best with a complete mixture of subjects, from the death of a clown to a man made river, from a South African hero to Bob Dylan As usual there are blue plaques in abundance and a personal story that takes me back to my very early youth. Its a circular walk from Kings cross and back again taking over two hours but in that time we meet lots of the sort of characters and visit various places that helped make London the city we all love.

**A fresh take on dating for straight and LGBTQIA+ singles in their 30s, 40s and 50s, brought to you by LoMAZ. We visit a different museum on the last Friday of each month, before heading to the pub.** This month, join us for a relaxed evening of conversation and connections at the **[V&A Museum South Kensington](https://www.vam.ac.uk/south-kensington)**. It's just like a usual LoMAZ event except for one thing: everyone there will be single. Come for friendship, come for dates, come along! [https://www.vam.ac.uk/south-kensington](https://www.vam.ac.uk/south-kensington) **HOW DOES IT WORK?** **6:00 pm - 6:40 pm: Meet and greet in the V&A Museum at *Museum Cafe. Look for the LoMAZ sign.*** Address: Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL * Look out for LoMAZ hosts wearing a 'host' sticker in a yellow frame and they will welcome you. We will post a note in the comments on Friday. * You can choose to wear a LoMAZ logo sticker (indicating you are straight) or a LoMAZ rainbow sticker (indicating you are LGBTQIA+), or you can wear both stickers. Wearing stickers means everyone can see who is part of the group and helps you find us as we move around the museum. If you see someone with a LoMAZ sticker, feel free to chat to each other. **6:45 pm - 7:40 pm: Explore the museum** * We'll then explore the museum together. Hosts will always be there to chat to, and there will be an optional activity. * Meeting point to go to the pub is by the Cromwell Road exit near the circular reception desk. **8.00pm - late:** **Pub social: *pub tbc*** * We'll carry on the evening in a nearby pub. If there is suitable bar location in the V&A late event we stay there for a bit too. ***Venue tbc in the event comments the day before the event.*** * As this is a free event, we can't afford to book a private space. The pub we are going to does not accept table bookings after 6pm. So please expect some standing and mingling. **TICKETS:** Tickets are free and there is no need to book. **CONTACT ON THE NIGHT:** * **We'll update where the group is throughout the evening in the event comments.** * You can also message a host via Meetup if you have questions or any difficulties finding us. * Lates for Dates events do *not* have a WhatsApp group. **PLEASE NOTE:** * LoMAZ events are hosted by volunteers. Please change your RSVP if you can no longer attend. * This is a mixed orientation event. Let’s keep it friendly and respectful—please report any concerns to the hosts or Meetup. * All attendees at this meetup are coming as individuals and are responsible for their own security, and health and safety. Please check the Meetup Help section and British Museum for their policies. **Thank you for your interest in the LoMAZ and our Museum Lates for Dates event.** Image credit: Photo by J. Knappitsch: https://www.pexels.com/photo/facade-of-the-victoria-and-albert-museum-15302043/

*“You can never go home again, but the truth is you can never leave home, so it’s all right.”* - Maya Angelou **Join us on Saturday 30th May at the Museum of the Home, a FREE museum in the heart of Hoxton.** From the museum website: “We are the only museum of the home in the world, a place to learn how we have lived in the past, explore how we live today, and talk about how we can live better together. What does home mean to you?” **Read more here:** [Museum of the Home website](https://museumofthehome.org.uk) **MEET DETAILS:** **FROM 1:30pm: MEET AT LONG WHITE CLOUD BAKERY (optional)** Address: 151 Hackney Rd, London E2 8JL **2pm: ENTER THE MUSEUM** Address: 136 Kingsland Rd, London E2 8EA **4:30pm-Late: PUB SOCIAL at THE HOXTON HOUND (optional)** We'll head to a local pub for a social chit chat over drinks. Address: 397-400 Geffrye St, London E2 8HZ **TICKETS:** The museum is FREE - no booking needed! However, if you would like to donate, there are donation card tap points within the museum, and also a lovely gift shop. **GETTING THERE:** [Plan your visit to the museum](https://museumofthehome.org.uk/plan-your-visit/) **EVENT WHATSAPP GROUP:** Please join the event WhatsApp group to help you find the group on the day. The link will be posted in the Event Comments 48 hours before the event, for those on the confirmed going list. *NB* *Joining this WhatsApp group will make your phone number visible to other members in the group.* **PLEASE READ:** LoMAZ events are run by volunteers. This event has an attendee limit as we prefer a smaller, friendlier group. If you RSVP but can no longer attend, please change your RSVP as soon as possible, **otherwise you will be marked as a 'no show'.** We remove members from the group who: * repeatedly sign up for events then 'no show'. * repeatedly change their RSVP to 'No'. * are on the event waitlist or have not RSVPd but turn up anyway. Please see the [About Us section](https://www.meetup.com/london-museums-a-z-for-30s-40s/) for more information about the group and how it works. **Thank you for your interest in the group & being part of LoMAZ.** 📸 Follow LoMAZ on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/londonmuseumsatoz/) Image credit: Camilla Gallop, LoMAZ Event Host (the host of this event owns the image)

This is a new walk. Come with me on an enjoyable walk from Baker Street to Kings Cross Walking distance approx 5-6 miles walking will be at normal pace with time allowed to take photographs. We will meet at 10.30 am, in the Metropolitan Bar, for a hot drink which is next to Baker Street Tube Station. At 11.00 am we will then begin our walk via Regents Park, making our way to Regents Park Canal, and then walk along the canal, and on to Camden Lock, where we will have lunch in The Ice Wharf {wetherspoons} or bring our own or buy from Camden Market. After lunch, we will carry on along the canal, and go to the Camley Nature Reserve. From there we will walk to Kings Cross Station, and have a drink in The Parcel Yard. This walk is flat, and you will be walking on canal paths and through parks, so trainers would be OK for this walk. £7 meet up fee {Please have the right change} If you need any more info ring or text Paul on 07530 675739, or email paulc200850@yahoo.co.uk

🛹 **From concrete to cult status - step into the heart of London skate culture.** This Meetup explores Skate 50 at the Southbank Centre, a vibrant exhibition celebrating 50 years of the iconic Undercroft skate space. Blending film, sound and visual storytelling, it captures the raw creativity, community spirit and global influence of a scene that grew from a hidden corner into a cultural landmark. Expect grit, creativity, and a slice of London culture that refuses to be polished. **We will meet at 13.45 outside the Undercroft, Queen Elizabeth Hall and will wait 15mins for people to arrive.** 🎫 **Standard entry is free - ticket required.** This event runs on a pay-what-you-can basis, with free tickets available and a suggested price of £8. If you’re able to contribute, it helps make the event accessible to others - but everyone is welcome. Bonus: skateboarders can enter for free, just bring your board! **Please book for the 30th May at 2pm**: [Book your ticket here. ](https://secure.southbankcentre.co.uk/139457/139490?zone-id=30805&_gl=1*o1xcyt*_gcl_au*ODcwODUwNTIxLjE3NzYyNTUxNDU.*FPAU*ODcwODUwNTIxLjE3NzYyNTUxNDU.*_ga*OTIxMzIzMzM1LjE3NzYyNTUxNDY.*_ga_0QVG9BX354*czE3NzYyNTUxNDUkbzEkZzEkdDE3NzYyNTY1MTAkajQ4JGwwJGgyMTA5NzgwMzg4*_fplc*RDdCSEE0TTJwayUyQk53dnAlMkI1UzJGUmNxNzJScTZlVnA5QVJKang2dXBSSm90byUyQkFWem5kTEIzMUE3OTNDdVFRNjc0RWVzU0pHdjhxTlcxTzdWa1BXTkZmcm9RR0FKZkx6ZFF3OHNOY2VIajdLMTN2MVdqTDRVRHJIbVN3JTJGN1ElM0QlM0Q.&queueittoken=e_myscqueue182~q_1df4cbc3-5db3-4289-b9c7-c397fb582658~ts_1776256702~ce_true~rt_safetynet~h_b6cedbf3e9fb7f1af39a1d3703366aa06908738eabed14109102895492ffa4c7) 
Please update your RSVP if you can’t make it. [More info on the exhibit page here.](https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/skate-50/) The screening lasts 38 minutes and it plays on a loop. ☕️ After the screening we will go for coffee somewhere nearby.

Everyone welcome 😊

Important to note:

1. We typically socialise at cafés after the exhibit, nice, independent ones, not chains and not at pubs. If the event is late on a Saturday we go to a nice bar/pub for drinks after. This meetup is inclusive and everyone is welcome to join.
2. If you get there before everyone and you're not sure what to do or where we are, post a comment on here and I will let you know our whereabouts.
3. Once we go in we may separate, feel free to explore the exhibit by yourself, we don't have to be together. Some people like chatting to others while exploring and other people prefer to be with their own thoughts. You are welcome to express yourself and do whatever helps you feel free. The coffee part afterwards is all about socialising so don’t miss it!

4. If you are late or if you’ve booked for an earlier or later time don’t worry just go in and you’ll find us inside. Keep an eye on the event comments as I’ll be posting updates.

Photo by trailerfullofpix - Wikicommons Meet OUTSIDE Rosewood Hotel 252 High Holborn, WC1 @11-11.15am - closest tube station Holborn Fee £15 **If you have trouble registering, for example, are asked for pre-payment, just ignore it and let me know on here or text me on number below if you are coming.** For a tour guide this type of walk - alleyways, squares and bits in between! - is one of the most joyous of all to research because you learn so much about what nearly everyone will miss.......................... Was Cromwell's exhumed body dumped in a square in Holborn? What was Leather Lane? Why is Bleeding Heart Yard so called? Or Wine Office Court? Where did Doctor Johnson live? Where was Disraeli baptised? Why is there a tree inside a pub? Come with me to find out and long the way we also meet Charles Dickens - don't we always?! -, Sweeney Todd, Oliver Goldsmith, Christopher Hatton and Hodge the cat. London is full of squares and alleys and little pockets of unexplored history and quirkiness and here we will discover some of them. A great walk around the hidden parts of the City - a city you may not have realised existed... Host Laurence 07889 298573 JOIN OUR 45+ NOT GRUMPY FACEBOOK COMMUNITY <[https://www.facebook.com/45plusnotgrumpy/](https://www.facebook.com/45plusnotgrumpy/)>

Hello all! Come along to meet fellow neurodivergent artists, share your work and chat about what you create. **Please RSVP if you can make it! RSVPs close Monday 25 May, at 11.59pm.** **Meet up format:** We usually meet for a drink (no pressure to drink alcohol!), introduce ourselves to each other, share examples of our work and have a chat! You don't need to bring anything, but a link to your website or social media so you can show us your creations would be lovely! Hope to see you there! Amrita x

Let’s meet and wander the galleries! General admission on Sundays is free.

**History** The [Franklin Park Conservatory](https://www.fpconservatory.org/)’s roots trace back to 1852 when the Franklin County Agricultural Society purchased 88 acres of land to host the Ohio State Fair. After the fair moved to its permanent home, the city of Columbus transformed the grounds into Franklin Park in 1884. This transition shifted the space from a temporary event site to a dedicated public green space for the growing community. The park became a central hub for outdoor recreation and early civic gatherings in the neighborhood. In 1895, the landmark Victorian-style Palm House opened its doors, drawing heavy inspiration from the Glass Palace of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. This iron and glass structure became an immediate icon, housing exotic plants that residents would otherwise never see in the Midwest. It remains the oldest part of the facility and serves as a primary link to the conservatory’s 19th-century origins. For decades, it stood as a singular testament to grand horticultural architecture in Central Ohio. A major turning point arrived in 1992 when Columbus hosted AmeriFlora '92, an international horticultural exhibition. This massive event prompted a $16 million renovation and expansion, adding significantly more greenhouse space and the Dorothy M. Davis Showhouse. The festival put the conservatory on the international map and fundamentally changed its scale and ambition. Following the event, the facility transitioned from a city-run park to a private, non-profit organization. In 2003, the conservatory’s identity was further defined through a long-term partnership with world-renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly. After a successful exhibition, the Friends of the Conservatory purchased most of the glass installations, creating the largest permanent collection of Chihuly’s work in a botanical setting. These vibrant glass sculptures are now woven throughout the biomes, blending art with nature. This addition helped cement the conservatory as a premier cultural destination rather than just a botanical garden. Recent years have seen the site expand beyond the glass walls to emphasize community engagement and outdoor education. The 2018 opening of the Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden added two acres of interactive landscape designed for hands-on learning. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Community Garden Campus also provides local residents with space to grow their own food and learn sustainable practices. Today, the conservatory balances its historic Victorian charm with modern commitments to local ecology and the Columbus community. **Maps of the Conservatory** Here is the [main map](https://www.fpconservatory.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/franklin-park-zones-scaled.jpg) of the Conservatory grounds. Here's a [map of the areas](https://www.fpconservatory.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ConstructionMap-2026.jpg) in which the Conservatory has ongoing construction (see below). **Summary** For this event, we'll explore Columbus's highly-rated and very popular Conservatory. As mentioned above, the Conservatory is doing renovations on parts of the facility. These renovations are scheduled to be ongoing until the Fall of next year. Basically, no matter when you go to the Conservatory over the next 18 months, you're going to see some metaphorical orange barrels. So let's just go now. **Tickets and pricing** On the first Sunday of every month, the Conservatory is free for residents of Franklin County and the city of Columbus. You must bring an ID to receive this discount. (Yes, they do check.) Otherwise, tickets are $25.20. Members of the Columbus Zoo (of which I am one) do get a discount on tickets, though I have never actually bought a ticket to the Conservatory (I've always gone on free days). I believe the discount is $4. Parking is always free. If you have additional questions about pricing or whether and for what you qualify, you can reach the Conservatory at 614-715-8000. **Where we'll meet** We will meet just outside the main entrance. I guarantee there's going to be a line. The Conservatory is always popular on free days, and especially in nice weather. **Your GPS is stupid!** Be careful simply typing "Franklin Park Conservatory" in your GPS and going where it tells you. The only way to access the parking lot to the Conservatory is off of Broad Street. Unfortunately, since Google Maps is unable to find its way out of a wet paper bag, it has a tendency to want to take people to a mythical, non-existent Conservatory entrance on Nelson Road. If your GPS does this, just drive to the north side of the Conservatory along Broad Street. Your GPS should then redirect you to the main Conservatory entrance. If your GPS doesn't, then throw your phone away\* and look for the big Conservatory sign on the south side of Broad Street between Nelson Road and Franklin Park West. You also should be able to use the map pin I've provided, below, and it should properly direct you to where you need to drive. \* Don't really do this. **After the event** After stopping to smell the roses, for those that are interested, we'll head to the nearby [Columbus Brewing Company Beer Hall](https://columbusbrewing.com/location/beer-hall/) for [drinks](https://columbusbrewing.com/location/beer-hall/#draft-list) and [lunch](https://columbusbrewing.com/location/beer-hall/#food-menu). The Beer Hall's actual address is [200 Kelton Ave, Columbus, OH 43205](https://www.google.com/maps/place/200+Kelton+Ave,+Columbus,+OH+43205/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x883889a94ac4acad:0xadb2e60240dbc38b?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111) (it's literally just on the south side of the Conservatory). Be sure this is where your GPS is taking you when you use it, as the Brewing Company has a taproom on Harrison Avenue that is *not* what you want for this event. We should be at the Beer Hall by 1 if you can't make the Conservatory and just want to join us for drinks.

The Alliance is part of the Greater Central Ohio Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society. We are an all-voices chorus dedicated to providing an inclusive environment for all those who love to sing, regardless of their race, gender identity, sexual orientation or musical background. The Alliance is the first and only all-voices barbershop chorus in Central Ohio. **Who:** Anyone with a passion for singing at a high level. Previous barbershop chorus/quartet experience not required. **When:** The Alliance rehearses weekly on Thursdays from 7pm-10pm. **Where:** Lord Of Life Lutheran Church: 2480 W Dublin Granville Rd, Columbus, OH 43235 To become a full member of The Alliance, we welcome you to start by visiting us for a few rehearsals to experience the group and sing with us! Then, you may begin the 2-part audition process for membership: the assessement, and audition. We strive to make our auditions as stress-free as possible to help you let your best singing self shine.

We meet to learn and practice American Sign Language and to grow our familiarity with Deaf culture. Facilitated by hearing folks (with a connection to a professional interpreter) using Deaf-created content. People of all ASL skill levels are welcome! As we learn, we hope to connect more with the Deaf community in Central Ohio. Join us as you're able! Come regularly or just once - whatever you're looking for! Each meetup will explore different topics related to ASL/Deaf culture, and will feature time to practice conversation with one another. Just bring yourself and a willingness to learn!

Let's grab some coffee/food and share a morning chat! The East Market has an ample parking lot and outdoor and indoor seating. Grab a cup of coffee from Winston's Coffee & Waffles or on your way to East Market and meet us on the second floor - table behind or east of the elevator. Per what this group is about: "Everyone is welcome! International transplants to Columbus who want to improve language skills, Columbus residents who enjoy talking to people from other countries, and those who would like to discuss international travel and culture, and who enjoy getting together for good conversations."

🎶 Ready for a night of music, laughs, and great company? Join us at Thunderwing Brewing for Music Bingo — a fun twist on classic bingo where songs replace numbers and the good vibes keep flowing! 🎵 Sing along, test your music knowledge, and enjoy a relaxed evening with the group. 📍 Please RSVP to reserve your spot: Text Renee at 614-257-9389 (We need a headcount so the brewery can plan staffing and seating.) 🪑 Arrive early to grab a seat — feel free to bring a camping chair for extra seating. 🍔 Food trucks are often on site, or you’re welcome to bring your own food. 🐶 Bonus: Dogs are welcome, so bring your pup along too! Columbus ski club membership not required for this event. CSC assumes no responsibility for the event or any injuries as this is organized by a third party.