Wells U3A offers a programme of educational and leisure activities for retired people, but what is essential is that members should contribute their own experience, interests and enthusiasms actively, so that they learn from each other.
Educational qualifications are not required for admission and none are awarded.
See below for a complete list of our groups, and click on their names to find out more about them and contact their leaders. Use the timetable to find groups that meet at convenient times for you.
How We Study
Members with similar interests meet in small groups, mostly during the day at weekly, fortnightly or monthly intervals, either in members’ homes or some other suitable venue.
Study groups are relaxed and non-competitive and can create new friendships. Requests for new groups are always welcome. If a group is full, another can be formed. Contact the Group Representative or come to one of our Drop In Coffee Mornings.
Groups that need to hire premises can cost up to £3 per session, whereas those that meet in members homes are usually £0.50 (to cover refreshments).
There is a social programme of monthly meetings and separate groups take members to the theatre, for strolls around Wells, and to gardens in Somerset.
The Third Age Trust, our national body, has an extensive library of multi-media resource material available to any U3A member. They also organise summer schools and study days throughout the country on a huge variety of subjects. Use the U3A button at the top of the page to find out more.
In the listing below, new groups are shown with a yellow background and those known to be full or with a waiting list have a grey background. Click (or tap) the name of any group in the table below to find out more about its activities and contact its leader.
Links
Groups listed alphabetically
-
Appreciating Literature
Status: Active
On Friday afternoons 2:00 pm
2nd week -
Art Appreciation
Status: Full
On Monday afternoons
1st Monday -
Astronomy & Cosmology
Status: Active
On Monday mornings 10:00 am-12:00 pm
1st week -
Badminton
Status: Active
Afternoons 5:00 pm
Weds & Fri -
Bird Watching
Status: Active
On Tuesdays
4th week, time varies -
Book Group 2
Status: Full
On Thursday mornings 10:00 am
2nd week -
Bowls
Status: Active
Weekly on Thursday afternoons 2:00 pm-3:30 pm
Starting 7 May 2026 -
Canasta
Status: Full
Fortnightly 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
Monday and Wdnesday afternoons - Second and Fourth week of the month -
Cards for Pleasure
Status: Active
Weekly on Monday afternoons 7:00 pm-9:00 pm -
Chemistry in Everyday Life
Status: Active
On Tuesdays 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
2nd week -
Chess
Status: Active
Weekly on Thursday mornings 10:30 am-12:30 pm -
Clock Repairs
Status: Full
Weekly on Tuesday afternoons 2:00 pm -
Conversational French
Status: Full
On Friday afternoons 2:00 pm
2nd & 4th Friday -
Creative Writing
Status: Active
Fortnightly on Fridays 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
2nd and 4th Friday -
Current Affairs
Status: Full
On Tuesdays 10:00 am-12:00 pm
alternate weeks -
Current Affairs 2
Status: Active
On Tuesdays 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
First Tue of Month -
Cycling
Status: Active
On Thursdays
2nd & 4th weeks -
Digital Photography
Status: Active
Monthly on Thursday afternoons 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
Third Thursday -
Easy Rides Cycling Group
Status: Active
On Wednesdays
1st Week -
En Français
Status: Active
On Wednesday mornings
alternate weeks -
Environmental Studies
Status: Active
On Tuesdays 10:00 am-12:00 pm
1st Tuesday -
Geology
Status: Active
Monthly on Friday afternoons
First Friday -
German Conversation
Status: Active
On Tuesday mornings
Second & fourth -
History (World)
Status: Active
Monthly -
Italian Conversation
Status: Full
On Thursday mornings
1st & 3rd weeks -
Jazz, Swing & Crooners
Status: Active
On Thursdays 2:00 pm
3rd week (October to March) -
Local History
Status: Full
On Wednesdays 10:15 am
3rd week -
Making Music
Status: Full
On Mondays 10:00 am
2nd & 4th weeks -
MOTO (Members On Their Own)
Status: Active
On Mondays 10:30 am
2nd & 4th weeks -
Music Appreciation
Status: Active
On Wednesdays 2:00 pm
1st & 3rd weeks -
New Science
Status: Active
On Wednesdays 2:30 pm
Second Wednesday -
Opera Group
Status: Active
On Fridays 2:00 pm-5:30 pm
3rd week -
Out & About
Status: Active
varies -
Painting for Pleasure
Status: Active
On Tuesdays 1:00 pm
1st & 3rd weeks -
Petanque 1
Status: Active
Weekly on Mondays 2:00 pm -
Petanque 2
Status: Active
Monthly on Thursdays 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
1st and 3rd (and 5th, if available) -
Play Reading
Status: Active
On Wednesdays 2:30 pm
alternate weeks -
Poetry Appreciation
Status: Active
On Mondays 2:15 pm
alternate weeks -
Reading for Pleasure
Status: Active
On Thursdays 12:00 pm-2:00 pm
4th week (not Aug or Dec) -
Rock Band
Status: Active
On Wednesdays 2:30 pm-4:30 pm
Alternate Wednesdays -
Saturday Lunch Group
Status: Active
Monthly on Saturday afternoons
3rd Week -
Scrabble
Status: Active
Fortnightly on Tuesday afternoons 2:00 pm
Second and Fourth Tuesdays -
Shakespeare Group
Status: Full
On Tuesdays 10:30 am
2nd & 4th weeks -
Spanish Conversation
Status: Waiting list
On Wednesdays 2:00 pm
First Wed & Third Tue -
Strollers
Status: Active
Weekly on Fridays
weekly, time varies -
Sunday Lunch Group
Status: Waiting list
On Sunday afternoons
2nd Sunday -
Table Tennis
Status: Active
Weekly on Mondays 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
see text for second venue & time -
Tai Chi
Status: Full
Weekly on Thursday mornings 10:00 am-11:00 am -
Theatre Group
Status: Active
Days and times vary -
Visiting Somerset Churches
Status: Active
Days and times TBA -
Walking Group 1
Status: Active
Mornings
alternate weeks -
Walking Group 2
Status: Active
Varies -
Wildflower Walks
Status: Closed
Fortnightly
Varies -
Wine Appreciation
Status: Active
Monthly on Fridays 6:00 pm
2nd week