Our new season started on Monday 28th April 2025 - view our Programme for details. Contact us or find out how to JOIN online anytime.
You can see our new programme on our PROGRAMME Page and keep an eye on our EVENTS Page for Tasters and any extra public events too. You can also join our MAILING LIST to find out more.
Explore Lifelong Learning provides a stimulating, entertaining and varied programme of expert led learning created to challenge your mind and deliver unique experiences. As well as expanding their minds, our members also expand their social circles through attending our dependable and reliable programme of events.
Your one stop learning shop!
Explore all the different pages on our website for lots more details, or contact us if you have any enquiries.
Try Explore FREE
Contact us now to arrange a FREE Taster Session or Book for our next FREE Explore Taster Event
New to Explore?
Come and find out about our programme and organisation, by joining our members to enjoy a talk or two with some refreshments.
All welcome.
Contact us or see our Events Page for more details
Face-to-Face, Online and Blended - Flexible sessions to suit your lifestyle
Our current programme includes a combination of different sessions, offering fun, social, accessible and flexible delivery methods for busy learners. Read more on our Programme page and find out how to Join.
Our programme is as wide ranging as ever though with many of our favourite tutors as well as new faces to get to know.
Check out our video to find out more about the Explore experience:
Programme for our new season ...
What else is coming up...
Get in touch
About Explore : by our members and tutors
'Lifelong learning is fundamental to our endless curiosity to know and share knowledge. The Explore programme is unique, enriching, life-giving.'
Max Adams, author of 'The King in the North : The Life and Times of Oswald of Northumbria', Royal Literary Fund Consultant Fellow, Explore Tutor
'We must look after our minds as well as our bodies. Explore encourages me to accept new information and gently pushes my brain back into thinking mode.'
Harry Rose, Explore member
Patrons
Michael Chaplin
Explore is honoured to introduce our newest patron - Michael Chaplin - dramatist, screenwriter and writer of non-fiction books about the North-East.
Michael said 'I am beguiled by the idea of ‘self improvement’, which my parents Sid and Rene Chaplin undertook throughout their lives........ I think Explore is the latest manifestation of this great ambition, more important than ever with the state shamefully in retreat in so many ways, and I offer it my full support and encouragement!'
John Grundy
The local historian and author, John Grundy, has agreed to become a patron of Explore.
John said 'When I look at Explore - the level of commitment, the range of opportunities, the quality of teachers, the gorgeous and slightly bohemian setting in which it is based – I feel really delighted and proud to be considered one of its patrons.'
Lee Hall
Lee Hall, the Newcastle born writer of Billy Elliot and The Pitmen Painters is a patron of Explore.
Lee said ‘I am thrilled to be a patron of Explore. ...I can see that Explore makes it possible to share knowledge in a way we once expected the State to provide. Newcastle has always been a place where people have seized the initiative to share their learning from the debating clubs in the taverns of the Eighteenth Century to institutions like the Lit and Phil.
So Explore is in a long and important tradition. It's a really exciting programme and I look forward to it going from strength to strength.’
Read more from our patrons on the About Explore page.
National Lottery Community Fund grant!
Explore is delighted to announce that we have recently secured a grant from the National Lottery Community Fund to support restarting face to face sessions during the autumn season - if prevailing conditions allow.
Corbyn visits Explore
Jeremy Corbyn MP visited Explore on Monday 3rd October 2016 on the first morning of our new season for 2016-17. Our VIP visitor said hello to members who were enjoying art tutor Peter Quinn's lecture on the 'body in art'.
Jeremy was interested in and impressed by our innovative, member run, professionally delivered programme.
