Outings Details

The u3a has several Interest Groups that arrange trips on a regular basis for Members. The majority of these are arranged by the Out & About Group.

If you want to receive information on all these trips, please register your interest by joining the Out & About Registration Groupon the Groups page, please Click Here to go to the Groups Page.

This will enable the Group Leader to keep you informed by e-mail of future trips.

All future trips will have their own entry on the Groups page and you must join the relevant group for the trip you are interested in to apply for a place.

If you do not have access to e-mail, then the Group Leader will contact you by your preferred contact method specified by you when you joined the U3A.

A desk with all the information on future trips is also set out at the monthly meetings. Booking at the monthly meeting and the monthly library desk is also available. If you need to contact someone about a trip, please do so by using the u3a Contacts button in the top menu bar.

Please note that outings are available only to members of Holmes Chapel & District u3a.

All trips at the time of advertising are provisional and maybe subject to change or cancellation. The cost of each trip will be based on the number of people attending and what is included in the trip. e.g. entry fees etc.

We fully recognise the importance of enriching the lives of others within our u3a. But please note, on all Out & About and Theatre trips Members must be able to manage independently or should be accompanied by a carer; companion or partner. It is not the responsibility of the Group Leader nor any other Member to have to accompany someone who has independently signed up for the trip and be responsible for their welfare. Every Member is responsible for their own health, safety and welfare and that of the person/s they have agreed to accompany.

Click on Booking Details for Terms and Conditions for booking trips.

Destination : The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Lowry Theatre, Matinee Performance
Date               : 11th December 2025

Status Live: Names being taken for the waiting list

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime as the West End smash-hit production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe comes to the Lowry.

Step through the wardrobe into the magic kingdom of Narnia where a world of wonder awaits. Join Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter as they meet new friends, face dangerous foes and learn the lessons of courage, sacrifice, and the power of love.

Watch the nation’s favourite novel The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe come to life on stage in this spectacular production which is guaranteed to delight all ages.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a portal fantasy novel written by British author C.S. Lewis, published in 1950. It is the first published and best known of seven novels in The Chronicles of Narnia.

Reviews
★★★★★ ‘SPECTACULAR’ METRO
★★★★ ‘A FANTASTICAL FAMILY TREAT’ THE TELEGRAPH
★★★★ ‘EXHILARATING PRODUCTION, SPELLBINDING SPECTACLE AND PERFECT PUPPERTY’ THE GUARDIAN
★★★★ ‘SUPERB. THERE’S NO DENYING ITS CHARM. IT’S HARD TO BEAT’ THE STAGE
★★★★ ‘THE MOST RIVETING SPECTACLE’ THE GUARDIAN

Cost £63.00, includes transport and ticket for the stalls.

Destination : The Hallé - Viennese New Year Concert - Bridgewater Hall
Date               : 3rd January 2026

Status Live: Names being taken for waiting list

The Hallé - Viennese New Year Concert - Bridgewater Hall Manchester

Celebrate the New Year with an uplifting afternoon of beautiful music full of Viennese charm. Join conductor Stephen Bell and the Hallé, along with incredible soprano Soraya Mafi for a trip around the ballrooms of Vienna in this much-loved New Year’s concert.

Packed full of favourites, from Strauss’ Thunder and Lightning Polka to Lehar’s Vilya, this is always such a special event full of joy and sparkle. Join us to step into 2026 in style.

Cost £49.00, includes ticket for stalls & coach.

We will leave Holmes Chapel at 12:30pm for this 3:00pm concert.  We expect to be back in Holmes Chapel for approx. 7:00pm.

Destination : Singin' In The Rain, Manchester Royal Exchange, Matinee Performance
Date               : 7th January 2026

Status Live - 1 place available

Singin' In The Rain  - A timeless masterpiece, and perhaps one of the greatest musicals ever made.

A charismatic, tap-dancing extravaganza Singin' In The Rain is the much-loved story of the highs and lows of Hollywood as a radical move is made from silent movies to the ‘talkies’ and all told through the eyes of the infamous Don Lockwood, Lina Lamont, Cosmo Brown and Kathy Selden.

Singin' In The Rain is packed with iconic songs such as Make ‘em laugh, Good Morning, Moses and of course the iconic title tune Singin’ In The Rain. Seamlessly blending song and dance the audience will find themselves in the heart of the action of this much-loved musical on the Exchange’s iconic in-the-round stage.

Cost £68.00, includes transport and theatre ticket. We will leave Holmes Chapel at 12:30pm / Goostrey 12:40pm.  We expect to be back home for approx. 6:30pm depending on the traffic.

 

Destination : To Kill a Mocking Bird, Lowry Theatre, Matinee Performance
Date               : 14th January 2026

Status Live: 2 places available

Aaron Sorkin’s riveting, award-winning stage adaptation of the seminal American novel about racial injustice and childhood innocence became a Broadway and West End sensation with star-studded sell-out seasons on both sides of the Atlantic. Now this thrilling courtroom drama embarks on a UK & Ireland tour for the very first time.

Successful lawyer, Atticus Finch, encourages kindness and empathy in his children, but is pushed to the limits of these qualities himself when he resolves to uncover the truth in a town that seems determined to hide it. Set in 1934 Alabama, To Kill a Mockingbird was inspired by novelist Harper Lee’s own childhood and has sold more than 45 million copies worldwide. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Literature and was long at the top of the banned book lists.

Cost £61.00, includes transport and ticket for the stalls.

Destination : Barnum, Palace Theatre, Manchester, Matinee Performance
Date               : 12th February 2026
Status Live: Names being taken for waiting list

Step right up and enter the dazzling world of P.T. Barnum, where imagination and ambition know no bounds. Hand in hand with wife Charity, Barnum’s life and career twists and turns as he schemes and dreams his way to headier heights.

This spectacular new staging will feature an extraordinary ensemble cast of over 20 actor-musicians playing 150 instruments, acrobats and amazing circus acts. Audiences are certain to delight at every sight, wonder and miracle that the name Barnum stands for!

Barnum first took the UK by storm when it played the London Palladium, with Michael Crawford making theatrical history with a death-defying nightly tightrope walk across the stage. And now, Lee Mead will take centre stage and step into the legendary 19th century showman's shoes and on to the tightrope!

Come follow the band with the glorious music of multi-award-winner Cy Coleman, Michael Stewart’s lyrics and Mark Bramble’s book. Barnum features a whole host of classic show tunes including Join the Circus, Colours of My Life, Come Follow the Band and Love Makes Such Fools of Us All.
 

Cost £66.00, includes ticket for the stalls and transport.

Destination : Operation Mincemeat - Lowry Theatre - Matinee Performance
Date               : 18th February 2026

Status Live - 5 places available

Operation Mincemeat is the 2024 Olivier Award-winning Best New Musical. It’s London's biggest hit with 77 Five-Star reviews making it the best-reviewed show in West End history. Now also a Tony-nominated Best Musical on Broadway!

The year is 1943 and right now we’re losing the war. Luckily, we’re about to gamble all our futures on a stolen corpse. Singin’ in the Rain meets Strangers on a Train, Operation Mincemeat is the fast-paced, hilarious and unbelievable true story of the twisted secret mission that won us World War II. Bursting at the seams with the kind of chaos you couldn’t invent, the question is: how did a dead body, a fake love letter, and - of all people - Ian Fleming come together to wrong-foot Hitler?

Reviews:
“A little show with a very big future.” - David Benedict, Variety

“The Brits have made the year’s funniest musical” - Peter Marks, The Washington Post

“Hilarious tale makes Mincemeat out of its rivals... Before curtain I talked to a fan seeing this for the seventh time. I wondered why anyone would see the same show seven times. Now I know” - Neil Armstrong, The Mail
On Sunday

Cost £77.00, includes transport and ticket for the stalls.

Destination : Prestatyn & the North Wales Bowls Centre
Date               : 24th February 2026

Status Live: Bookings now being taken

Join us for a day out, at Prestatyn.

Long Mat Bowling at the North Wales Bowls Centre. The cost of the trip is £53.00 for bowlers, this includes refreshments on arrival; 2 hours bowling; hire of bowls & shoes; a 2-course lunch and transport. The bowling session will be organised, you will be in teams of 2 or 3 and will play 2 games. Experienced and inexperienced bowlers are welcome to join us. This is a fun day out and there are prizes to be won!!!

If you don't want to bowl you can watch the games from your comfortable rink side seat, or if you wish to explore the area and get some exercise you can take a walk along the promenade and enjoy the sea air. The 4-mile-long promenade joins Prestatyn's three beaches and offers pleasant walking around the sandy bays and forms part of the North Wales Coast Path. For non-bowlers the cost is £44.00, this includes refreshments on arrival; a 2-course lunch & transport.

Departs Holmes Chapel at 08:30; Goostrey 08:40.  Please be at departure point at least 5 minutes before the departure time.

Destination : Don Quixote, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Lowry Theatre, Matinee Performance
Date               : 7th March 2026

Status Live: bookings now being taken

Don Quixote, Birmingham Royal Ballet
In this first revival of his 2022 production Director Carlos Acosta delivers entertainment for all ages. Don Quixote introduces us to Cervantes’ famous knight himself, lovers Kitri and Basilio, and a host of supporting characters. As the Don sets out on a quest to track down his true love, with his loyal friend and servant Sancho Panza at his side, he finds himself embroiled in an unlikely adventure of love and dreams.

 
Don't miss this stunning 19th-century masterpiece, full of thrilling pas de deux, delightful music played by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, and much, much more!
 
Treat yourself to some Spanish sunshine!!!


Cost £68.00, includes transport and ticket for the stalls.

Leave Holmes Chapel at 12:00noon / Goostrey 12:10pm.  Expect to be back home for approx. 6:00pm depending on traffic.

Destination : The Constant Wife, Lowry Theatre, Matinee Performance
Date               : 18th March 2026
Status Live: Bookings now being taken
 
THE CONSTANT WIFE, Lowry Theatre

The Royal Shakespeare Company production

1927.  Constance is a very unhappy woman. “Nonsense” says her mother “she eats well, sleeps well, dresses well and she’s losing weight. No woman can be unhappy in those circumstances.” Constance is the perfect wife and mother, and her husband is as devoted to her as he is to his mistress, who just happens to be her best friend.

Adapted by Olivier Award-winner Laura Wade from Somerset Maugham’s glittering comedy, originally opened in Stratford upon Avon to marvellous reviews.

Directed by Co-Artistic Director of the RSC Tamara Harvey, this sparkling new version will star Kara Tointon and features original music composed by multi award- winning jazz artist Jamie Cullum.

Don’t miss out on this fizzing and fresh comedy hit!

“Sharp, fresh, feminist and very witty” - The I Paper
“Frothily radical Twenties comedy” - The Times


Cost £62.00, includes a ticket for the stalls and transport.

Destination : Springtime in Falmouth
Date               : 19th April 2026

Status Live: Booking Complete (names being taken for waiting list)

Springtime in Falmouth, Cornwall

Sunday 19 April - Friday 24 April - 5 nights/6days

# Half Board stay at the 4* Royal Duchy Hotel, Falmouth
# Free time to explore Falmouth & Truro 
# Gardens Visits: Godolphin Gardens & The Lost Gardens of Heligan
# Train journey from St Erth to St Ives with time to explore this picturesque seaside town
# Tour of East Pool Tin Mine 
# Stop off in Tewkesbury on return journey
# Executive Coach travel with departures from Holmes Chapel & Goostrey 

Costs:
£1,012.00 per person sharing a double/twin room.
£27.00 discount for National Trust Members

Deposit of £100 per person required to secure your place on this holiday.

If you would like to receive a flyer giving further details of the holiday and a booking form, please contact the Group Leader.

Destination : Private Lives, Manchester Royal Exchange, Matinee Performance
Date               : 29th April 2026

Status Live: Bookings now being taken


'I think very few people are completely normal really, deep down in their private lives.'

In Noël Coward’s savage comedy, there’s nothing a cocktail can’t cure as lovers battle to get the upper hand. Wit has never been so razor sharp and passion has never looked so brutal.

In Private Lives, sparks fly on a honeymoon from hell and sexual chemistry is always only a heartbeat away from an explosion. Loved for their sparkling dialogue and art deco glamour, Noël Coward’s plays remain as funny and insightful as when they were written.

This new production of a vitriol-laced classic is directed by award-winning director Blanche McIntyre.


Cost £60.00, includes transport and theatre ticket. We will leave Holmes Chapel at 12:30pm / Goostrey 12:40pm.  We expect to be back home for approx. 6:30pm depending on the traffic.

Destination : The Simon & Garfunkle Story - Bridgewater Hall - Evening Concet
Date               : 4th June 2026

Status Live: Names being taken for waiting list

The Simon and Garfunkle Story, Bridgewater Hall - Evening Concert

“What a great show” – Art Garfunkel

Few shows have experienced the phenomenal global success of The Simon & Garfunkel Story, with multiple sold-out shows in over 50 countries worldwide and over 20 headline performances in London’s West End, including multiple appearances at the world-famous London Palladium.

Using huge projection photos and original film footage, the international hit show tells the story of the origins and meteoric rise of Simon & Garfunkel blended together seamlessly with a full live band performing all the hits including Mrs Robinson, Cecilia, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Homeward Bound and many more.

With standing ovations at every performance at the show Art Garfunkel himself loved, you don’t want to miss this international sensation.

Cost £64.00, includes ticket for stalls & coach. We will leave Holmes Chapel at 5:00pm for this 7:30pm concert.  We expect to be back in Holmes Chapel for approx. 10:30pm.