Our current groups are listed below. All groups welcome beginners and will make every effort to make new members feel at home. If necessary, instruction will be available to help you get up to speed. Scroll down for more details
We are always on the lookout for new activities, so, if you have a skill, knowledge or interest that you'd like to share with other people please let any member of the Committee know, they will be delighted to work with you to develop your idea..
Groups listed by category
General
- 
    Arty-Crafty Club
 Status: Active
 Venue: Friends Meeting House
 Monthly on Wednesday afternoons 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
 3rd Wednesday of each month. No meeting in August
- 
    Canasta
 Status: Active
 Venue: Woodland Bowling Club
 Weekly on Wednesday mornings 10:30 am-12:30 pm
- 
    Carpet Bowls (Monday pm)
 Status: Active
 Venue: Woodland Bowling Club
 Weekly on Monday afternoons 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
 The group will be closed for the summer outdoor bowls season from 7th April till September.
- 
    Carpet Bowls (Thursday Morning)
 Status: Active
 Venue: Woodland Bowling Club
 On Thursday mornings 10:30 am-12:30 pm
 The group will be closed for the summer outdoor bowls season from 10th April till September.
- 
    Coffee Club
 Status: Active
 Venue: Café Zest
 Monthly on Friday mornings 10:30 am
 3rd Friday of each month from 10.30am (2nd Friday in December only)
- 
    Darts
 Status: Active
 Venue: Morrisons' Indoor Bowls
 On Wednesday afternoons 2:00 pm-3:00 pm
 2nd Wednesday of each month
- 
    French Conversation
 Status: Active
 Venue: Woodland Bowling Club
 On Tuesday mornings 10:15 am-12:15 pm
 Every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month. Sessions continue in August 2025
- 
    Handbells
 Status: Active
 Venue: Northgate United Reform Church
 Weekly on Monday mornings 10:30 am-12:30 pm
- 
    History
 Status: Active
 Venue: St. Thomas Aquinas Church Hall
 On Wednesday afternoons 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
 Last Wednesday of the month from 2pm, door opens at 1.30pm
- 
    Line Dancing
 Status: Active
 Venue: Friends Meeting House
 Weekly on Thursday mornings 10:00 am-11:00 am
 No meetings in August and December
- 
    Mah Jong
 Status: Active
 Venue: Friends Meeting House
 On Monday afternoons 1:00 pm-3:00 pm
 2nd & 4th Monday of the Month.
- 
    Monthly Lunch Club
 Status: Active
 Monthly on Friday afternoons
 We meet up at various local restaurants immediately after the monthly meeting
- 
    MOTO
 Status: Active
 Venue: Bistro, Dolphin Centre
 On Friday afternoons 2:30 pm
 2nd Friday of each month, Bistro, Dolphin Centre (front window area), Darlington
- 
    Outdoor bowls
 Status: Active
 Venue: Hundens Bowls Club
 Weekly on Friday afternoons 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
 from 9th May until mid-September
- 
    Rummikub
 Status: Active
 Venue: Friends Meeting House
 On Thursday mornings 11:15 am-12:45 pm
 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month. No meetings in Aug and Dec
- 
    Scrabble
 Status: Active
 Venue: St. Thomas Aquinas Church Hall
 Weekly on Wednesday afternoons 2:00 pm
 except the last Wednesday in the month.
- 
    Social Bridge
 Status: Active
 Venue: Woodland Bowling Club
 Weekly on Monday mornings 10:30 am
 No class during August unless otherwise stated
- 
    Sunday Lunch Club
 Status: Active
 Venue: Blackwell Golf Club
 Monthly on Sunday afternoons 1:00 pm
 the dates vary - check with Lesley before attending
- 
    Tai Chi
 Status: Active
 Venue: Friends Meeting House
 Weekly on Friday mornings 9:45 am
 weekly except on Darlington u3a Monthly Meeting Dates
- 
    Wildflower walks
 Status: Active
 Monthly on Tuesday afternoons 2:00 pm-3:30 pm
 Walks to resume in spring 2026
- 
    Wine Appreciation
 Status: Active
 Venue: Woodland Bowling Club
 Monthly on Friday afternoons 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
 Last Friday in the month. Must be booked in advance.
South Durham u3a Groups
- 
    (S Durham u3a) French higher level
 Status: Active
 Venue: Newcastle Building Society - 1st Floor
 Fortnightly on Tuesday mornings 11:15 am-12:15 pm
 S Durham led group. Usually Tuesday but check with Group Leader - there are occasional changes to the day.
- 
    (S Durham u3a) Friday walking group
 Status: Active
 Venue: Linden Avenue
 Monthly on Friday mornings 9:30 am
 Third friday of the month.
- 
    (S Durham u3a) Italian for new starters
 Status: Active
 Venue: Newcastle Building Society - 1st Floor
 Fortnightly on Tuesday mornings 10:00 am
 S Durham led group. Usually Tuesday but check with Group Leader - there are occasional changes to the day.
- 
    (S Durham u3a) Local history
 Status: Active
 Venue: Willow Road Community Centre
 On Tuesday afternoons 1:15 pm
 A South Durham u3a led group
- 
    (S Durham u3a) Walking - intermediate
 Status: Active
 On Monday mornings 10:00 am
 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month
Darlington u3a and our neighbours, South Durham u3a, have a reciprocal agreement which means that members of each u3a can attend a selection of groups organised by the other. Obviously members of Darlington u3a will have priority should our own groups be over-subscribed and ditto for South Durham u3a members in their groups.
The cost of attending Darlington u3a groups is normally £2 per session which goes towards room hire etc. However, in a few cases, where an experienced paid instructor is leading the group the charge will differ – please check the individual group page.
Members interested in joining any of our Groups should click on the relevant topic and contact the Group Leader before attending. It is hoped that once registered with a group, members will try to attend regularly if possible, informing the Group Leader of any planned absences.







