The Royal Oak Foundation

Zoom | East Sussex Uncovered
2026-04-08 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom Webinar, Virtual, United States
Discover the history, dramatic landscapes, and architectural treasures of East Sussex. On this digital tour, Stephen Benton, will take us through the rolling South Downs countryside to windswept coastal cliffs and National Trust properties that define this captivating county. Step inside some of East Sussex’s historic homes, three of which have literary connections. We will visit Bateman’s, the Jacobean house that was once Rudyard Kipling’s beloved retreat; explore Lamb House in Rye, home to writers Henry James and E.F. Benson; and venture to Monk House, Virginia Woolf’s country cottage. Discover the atmospheric ruins of Bodiam Castle, surrounded by its classic moat, and the beautiful Sheffield Park and Garden. Also, we will see The Old Clergy House in Alfriston, the very first building that the National Trust saved.
Zoom Live
Wednesday, April 8 | 2:00 p.m. (ET)
$30 members; $40 non-members and guests

Zoom Rental | East Sussex Uncovered
2026-04-09 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom Recording, Virtual, New York, NY, 10036, United States
Discover the history, dramatic landscapes, and architectural treasures of East Sussex. On this digital tour, Stephen Benton, will take us through the rolling South Downs countryside to windswept coastal cliffs and National Trust properties that define this captivating county. Step inside some of East Sussex’s historic homes, three of which have literary connections. We will visit Bateman’s, the Jacobean house that was once Rudyard Kipling’s beloved retreat; explore Lamb House in Rye, home to writers Henry James and E.F. Benson; and venture to Monk House, Virginia Woolf’s country cottage. Discover the atmospheric ruins of Bodiam Castle, surrounded by its classic moat, and the beautiful Sheffield Park and Garden. Also, we will see The Old Clergy House in Alfriston, the very first building that the National Trust saved.
Zoom Rental
Available Thursday, April 9 – Tuesday, June 30, 2026 | Sent out April 9 by 12:00 p.m. (ET)
$30 members; $40 non-members and guests

Zoom | “The Old Curiosity” of a Lost London Neighborhood
2026-04-14 13:00 - 14:00 | Zoom Webinar, Virtual, United States
Step into the vanished world of London’s last West End slum, once hidden in the maze of streets just northeast of the Strand and Aldwych. Today, little remains to hint at the area’s notorious past. This was a district of sharp contrasts — a centre of prostitution, lined with Victorian pornographic bookshops and brothels, yet also home to some prestigious theatres and a vibrant street market. The area drew eccentric characters, colourful traders, and curious visitors, and preserved pockets of rare architecture dating back to the 16th century. Using old maps, historic images, literary extracts (from Dickens, Pope) and the few surviving traces still visible, Richard Watkins will guide us on a virtual journey into a neighborhood now swept away by redevelopment.
Zoom Live
Tuesday, April 14 | 1:00 p.m. (ET)
$35 members; $45 non-members and guests

Zoom Rental | “The Old Curiosity” of a Lost London Neighborhood
2026-04-15 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom Recording, Virtual, New York, NY, 10036, United States
Step into the vanished world of London’s last West End slum, once hidden in the maze of streets just northeast of the Strand and Aldwych. Today, little remains to hint at the area’s notorious past. This was a district of sharp contrasts — a centre of prostitution, lined with Victorian pornographic bookshops and brothels, yet also home to some prestigious theatres and a vibrant street market. The area drew eccentric characters, colourful traders, and curious visitors, and preserved pockets of rare architecture dating back to the 16th century. Using old maps, historic images, literary extracts (from Dickens, Pope) and the few surviving traces still visible, Richard Watkins will guide us on a virtual journey into a neighborhood now swept away by redevelopment.
Zoom Rental
Available Wednesday, April 15 – Tuesday, June 30, 2026 | Sent out April 15 by 12:00 p.m. (ET)
$35 members; $45 non-members and guests

Zoom | Beyond 10 Downing Street: Prime Ministers’ Private Quarters
2026-04-21 17:00 - 18:00 | Zoom Webinar, Virtual, United States
Where did Prime Ministers call home before they stepped through that famous black door at no. 10? Rob Smith will help us explore the homes of 12 British Prime Ministers, uncovering the private addresses behind the public power. We will consider towering figures such as Winston Churchill, William Gladstone, and Benjamin Disraeli, and leaders who may have left a lighter mark on British history, but led fascinating private lives. Each virtual stop reveals a different side of political life, as we stroll the elegant streets of Mayfair and St. James’. We will explore the political dramas of Georgian and Victorian Britain. Along the way are tales of intrigue, ambition, and political miscalculation—leaving us wondering whether history repeats itself.
Zoom Live
Tuesday, April 21 | 5:00 p.m. (ET)
$30 members; $40 non-members and guests

Zoom Rental | Beyond 10 Downing Street: Prime Ministers’ Private Quarters
2026-04-22 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom Recording, Virtual, New York, NY, 10036, United States
Where did Prime Ministers call home before they stepped through that famous black door at no. 10? Rob Smith will help us explore the homes of 12 British Prime Ministers, uncovering the private addresses behind the public power. We will consider towering figures such as Winston Churchill, William Gladstone, and Benjamin Disraeli, and leaders who may have left a lighter mark on British history, but led fascinating private lives. Each virtual stop reveals a different side of political life, as we stroll the elegant streets of Mayfair and St. James’. We will explore the political dramas of Georgian and Victorian Britain. Along the way are tales of intrigue, ambition, and political miscalculation—leaving us wondering whether history repeats itself.
Zoom Rental
Available Wednesday, April 22 – Tuesday, June 30, 2026 | Sent out April 22 by 12:00 p.m. (ET)
$30 members; $40 non-members and guests

Zoom | Historic London Markets
2026-05-20 17:00 - 18:00 | Zoom Webinar, Virtual, United States
Escheape Market
London is home to some of the world’s most famous markets – from the historic Smithfield and Spitalfields markets to the vibrant Covent Garden. For centuries, these bustling trading hubs have kept the city fed, supplied, and thriving. Rob Smith will guide us through the rich history of London’s markets. Discover how feeding the capital has been a constant challenge since Roman times, and how markets have played a vital role in the city’s growth and daily life. We will explore sites trading from their original locations, those that have found new homes, and even places that have vanished altogether, including the once-renowned Hungerford Market. Packed with history, colour, and surprising stories, this digital tour brings the heritage of London’s markets to life.
Zoom Live
Covent Garden Piazza with London Transport Museum, geograph.org.uk
Wednesday, May 20 | 5:00 p.m. (ET)
$30 members; $40 non-members and guests

Zoom Rental | Historic London Markets
2026-05-21 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom Recording, Virtual, New York, NY, 10036, United States
Escheape Market
London is home to some of the world’s most famous markets – from the historic Smithfield and Spitalfields markets to the vibrant Covent Garden. For centuries, these bustling trading hubs have kept the city fed, supplied, and thriving. Rob Smith will guide us through the rich history of London’s markets. Discover how feeding the capital has been a constant challenge since Roman times, and how markets have played a vital role in the city’s growth and daily life. We will explore sites trading from their original locations, those that have found new homes, and even places that have vanished altogether, including the once-renowned Hungerford Market. Packed with history, colour, and surprising stories, this digital tour brings the heritage of London’s markets to life.

Covent Garden Piazza with London Transport Museum, geograph.org.uk
Zoom Rental
Available Thursday, May 21 – Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Sent out May 21 by 12:00 p.m. (ET)

$30 members; $40 non-members and guests
