How many genuinely new things do you think you learn in a typical day? Between AI, endless Reels and algorithms serving up other people’s thoughts which it thinks that you’ll like, there’s little room left to think for yourself. Maybe you’ve found yourself craving something that actually gets your brain working again, or even secretly missing those uni lectures you once complained about.
Enter Curious Hour, an intimate, expert-led talk and Q&A that brings big ideas into a bar setting. Over drinks, science communicators unpack fascinating topics such as psychedelic neuroscience and psychology, breaking down complex ideas without the jargon, the judgement, or the lecture-hall atmosphere. Covering a range of fascinating topics each led by a specialist in their field, Curious Hour is an invitation to come curious and leave with something new to think about.
What talks are on in London?
The talk also opens up a wider discussion about recognising warning signs and what psychology can tell us about preventing violence. Dr Chassy is a published researcher in criminal behavior and the psychology of serial killers, and his work on how emotion, memory and personality produce extreme behaviour has challenged existing forensic models.
26 November 2026 18:30 + more dates
21Soho
Professor Viren Swami is in the top 2% of most-cited scientists worldwide, and along the way, he’ll unpack different ideas of love, explore our individual love styles and ask whether science can really explain something that feels so personal.
28 November 2026 18:30 + more dates
21Soho
From altered states of consciousness to emerging research into therapeutic applications, the talk separates established findings from the questions scientists are still trying to answer. Afterwards, an open Q&A puts your questions directly to the expert.
Dr David Luke leads the Psychedelic and Exceptional Experience Lab (PEEL) at University of Greenwich and is a Perrott-Warrick Senior Researcher via Trinity College, Cambridge. His published work covers psilocybin, DMT, and near-death experience phenomenology.
19 December 2026 18:30 + more dates
21Soho
What to expect at Curious Hour
The evening is designed to feel more like a casual night out than a formal academic event. Arrive, grab a drink from the bar and settle in before the conversation gets underway, with warm lighting and a small crowd creating an intimate atmosphere at 21Soho. There’s no jargon or judgement getting in the way, so you can really get stuck into the ideas.
The 55-minute session leaves plenty of space for audience questions and unfiltered discussion, followed by time to stick around, chat with other guests and continue the conversation over another drink.
So, if your usual London plans are starting to feel a little predictable, Curious Hour offers an alternative night out in London that’s genuinely stimulating. After the talk, you can stick around at the bar, continue the conversation, exchange thoughts with other curious minds and meet people you might not otherwise cross paths with. This is your call to get away from algorithms and swap another night of scrolling for something that gives your brain a little more to chew on, and maybe leave with a new question you can’t stop thinking about.
