Holy Communion

Holy Communion is held every weekday, Monday to Saturday, at Gloucester Cathedral, with the service starting at 12.30pm. It takes place in the Lady Chapel, which is tucked away inside the cathedral, and runs throughout the week rather than as a one-off, so it's easy to slot into a lunchtime break if you're working in the city.

The Lady Chapel itself is worth a look even if you're not there for the service; it holds some of the finest Arts & Crafts glass in the country. It's a quiet corner of a building that's seen a lot of history. The cathedral dates back to 679AD, and its architecture covers more than a millennium of styles, from Norman through Perpendicular to the present day. There are still stonemasons carving and casting on site, so the building is as much a living workshop as it is a place of worship.

If you've got time to wander around before or after, the cloisters are the big draw here — they're world-famous and have appeared in three Harry Potter films. There's also the Great East Window to see, a family-friendly exhibition space, and a peaceful garden. Worship runs every day of the week, both in person and via live-stream, and the cathedral stays open to the public. Dogs are welcome during visiting hours from Monday to Saturday, though they can't come into the services or visit on Sundays.

So, if you're in the city on a weekday, you can head to the Lady Chapel at 12.30pm for Holy Communion, and then take a look around the rest of the building while you're there. The cathedral is at 12 College Green, Gloucester, GL1 2LX.