Carols on Boxing Day

Carols on Boxing Day is at St Albans Cathedral on Saturday 26 December, a late-afternoon singalong that falls just after the main Christmas rush. It's an informal one rather than a ticketed concert, so the whole point is to sing along with the Christmas favourites rather than just sit and listen. If you've spent the last few days hosting and tidying up, it's a good excuse to get out of the house and join in.

The service runs from 4pm to 5pm, with the doors opening at 3.20pm, so you've plenty of time to find a spot before it kicks off. It's free and there are no tickets required, which makes it an easy one to drop into without any planning. Since it's a singalong, you're as much part of the music as anyone else in the room.

It's worth keeping in mind where this is happening. St Albans Cathedral is the oldest site of continuous Christian worship in Britain and the shrine to Alban, the country's first saint. Its 11th-century tower holds bells that ring across the city, and inside is a pioneering organ built in 1962; music has been one of the glories of the Cathedral for centuries. Alongside its religious life, the abbey church at the heart of St Albans hosts concerts, talks, exhibitions, tours and major cultural events throughout the year.

So, if you're around on Boxing Day and fancy a bit of singing, you'll find it at St Albans Cathedral, Sumpter Yard, AL1 1BY. It's free, no tickets needed, and runs from 4pm to 5pm, with doors opening at 3.20pm.