Out & About

The King’s Wardrobe 24th April - 24th May free

A fun interactive trail to celebrate the Coronation. Scan the QR codes found around the city, which tell the story of the animal kingdom and the coronation of Sir Lawrence the Lion. Meet 10 of the King’s friends on the augmented reality trail and reveal what each of them suggests the king wear for the crowning – they’re not all sensible! On completing each challenge, take a selfie with the character’s animal costume on and once the trail is complete, download the story as a free e-book, visit www.enjoystalbans.com for the trail map.

Kimpton May Festival 28th April - 1st May

This years theme is Rock, Pop and Superstars, with an art show, wine tasting, a procession, maypole dancing, a Samba band, dog show, fancy dress, 5 a-side football, children’s activities and much more. www.kimptonmayfestival.co.uk

Hertfordshire Garden Show 29th April - 1st May

With goods for sale including garden furniture, water features, hot tubs, sculptures and more. Tickets include access to Knebworth Park, Gardens, Adventure Playground and Dinosaur Trail. Knebworth House, Stevenage SG1 2AX www.knebworthhouse.com

Ashridge Estate

Bluebells at Dockey Woods

Charges apply on: 29th April-1st May, 6th-8th & 13th & 14th May 10am - 4pm £3, child £1.50

See how the woodland is managed to protect the bluebells while you enjoy this spring spectacle. Parking in Dockey Wood is limited, if you can, park in the main car park and follow the trail from the Visitor Centre. Dockey Wood, Berkhamsted HP4 1NF www.nationaltrust.org.uk

May Day Merriment

30th April - 1st May 11am - 4pm

Traditional Elizabethan May Day with dancing & music

Chiltern Open Air Museum, Newland Park HP8 4AB www.coam.org.uk

Wild Writing Workshop

1st May 10am - 4pm £36, age 16+

Join writer Helen Moore for a nature writing workshop. Home Farm Glamping, Elstree WD6 3AZ www.homefarmglamping.com

Luton Hoo Walled Garden

Open Wednesdays from 3rd May 10.30am - 4pm

Explore this fascinating Capability Brown designed walled garden, take a tour of the garden and historic service buildings. £7.50, child £1, under 5’s free Art in the Walled Garden from 3rd May Artists are invited to draw inspiration from the unique structures and beautiful plants in the Garden, includes entry to the annual art exhibition and monthly sessions from visiting artists. Season ticket £30, day entry £7.50

A Midsummer Night’s Dream 26th May 7pm

Join the HandleBards in this hilarious, high-octane production. £19.50, child £12.50, under 10’s free www.handlebards.com

Luton Hoo Estate, Luton LU1 4LF 01582 721443 www.lutonhooestate.co.uk

St Albans Cathedral

Exhibition: Threads through Creation

3rd May - 11th June

Be enchanted by 12 large-scale and colourful embroideries while you look, imagine and question the Book of Genesis in a completely different way. Free Service of Thanksgiving to celebrate the Coronation 6th May 10am - 5.30pm

A screening of the Coronation, followed by a community lunch, drinks and a sing-a-long. Free, £5 donations on the door are welcome

IOF Concert: Mona Rozdestvenskyte 20th May 5.30pm, free

More to Explore Tour: Flowers and Plants in the Cathedral 21st May 1.30pm

The Cathedral is full of flowers, in stone, in wood, in glass and, of course lots of real ones. This tour gives you a chance to admire them all. Free, please book Queen by Candlelight 22nd, 23rd & 25th May 7.30pm

A live cast of West End singers, accompanied by a live rock band, experience the music of Queen as you have never heard it before. £60 - £10, please book George Michael by Candlelight 26th May 7.30pm

A sing-along show with Rory Phelan, backing singers and a live band. £10 - £45, please book St Albans Cathedral, Sumpter Yard AL1 1BY www.stalbanscathedral.org

Hatfield House

Living Crafts 5th May 8am - 5pm from £6

A celebration of creativity with designer-makers showcasing glassblowing, willow weaving and stone carving and more.

Slam Dunk Festival (South)

27th May 9am - 10pm

The UK’s biggest independent Rock Festival. Hatfield House AL9 5HX www.hatfield-house.co.uk

Wildlife Trust

Dawn Chorus Walk 6th May 7.30am

Join nature-enthusiast Steve Halton on this early morning walk to hear the bird song. £5 Blow's Downs Nature Reserve, Beds LU6 4AE

Coronation Oak Walk 13th May 10.30am

An illustrated guided walk and talk; hear about Panshanger’s Royal connections and visitors. £5 Panshanger Park, Hertford SG14 2NA www.wildlifebcn.org

Redbourn Fun Run 7th May 9am - 2pm

Take part in the 1k (£6) 3k (£9), 5k (£11) or relay races (£12). Redbourn Leisure Centre AL3 7PP www.redbournfunrun.co.uk

Out & About

King's Coronation Festival

Hertford Castle 7th May 12 noon - 4pm

With music, entertainment, garden games, food and drink stalls and a children's 'Kings & Queens' fancy dress competition. Free but donations to the Mayor of Hertford's Charity Appeal Fund are welcome

Hertford Castle, Castle Street SG14 1PX www.hertford.gov.uk

Shuttleworth

Season Premiere Air Show 7th May gates 9.30am, flying display 2pm, adult £35

Enjoy historic aircraft taking to the skies in an action-packed, dramatic air display.

Special Operations Evening Show 20th May, gates 2pm, flying display 5.30pm, adult £32.50

See historic icons of aviation in the air, unique heritage vehicles on display, re-enactments and more.

Behind-the-scenes Tour and Lunch

25th May 10.30am £60

Shuttleworth, Biggleswade, Beds SG18 9DT www.shuttleworth.org

Workshop: Make a Roman Oil Lamp

8th May 10am, 11.30am & 1.30pm £5 age 4+

Verulamium Museum, St Albans AL3 4SW

Brambleton Model Railway Open Day

13th May 2pm - 5.30pm £4, child £2

Access off Highfield Oval, Ambrose Lane, Harpenden www.brambleton.org.uk

Farm to Fork Dining Experience 13th May

An evening of fine dining while learning about the history and future of sustainable food. £70

Rothamsted Manor, Harpenden AL5 2BG www.rothamstedenterprises.com

Sustainable St Albans

Repair Fair 13th May 2pm - 5pm

St Albans District Fixers will try to mend your textiles and electrical items.

Quaker Meeting House, Harpenden AL5 1PD

Our Planet Our Future: The Ants and the Grasshopper 16th May 7.30pm free Film screening, followed by a group discussion. The Plough and Harrow, Harpenden AL5 1PR www.sustainablestalbans.org

Bubble Rush 14th May

In aid of The Hospice of St Francis. Walk, run, dance, jog or toddle through the foam. Register today.

Drift Limits Racetrack, Hemel Hempstead HP1 2RR www.stfrancis.org.uk

St Albans Museum + Gallery

Talk: A Roman Palace at Verulamium and Other Stories 16th May 6.30pm £10 (7pm zoom £6)

Hear about methods used to uncover the archaeology of Verulamium and recent finds, including a Roman palace discovered last year.

Exhibition: Time for Tea from 19th May free

Exploring tea from leaf to cup through objects and archives from the Museums collections, looking back at tea houses and cafés of the city.

Paint Your Own Mug

27th May 11am, 12.30, 2pm, 13.30pm £7.50

Age 10+, adults without children welcome

St Peter’s Street, St Albans AL1 3DH www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk

Wheathampstead 10k 21st May

10k - 11am & 2k family fun - 10am

Raising funds for Beech Hyde Primary School. www.wheathampstead10k.co.uk

An Evening with Zoe Jasko 25th May 7.30pm

Join Zoe, author of 'What the Wind Saw: Short Stories from the Heart of Hertfordshire' for an evening of literature, Hertfordshire, and wine! £5

St Albans Library, The Maltings AL1 3JQ

Brewfest 26th - 28th May

Beer and music festival with over 100 of the best craft beers from around the country, street food, cocktails and live music. From £12.50

St Albans City FC, Clarence Park, St Albans www.eventbrite.co.uk

Herts County Show 27th & 28th May

Celebrate Hertfordshire’s finest farming, food, entertainment and shopping. The Showground, Redbourn AL3 7PT www.hertsshow.com

RAF London

1940s Week 27th May - 4th June

See history brought to life and learn about WW2, from bunkering during the Blitz, to rationing and the fighter planes that fought in the Battle of Britain. Please book RAF Museum London NW9 5LL www.rafmuseum.org.uk

Natural Handmade Candles & Skincare

Have your own Spa at home with our natural products suitable for all skin types. Gift ideas for him, for her and for yourself with Soaps, Lotion Bars, Body Butter, Himalayan Bath Salts, Bath Bombs, Home Fragrance, Soy Candles that burn slower and last longer and lots more. Visit us at The Small Biz Collection, Unit 1 The Village Arcade, 7 High Street, St Albans AL3 4ED Wholesale also available

@inmindandsoul2

King’s Road: for King and Country

Born out of a desire to commemorate the lives of the Great War Fallen who had lived in King’s Road, St Albans, the roads’ current residents suggested the idea of a lasting memorial. Then came the task of researching the lives and the families of those men. It involved many hours leafing through old newspapers and and obtaining advice from local and national bodies. The result is not only the Memorial, but also a book telling the stories of the families. After a 5 year huge fundraising project, they will be unveiling a Memorial at the end of the road on 13th May to honour the lives of the 15 young men who left the road for war and never returned. The memorial was designed by artist Renato Niemis who designed the memorial at Imperial War Museum Duxford dedicated to the American airmen lost in WW2. The book, 'King’s Road: for King and Country', is the young soldiers' stories and contains pictures, letters, personal comments and specially written poems by local poet, John Mole. Finally and most poignantly, a very large donation came from neighbours, whose father lost 7 uncles in the Somme, they gave £910, £10 for each year of their father's life.