In pictures: Christmas carols at London’s Albert Hall

The decorations are up, the presents wrapped and the cards posted, but it still doesn’t feel like Christmas to me until I’m listening to carols at the Royal Albert Hall. It’s become a family tradition that each year we head up to London for a Christmas concert. We always have the same seats – behind the orchestra and so close to the choir that we could almost be part of it (though maybe not if they heard my singing voice). It’s the perfect vantage point to look out over this spectacular building, opened in 1871 by Queen Victoria as a memorial to her husband Albert. Each Christmas the Albert Hall hosts a series of different festive events, so you can have carols by candlelight, singalong yourself or leave it to the professionals. But we always go for the concert with composer John Rutter, and come out of it ready for Christmas to start.