Christmas carol concerts: London, 2023
From majestic performances in stunning settings to little known gems in aid of a good cause, we round up the best Christmas carol concerts London has to offer
Image by Graham Lacdao, St Paul’s Cathedral
Whether you’re an aspiring chorister or someone who rarely warbles outside the shower, there’s no better place than London to welcome the festive season with song. The capital offers an enormous array of carol services throughout December – here’s our pick of the best.
BREATHTAKING: A Service of Lessons and Carols
Does it get more magical than Westminster Abbey at Christmas? Choirs, cloisters and poets' ghosts make for a breathtaking backdrop to the ever-popular Christmas carol services, which usually features readings from a surprise line up of famous faces. Booking opens at 9:30am and 2:30pm on Tuesday 14 & Wednesday 15 November. Click here for tickets.
When: Saturday 23 December, 4pm–5pm; Sunday 24 December, 4pm–5pm
Where: Westminster Abbey, 20 Deans Yard, Westminster, London SW1P 3PA
Cost: Free, but booking essential
CLASSIC: Advent Season at St Paul’s Cathedral
The Christmas schedule at St Paul’s Cathedral is full of concerts and events, culminating in the cathedral’s world-famous carol services on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 December. First time? Expect a great atmosphere on both afternoons, as keen carollers queue around the building, warming up their vocal cords with flasks of tea while mince-pie sellers make their way up and down the line. Entry is free and unticketed, so no need to plan too far in advance.
When: Saturday 23 & Sunday 24 December, 4pm–5pm
Where: St Paul's Cathedral, London EC4M 8AD
Cost: Free, but booking essential
RIVERSIDE RENDITIONS: Cathedral Carol Service
In the candlelit Southwark Cathedral, listen to a traditional carol concert sung by the Cathedral Great Choir.
When: Sunday 17 and Tuesday 19 December, 6pm
Where: Southwark Cathedral, London Bridge, London SE1 9DA
Cost: Free but ticketed, click here to register
ON A GRAND SCALE: Carols at the Royal Albert Hall
The largest Christmas carol concert (or series of concerts) in London is again taking place at The Royal Albert Hall, over six nights and 15 performances. Book to join the Royal Choral Society and the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain in singing world-famous carols, accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, presented by Greg Beardsell.
When: Saturday 16 – Sunday 24 December, 11am, 3pm & 7:30pm
Where: Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, South Kensington, London SW7 2AP
Cost: £20 – £117.50
EVOCATIVE: Candlelit Carols at the Barbican
It's all about atmosphere at the Barbican's candlelit carol concert. More of a formal performance than a singalong (although who knows, they might get you on your feet for the well-known favourites at the end), the concert is being performed by the Mozart Festival Orchestra under conductor Steven Devine, with soprano Harriet Eyley providing solos and Mark Williams acting as reader.
When: 22 December, 7:30pm
Where: Barbican Hall
Cost: £17.50 – £45
FAMILY FESTIVITIES: Christmas at St Martin-in-the-Fields
St Martin-in-the-Fields' hour-long carol services are a great option for young children with short attention spans. The atmospheric church, which has hosted classical concerts for over 250 years, offers carols by candlelight and a side of child-friendly entertainment. Look forward to a multiple concerts including Carols for Kids, Festive Family Carols and Carols by Candlelight, each of which features Christmas classics led by the church's vocal ensemble, St Martin’s Voices.
When: Thursday 2 – Monday 23 December, performances at various times
Where: St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross, London WC2N 4JJ
Cost: £10+ (depending on event)
ANIMAL LOVERS: Battersea Dogs and Cats Home Christmas Carol Concert
Belt out carols in Chelsea's majestic St Luke's Church then mingle over mulled wine and mince pies. The service will be peppered by readings from patients and hospital staff, and singing from the London Oratory Schola. This year, proceedings are going towards the hospital's gamma camera appeal, a high-quality camera which will help with faster diagnoses.
When: Tuesday 5 December, 6:30pm–8:30pm
Where: St Luke's Church, Sydney Street, London SW3 6NH
Cost: £10 – £20
FOR THE KIDS: Childline’s Merry Little Christmas Concert
The NSPCC is hosting its annual Christmas concert in the grand setting of Cadogan Hall this year, with all proceeds going towards children’s counselling service Childline. Look forward to a star-studded line up with performances from children's choirs and celebrity readers including Sir Martyn Lewis, Patricia Hodge, and NSPCC’s Ambassador for Childline Natalie Dormer.
When: Monday 27 November, 7pm
Where: Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, London SW1X 9DQ
Cost: £40 – £130
FEATURING JOANNA LUMLEY: Kids for Kids, Candlelit Christmas Concert
Now in its 23rd year, the annual Kids for Kids Candlelit Christmas Concert is once again being hosted by the enigmatic Joanna Lumley OBE, with celebrity guest appearances from Timothy West, Lord Cope of Berkeley, Bibi Heal and Stephen Barlow. Further highlights come in the form of performances from Thames Fanfare Brass and the Queen's Gate School Choirs, with harp music from Lesley Magee. Mulled wine and mince pies are included in the ticket price.
When: Wednesday 6 December, 7pm–10:30pm
Where: St Peter’s Eaton Square, 119 Eaton Square, London SW1W 9AL
Cost: £17.50 – £35
ACTORS FOR CHARITY: A Musical Theatre Christmas
There are several charity concerts being held at St Paul's Church in Covent Garden this festive season. A highlight has to be the Musical Theatre Christmas concert, featuring a glittering cast of West End performers who between them have starred in some of the best-loved shows. The concert is being hosted by comedian Sooz Kempner, with all proceeds going towards the Actors’ Church Benevolent Fund.
When: Sunday 3 December, 7:30pm
Where: St Paul's Church, Bedford Street, London WC2E 9ED
Cost: £30 – £65
PICCADILLY POMP: Christmas Carols by Candlelight
Ideal for those looking to catch some carols after a day in the office, this concert is being performed by The Piccadilly Sinfonietta in the candlelit setting of St Mary le Strand. It features a solo performance from Susan Parkes, with further acts still to be announced at the time of writing.
When: 1 & 15 December, 6pm & 8pm
Where: St Mary le Strand Church, Strand, London WC2R 1ES
Cost: £25 – £45
GOSPEL: London Community Gospel Choir at Christmas
Among the highlights to catch from the Royal Albert Hall's 2023 Christmas season is a one-night-only performance from the London Community Gospel Choir, whose astonishing, soulful harmonies promise to bring down the house once more following sell-out concerts every year since 2018.
When: Tuesday 19 December, 7:30pm–10pm
Where: Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, South Kensington, London SW7 2AP
Cost: £35+
BREATHTAKING: A Service of Lessons and Carols
Does it get more magical than Westminster Abbey at Christmas? Choirs, cloisters and poets' ghosts make for a breathtaking backdrop to the ever-popular Christmas carol services, which usually features readings from a surprise line up of famous faces. Booking opens at 9:30am and 2:30pm on Tuesday 14 & Wednesday 15 November. Click here for tickets.
When: Saturday 23 December, 4pm–5pm; Sunday 24 December, 4pm–5pm
Where: Westminster Abbey, 20 Deans Yard, Westminster, London SW1P 3PA
Cost: Free, but booking essential
CLASSIC: Advent Season at St Paul’s Cathedral
The Christmas schedule at St Paul’s Cathedral is full of concerts and events, culminating in the cathedral’s world-famous carol services on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 December. First time? Expect a great atmosphere on both afternoons, as keen carollers queue around the building, warming up their vocal cords with flasks of tea while mince-pie sellers make their way up and down the line. Entry is free and unticketed, so no need to plan too far in advance.
When: Saturday 23 & Sunday 24 December, 4pm–5pm
Where: St Paul's Cathedral, London EC4M 8AD
Cost: Free, but booking essential
RIVERSIDE RENDITIONS: Cathedral Carol Service
In the candlelit Southwark Cathedral, listen to a traditional carol concert sung by the Cathedral Great Choir.
When: Sunday 17 and Tuesday 19 December, 6pm
Where: Southwark Cathedral, London Bridge, London SE1 9DA
Cost: Free but ticketed, click here to register
ON A GRAND SCALE: Carols at the Royal Albert Hall
The largest Christmas carol concert (or series of concerts) in London is again taking place at The Royal Albert Hall, over six nights and 15 performances. Book to join the Royal Choral Society and the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain in singing world-famous carols, accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, presented by Greg Beardsell.
When: Saturday 16 – Sunday 24 December, 11am, 3pm & 7:30pm
Where: Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, South Kensington, London SW7 2AP
Cost: £20 – £117.50
EVOCATIVE: Candlelit Carols at the Barbican
It's all about atmosphere at the Barbican's candlelit carol concert. More of a formal performance than a singalong (although who knows, they might get you on your feet for the well-known favourites at the end), the concert is being performed by the Mozart Festival Orchestra under conductor Steven Devine, with soprano Harriet Eyley providing solos and Mark Williams acting as reader.
When: 22 December, 7:30pm
Where: Barbican Hall
Cost: £17.50 – £45
FAMILY FESTIVITIES: Christmas at St Martin-in-the-Fields
St Martin-in-the-Fields' hour-long carol services are a great option for young children with short attention spans. The atmospheric church, which has hosted classical concerts for over 250 years, offers carols by candlelight and a side of child-friendly entertainment. Look forward to a multiple concerts including Carols for Kids, Festive Family Carols and Carols by Candlelight, each of which features Christmas classics led by the church's vocal ensemble, St Martin’s Voices.
When: Thursday 2 – Monday 23 December, performances at various times
Where: St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross, London WC2N 4JJ
Cost: £10+ (depending on event)
ANIMAL LOVERS: Battersea Dogs and Cats Home Christmas Carol Concert
Belt out carols in Chelsea's majestic St Luke's Church then mingle over mulled wine and mince pies. The service will be peppered by readings from patients and hospital staff, and singing from the London Oratory Schola. This year, proceedings are going towards the hospital's gamma camera appeal, a high-quality camera which will help with faster diagnoses.
When: Tuesday 5 December, 6:30pm–8:30pm
Where: St Luke's Church, Sydney Street, London SW3 6NH
Cost: £10 – £20
FOR THE KIDS: Childline’s Merry Little Christmas Concert
The NSPCC is hosting its annual Christmas concert in the grand setting of Cadogan Hall this year, with all proceeds going towards children’s counselling service Childline. Look forward to a star-studded line up with performances from children's choirs and celebrity readers including Sir Martyn Lewis, Patricia Hodge, and NSPCC’s Ambassador for Childline Natalie Dormer.
When: Monday 27 November, 7pm
Where: Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, London SW1X 9DQ
Cost: £40 – £130
FEATURING JOANNA LUMLEY: Kids for Kids, Candlelit Christmas Concert
Now in its 23rd year, the annual Kids for Kids Candlelit Christmas Concert is once again being hosted by the enigmatic Joanna Lumley OBE, with celebrity guest appearances from Timothy West, Lord Cope of Berkeley, Bibi Heal and Stephen Barlow. Further highlights come in the form of performances from Thames Fanfare Brass and the Queen's Gate School Choirs, with harp music from Lesley Magee. Mulled wine and mince pies are included in the ticket price.
When: Wednesday 6 December, 7pm–10:30pm
Where: St Peter’s Eaton Square, 119 Eaton Square, London SW1W 9AL
Cost: £17.50 – £35
ACTORS FOR CHARITY: A Musical Theatre Christmas
There are several charity concerts being held at St Paul's Church in Covent Garden this festive season. A highlight has to be the Musical Theatre Christmas concert, featuring a glittering cast of West End performers who between them have starred in some of the best-loved shows. The concert is being hosted by comedian Sooz Kempner, with all proceeds going towards the Actors’ Church Benevolent Fund.
When: Sunday 3 December, 7:30pm
Where: St Paul's Church, Bedford Street, London WC2E 9ED
Cost: £30 – £65
PICCADILLY POMP: Christmas Carols by Candlelight
Ideal for those looking to catch some carols after a day in the office, this concert is being performed by The Piccadilly Sinfonietta in the candlelit setting of St Mary le Strand. It features a solo performance from Susan Parkes, with further acts still to be announced at the time of writing.
When: 1 & 15 December, 6pm & 8pm
Where: St Mary le Strand Church, Strand, London WC2R 1ES
Cost: £25 – £45
GOSPEL: London Community Gospel Choir at Christmas
Among the highlights to catch from the Royal Albert Hall's 2023 Christmas season is a one-night-only performance from the London Community Gospel Choir, whose astonishing, soulful harmonies promise to bring down the house once more following sell-out concerts every year since 2018.
When: Tuesday 19 December, 7:30pm–10pm
Where: Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, South Kensington, London SW7 2AP
Cost: £35+
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