01.11.2024 – 05.01.2025
Christmas in the City
From enchanting Christmas markets, glorious carolling, and festive feasts, the City of London has something for everyone this season.
Christmas Carol Services in Churches across the City of London
Whoever you are and whatever you believe, everyone is welcome to join carol services at the City churches. There's lunchtime and evening weekday carol services, and selected churches have Sunday advent services too, most of which are free and don't require booking.
Here's a selection of the Carol Services taking place in City Churches this Christmas - from majestic buildings, to tucked away secrets. Please check with the church directly in-case of any changes.
Carol Services 2024
Sunday 1 December
- 5pm - Advent Carols at St Bartholomew the Great. A traditional service that recounts the prophecies that the Messiah will come, and describes the visit of the Angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary to announce that she will be the Messiah’s mother. Mulled wine and mince pies available in the Cloister afterwards. More details on St Bartholomew the Great's website.
- 5:30pm - Advent Carols at St Bride's Church. A traditional service of music and readings marking the beginning of Advent and the journey towards the light and hope of Christmas. The service is open to all, ticketless and free to attend, but please reserve a spot to avoid disappointment.
- 5:30pm - Advent Carol Service at St Paul's Cathedral. One of the year's most dramatic services sung by the Choir of St Paul's Cathedral. Free and unticketed. Find out more on St Paul's Cathedral website.
Tuesday 3 December
- 6pm - Advent Carols by Candlelight at St Michael's Cornhill. In association with The Guild of Young Freemen and followed by seasonal refreshments. Find out more at St Michael's Cornhill website.
Wednesday 4 December
- 6:30pm - Handel's Messiah at St Paul's Cathedral. One of Handel’s most famous and best-loved works, performed by the world-renowned Choir of St Paul’s Cathedral, the Cathedral Chorus and the City of London Sinfonia. Tickets from £10. Book now.
Sunday 8 December
- 5pm - Mid-Advent Carols at St Bartholomew the Great. This service links the Advent season with Christmas itself. It is based on the great “O” Antiphons, which are chants used before and after the Magnificat at Vespers in the seven days leading up to Christmas Eve. Mulled wine and mince pies available in the Cloister afterwards. More details on St Bartholomew the Great's website.
- 5:30pm - Handel - Messiah (Part One) and St Bride's Church. An unforgettable evening as St Bride’s Choir and Orchestra perform Part One of Handel’s Messiah. The service is open to all, ticketless and free to attend, but please reserve a spot to avoid disappointment.
Tuesday 10 December
- 1pm - Lunchtime Outdoor Carols at Holy Sepulchre London (near the Old Bailey). Join a singalong outdoor carol service around the giant illuminated bauble. Free refreshments at the end. More details on Holy Sepulchre's website.
- 1:10pm - City lunchtime carol service at St Helen's Church. Come with friends and colleagues for Christmas carols and a talk from the Bible. More details on St Helen's Church website.
Wednesday 11 December
- 5.15pm - Carols by Candlelight at Holy Sepulchre Church (near the Old Bailey). Hear the Choir of Holy Sepulchre and Organist Joshua Ryan, directed by Peter Asprey, Director of Music. More details on Holy Sepulchre's website.
Thursday 12 December
- 5pm - Outdoor Carols at Christmas at Holy Sepulchre Church (near the Old Bailey). Enjoy a singalong outdoor carol service with guest speakers, a live band and free refreshments at the end. More details on Holy Sepulchre's website.
- 6:30pm - A celebration of Christmas at St Paul's Cathedral. Celebrity readers join the Cathedral Choir and City of London Sinfonia for a glittering evening of words, music, meditation and laughter with carols for all to sing. Tickets are free but subject to ballot (open on 30 October at 9am and close on 20 November at 9am). Find out more.
Saturday 14 December
- 5pm - Britten's Ceremony of Carols at St Paul's Cathedral. The ever-popular, inspiring work for children's voices and harp, performed by the St Paul's Cathedral Choristers alongside readings for Advent and music from the St Paul's Cathedral Vicars Choral. Free and unticketed. Find out more.
Sunday 15 December
- 3pm - Lighting of the Christmas Tree at St Paul's Cathedral - Seasonal readings and music from the Cathedral Choir frame the ceremonies of the Lighting of the Christmas Trees and the Blessing of the Crib, as the birth of Christ draws nearer. Free and unticketed. Find out more.
- 5:30pm - Britten, A Ceremony of Carols at St Bride's Church. As is traditional in Advent, St Bride’s Choir will be singing Benjamin Britten’s 'A Ceremony of Carols'. The service is open to all, ticketless and free to attend, but please reserve a spot to avoid disappointment.
Monday 16 December
- 1pm - Festival of Lessons & Carols at St Michael's Cornhill. Featuring St Michael's professional robed choir and readings from the King James Version of the Bible. Find out more at St Michael's Cornhill website.
- 6.30pm - Britten's Ceremony of Carols at St Bartholomew the Great. Service contains the entire Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten, accompanied by harp and sung by upper voices. Free refreshments after the service. More details on St Bartholomew the Great's website.
Tuesday 17 December
- 1pm - Lunchtime Carol Service at St Bartholomew the Great. A specially shortened carol service this season that has been designed to fit into the lunchtime of a busy working day. More details on St Bartholomew the Great's website.
- 1:10pm - City lunchtime carol service at St Helen's Church. Come with friends and colleagues for Christmas carols and a talk from the Bible. More details on St Helen's Church website.
- 6pm - Livery Carol Service at St Bartholomew the Great. Admission is free but booking is essential. Booking link will be made available on 19 November on St Bartholomew the Great's website.
Wednesday 18 December
- 6.30pm - "A Christmas Carol"- Dickensian Carol Service at St Bartholomew the Great. A service of readings from Charles Dickens, together with carols he would have heard and known. A special feature of this service is that descendants of Charles Dickens join the service and contribute to the readings. Free refreshments after the service. More details on St Bartholomew the Great's website.
Thursday 19 December
- 12pm & 5pm - Fleet Street Carols at St Bride's Church. A wonderful service featuring St Bride's regular brass quintet, Onyx Brass, and the phenomenal professional St Bride’s Choir. The service is open to all, ticketless and free to attend, but please reserve a spot to avoid disappointment.
- 1pm - Lunchtime Carol Service at St Bartholomew the Great. A specially shortened carol service this season that has been designed to fit into the lunchtime of a busy working day. More details on St Bartholomew the Great's website.
- 6.30pm - "Stille Nacht" - German Carol Service at St Bartholomew the Great. A service of Lessons and Carols with the music drawn from the Christmas traditions of the German-speaking countries. Free refreshments after the service. More details on St Bartholomew the Great's website.
Saturday 21 December
- 11am - Family Carols at St Paul's Cathedral. A morning carol service for all the family and suitable for all ages, featuring well-known carols for everyone to join in. Free and unticketed.
- 5pm - Christingle Service at St Bartholomew the Less (in the grounds of Barts Hospital). A service for children with carols and all the joy of oranges, candles and sweets. Book your free tickets on St Bartholomew the Great's website.
- 6pm - Carols in the City with the City of London Choir at St Gile's Cripplegate. A special concert anticipating the mystery, joy and celebration of Christmas with beloved carols both new and old, including Benjamin Britten's 'Ceremony of Carols'. Admission from £15. Find out more and book tickets.
- 6.30pm - Medieval Carol Service at St Bartholomew the Great. A carol service from the Middle Ages, with readings from the Wycliffe Bible, set in the medieval wonder of this ancient Priory Church. Period instruments will accompany the choir, and the congregation will join in with some of the hymns of the era. Free refreshments after the service. More details on St Bartholomew the Great's website.
Sunday 22 December
- 5pm - Nine Lessons and Carols at St Bartholomew the Great - one of their biggest services of the year, takes its inspiration from the Christmas Eve service held every year at King’s College, Cambridge. Admission is free but arriving early is advised. More information on St Bartholomew the Great's website.
- 5:30pm - Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at St Bride's Church. The chance during Advent to hear the full biblical story of the prophecy and birth of Christ interspersed with carols and anthems. The service is open to all, ticketless and free to attend, but please reserve a spot to avoid disappointment.
Monday 23 December
- 4pm - Christmas Carol Service at St Paul's Cathedral. Free, but subject to ballot (open on 30 October at 9am and close on 20 November at 9am). Tickets must be booked online in advance on St Paul's Cathedral website.
- 6.30pm - A Star-Spangled Christmas- American Carol Service at St Bartholomew the Great. This service uses the American tunes where they differ, as well as choir carols written or arranged by American composers or used extensively in the USA. Free refreshments after the service. Book your free tickets on St Bartholomew the Great's website.
Tuesday 24 December
- 4pm - Christmas Carol Service at St Paul's Cathedral. Free, but subject to ballot (open on 30 October at 9am and close on 20 November at 9am). Tickets must be booked online in advance on St Paul's Cathedral website.
- 4:30pm - Sing Choirs of Angels at St Bride's Church. A service of seasonal music, readings and poetry creating a celebratory yet reflective atmosphere ahead of the big day. The service is open to all, ticketless and free to attend, but please reserve a spot to avoid disappointment.
- 11:30pm - Christmas Eve Midnight Mass at St Bride's Church. A special late night service sharing in the anticipation of the joy of Christmas and celebrating its message of good news. The service is open to all, ticketless and free to attend. No registration is required. Find out more.
Wednesday 25 December
- 11am - Christmas Day Family at St Bride's Church. Amidst the whirl of excitement of Christmas morning, take time to reflect on the wonder and hope that the birth of Christ brings to us all at our Family Communion Service. The service is open to all and free to attend. No registration is required. Find out more.
- 3pm - Christmas Day Festal Evensong at St Paul's Cathedral. The traditional, famous and uplifting service of Evensong sung by the St Paul's Cathedral Choir. Free and unticketed. Find out more on St Paul's Cathedral website.
Sunday 5 January
- 5pm - Epiphany Carols at St Bartholomew the Great. Celebrate the Epiphany and the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas with music and readings associated with the journey of the Magi and the manifestation of Christ to the world. Mulled wine and gallettes des rois available in the Cloister afterwards. More details on St Bartholomew the Great's website.
