Enjoy Christmas concerts, carols by candlelight, ancient architecture and sparkling Christmas trees at one of the City’s many churches or attractions. Use the links below to see what’s on at your chosen venue:
St Paul’s Cathedral
Find St Paul's on a map.
What could be better than Christmas under the majestic dome of St Paul’s Cathedral? Here’s a taste of what’s on:
30 November to 1 December at 6pm (Sun/Mon)
Advent Procession: all welcome.
One of the year’s most dramatic services as the procession moves from darkness to light. Works and music focus on the Advent theme of life and death, heaven and hell, time and eternity, judgement and healing.
4 December at 6.30pm (Thu)
Messiah by Georg Frideric Handel: free concert (tickets must be obtained in advance; apply by sending a stamped addressed envelope to Messiah Tickets, The Chapter House, London EC4M 8AD).
Supported by Fidelity International, this performance of Handel’s hugely-popular Messiah features the Cathedral Choir and Chorus and the City of London Sinfonia. Conductred by Andrew Carwood. Retiring collection.
7 December at 6pm (Sun)
La Nativité du Seigneur by Olivier Messiaen: free recital.
Messiaen’s organ meditation on the mystery of the birth of Christ is performed by Simon Johnson. The event includes readings and prayers. Retiring collection.
11 December at 6.30pm (Thu)
Celebration of Christmas: carol service and readings.
Sponsored by Lloyds TSB, this event includes carols for the congregation and choir and features celebrity readers, the St Paul’s Cathedral Choir and the City of London Orchestra.
13 December at 5pm (Sat)
Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten: free concert.
This ever-popular work for boys’ voice and harp is performed by the choristers of St Paul’s with motets sung by the Vicars Choral. Retiring collection.
20 December at 1pm (Sat)
Family Carols.
Enjoy Christmas favourites in this service lasting 45 minutes which features carols sung by Cantate. Children especially welcome.
21 December at 6pm (Sun)
‘On Angel Wings’ by Michael Morpurgo: SOLD OUT.
A magical reading by Michael Morpurgo and Joanna Lumley of the nativity story.
23 December at 4pm (Tue)
Christmas Carol Service: all welcome.
Carols sung by the Cathedral Choir.
Christmas Eve (Wed 24 December)
4pm - Christmas Carol Service: all welcome.
Carols sung by the Cathedral Choir.
11.30pm - Midnight Eucharist: all welcome.
The ever-popular way to begin Christmas; with well-loved carols and seasonal music sung by the Cathedral Choir. The Bishop of London will preside and preach.
Christmas Day (Thu 25 December)
8am - Holy Communion: all welcome.
Book of Common Prayer.
11am - Sung Eucharist: all welcome.
Popular carols with festive Christmas music sung by the Cathedral Choir make this a joyful celebration for Christmas morning. The Bishop of London will preside and the Dean of St Paul’s will preach.
3.15pm - Festal Evensong: all welcome.
A traditional service of seasonal music and well-loved carols.
26 and 27 December at 5pm (Fri/Sat)
Music and readings for Christmas: all welcome.
Carols and seasonal music from Europe and America led by the Cathedral Consort and Musicians.
6 January at 12.30pm and 5pm (Tue)
Sung Eucharist: all welcome.
Sung by the St Paul’s Cathedral Consort (12.30pm) and the Vicars Choral (5pm)
11 January at 6pm (Sun)
Epiphanytide Procession: all welcome.
Celebration of the visit of the Magi to the infant Christ. Music is sung by the Cathedral Choir.
Christmas at Bank Churches
The Bank Churches are a group of rather wonderful churches along Cheapside. They are open every weekday and are especially active in the run up to Christmas. Here are some details of ceremonies they would like especially to welcome you to.
12 December at 1pm (Fri)
St Margaret Lothbury (Bank of England) hosts its Parish Carol Service with mulled wine and mince pies. Find St Margaret Lothbury on a map.
15 December at 1.10pm (Mon)
St Mary Woolnoth hosts its Parish Carol Service with the Choir of Queen 's College, London. Find St Mary Woolnoth on a map.
19 December at 1.05pm (Fri)
St Mary le Bow ( Cheapside) hosts its Parish Christmas Carol Service to which all are welcome. Find St Mary le Bow on a map.
Christmas Eve at 11pm (Wed 24 December)
St Vedast, Foster Lane (just off Cheapside) hosts Christmas Eve Midnight Sung Eucharist with music and mulled wine. Find St Vedast on a map.
Other City churches
The City is home to over 40 churches – many of which will be offering special Christmas services and concerts. For the fullest listings, please visit the City Events website and download their December newsletter. To whet your appetite, we’ve listed a few of the City’s more famous churches below and provided links to their websites where you’ll find the services and events they’ll be offering over the festive period:
All Hallows-by-the-Tower
Enjoy carols by candlelight and more in this, the City’s oldest church.
St Brides Church
Designed by Wren, the spire of this church is reputedly the inspiration for the modern-day, tiered wedding cake. Their renowned, professional choir will be singing at some services.
The Priory Church of St Bartholomew the Great
Featured in blockbuster films such as The Other Boleyn Girl, Shakespeare in Love and Four Weddings and a Funeral, this famous church is one of the City’s (and London’s) oldest.
Temple Church
Built in the 12th century by the Knights Templar, this church is as famous for its appearance in Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code as it is for its choir.
Special one-offs (outdoors and in)
There’s a few special one-off carol-singing experiences happening across the City this year. Check these out:
1 to 5 December at 12noon and 1.15pm (Mon-Fri)
Bank of England Museum.
Join local schools for a joyous carol celebration and a mince pie at this gem of a museum in the heart of the City. Find out more at the Bank of England Museum website.
4 December at 4pm (Thu)
Carols round the Christmas tree at the City of London Information Centre.
Join the Lord Mayor of the City of London and a special choir for the annual switch-on of the Christmas tree lights.
15 December at 7.30pm (Mon)
Bach’s Christmas Oratorio Cantata No1 at Christ Church, Spitalfields.
The Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists are at Spitalfields Winter Festival this year performing Bach’s sparkling Christmas Oratorio coupled with his Brandenberg Concertos and Motets. Conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner, the six cantatas of the oratorio are split over six evenings and thus separated as Bach intended. Visit the Spitalfields Festival website for more info.
17 December at 6.30pm and 8.30pm (Wed)
Bach’s Christmas Oratorio Cantata No 2: see entry under 15 December.
19 December at 6.30pm and 8.30pm (Fri)
Bach’s Christmas Oratorio Cantata No 3: see entry under 15 December.
20 December at 7.30pm (Sat)
Brenda Edwards’ Gospel Christmas.
Let your Christmas spirit soar at the Barbican as Brenda Edwards brings the true Xmas Factor to a sensational evening bursting with vocal power, exhilarating harmony and the very best gospel and soul rhythms. Visit the Barbican Centre’s website for further information.
22 December at 7.30pm (Mon)
Christmas Gala.
Merry festive favourites and popular carols introduced by Penny Smith and featuring exquisite soloists and the angelic voice of a boy soprano . Visit the Barbican Centre’s website for further information.
23 December at 7.30pm (Tue)
The Bach Choir: Christmas Carols.
The world-famous Bach Choir with distinguished Royal Opera House Brass soloists perform a heavenly selection of traditional music and seasonal songs. Visit the Barbican Centre’s website for further information.
5 January at 6.30pm and 8.30pm (Mon)
Bach’s Christmas Oratorio Cantata No 4: see entry under 15 December.
7 January at 6.30pm and 8.30pm (Wed)
Bach’s Christmas Oratorio Cantata No 5: see entry under 15 December.
8 January at 6.30pm and 8.30pm (Thu)
Bach’s Christmas Oratorio Cantata No 6: see entry under 15 December.