Christmas Carols in City Churches

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 Carol Services taking place in City Churches this Christmas — from majestic buildings to tucked-away secrets. Please note that not all events taking place in the City of London are listed. We recommend checking with each individual venue for further details and in case of any changes.

Carol Services 2025

Saturday 29 November

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.

Sunday 30 November

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.

Tuesday 2 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.
7:30pm – Midweek carol service at St Helen's Church. Come with friends and colleagues for Christmas carols and a talk from the Bible. Mince pies and mulled wine served afterwards. More details on St Helen's Church website.

Wednesday 3 December

5:30pm – Advent Carol Service at St Lawrence Jewry Church. A beautiful service of carols and readings to mark the season of Advent. More details on St Lawrence Jewry’s website.
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 £15. Book now.

Tuesday 9 December

1pm - Lunchtime Carols at Christmas at Holy Sepulchre Church (near the Old Bailey). Enjoy a singalong 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 Find out more.

Wednesday 10 December

12:30pm – Community Carols at St James Garlickhythe. More information on St James Garlickhythe’s website.
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.
7:30pm – Midweek carol service at St Helen's Church. Come with friends and colleagues for Christmas carols and a talk from the Bible. Mince pies and mulled wine served afterwards. More details on St Helen's Church website.

Thursday 11 December

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.

Saturday 13 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 14 December

10:30am – Parish Carol Service at St James Garlickhythe. More information on St James Garlickhythe’s website.
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 - 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 15 December

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.
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.

Tuesday 16 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.
6pm - Livery Carol Service at St Bartholomew the Great. Admission is free but booking is essential. Booking link will be made available on St Bartholomew the Great's website.

Wednesday 17 December

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.

Thursday 18 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.
1:05pm – Parish Christmas Carol Service at St Mary Le Bow Church. Find out more at St Mary Le Bow’s website.
5:30pm – The Christmas Service at St Lawrence Jewry Church. An uplifting candlelit service of familiar carols, readings and festive music, attended by the Lady Mayor of London. More details on St Lawrence Jewry’s website.
6pm - 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.
9pm - Night-Time Medieval Carol Service at St Bartholomew the Great. A candle-lit night-time carol service from the Middle Ages, with readings from the Wycliffe Bible, set in the medieval wonder of this ancient Priory Church. Free refreshments after the service. More details on St Bartholomew the Great's website.

Friday 19 December

6:30pm - Carols in the City with the City of London Choir at St Gile's Cripplegate (Barbican). A special concert anticipating the mystery, joy and celebration of Christmas with beloved carols both new and old and audience participation. Admission from £15. Find out more and book tickets.

Saturday 20 December

3:30pm & 7pm - "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.
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.

Sunday 21 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.
4pm & 7pm - 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 22 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, but subject to ballot. Find out more on St Paul's Cathedral website.
6.30pm – French Carol Service at St Bartholomew the Great. A brand-new venture for St Bart’s, building a carol service from the French Christmas tradition. Free refreshments after the service. More information on St Bartholomew the Great's website.

Tuesday 23 December

4pm - Christmas Carol Service at St Paul's Cathedral. Free, but subject to ballot. Tickets must be booked online in advance on St Paul's Cathedral website.

Wednesday 24 December

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.
4pm - Christmas Carol Service at St Paul's Cathedral. Free, but subject to ballot. 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.

Thursday 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.

Sunday 4 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 available in the Cloister afterwards. More details on St Bartholomew the Great's website.