You could attend a carol concert every day in December, and still not experience all the Silent Nights and Away In A Mangers London has to offer. We've put together our pick of carol concerts in the capital for Christmas 2025, including stunning settings, charity fundraisers — and the service where they welcome dogs into church.
CADOGAN HALL: Around the corner from Sloane Square, Chelsea's Cadogan Hall has a busy programme of Christmas events running throughout December. Highlights include The Macmillan Carol Concert (2 December), The Kingdom Choir (8 December) and West End Does: Christmas (14 December). 24 November-30 December.
ST PAUL'S CHURCH COVENT GARDEN: It's no surprise that a West End venue dubbed 'the actor's church' goes big on music at Christmas. London Transport's Choir (4 December), the New London Singers (7 December) and the Covent Garden Musical Theatre Choir (9 December) are among the performance groups getting their moment in the spotlight. Fundraising concerts for the Royal Theatrical Fund (5 December), The Mace Foundation (9 December) and The Food Chain (16 December) are also on the programme. A selection of other carol concerts and Christmas celebrations take place throughout late November and December too. 26 November-22 December
ST PAUL'S CATHEDRAL: Several charities usually hold their fundraising concerts in the spectacular surrounds of St Paul's Cathedral — we're currently awaiting details for 2025. Of course, St Paul's has its own programme of Christmas concerts and services too, including Advent carol services. From 29 November
ACTION SYRIA CAROLS: Action Syria, a small UK charity that works with local partners to make sure Syrian communities have the medical care and education they need, holds a fundraising carol concert at Bartholomew the Great to kick December off. Expect candlelit carols, celebrity readings, and spectacular performances, followed by a drinks reception and Middle-Eastern food. 1 December
ST LUKE'S CHURCH, CHELSEA: The Royal Brompton Hospital Charity holds its Carols by Candlelight concert, with readings from patients and staff, and singing by the London Oratory Scholars choir, and patient choir Singing For Breathing. Money raised this year goes towards care for people with heart and lung conditions. 2 December
MACMILLAN CAROL CONCERT: Cancer charity Macmillan takes over Cadogan Hall for one night, for a family-friendly event. Music comes from Ryan Quigley, Nicola Emmanuelle, and Adam Johnson and his orchestra. 2 December
ROYAL ALBERT HALL: As ever, London's fanciest concert hall comes into its own at Christmas. Here are some of the highlights of its festive programme:
- Christmas with the Salvation Army includes performances by the charity's bands and singers, special readings and carol singing. (3 December)
- Christmas with the Royal Choral Society, a group which has been performing at the RAH since 1872. They're accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra as they perform traditional carols such as Silent Night, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and O Come all Ye Faithful. Baritone Roderick Williams and comedian Sue Perkins are scheduled to take part this year (15 December)
- Carols at the Royal Albert Hall is the final countdown to Christmas, with up to three performances a day. Join in with festive favourites at these family-friendly events. (14-24 December)
ST MARYLEBONE PARISH CHURCH: The Sick Children's Trust charity holds the Together at Christmas fundraising concert at St Marylebone Parish Church. Alice Beer, Tim Downie, Jenni Falconer, The London Show Choir, The Toffee Bear Choir and Christina Johnston are among the celebs and performers on the programme this year, offering a mix of readings and solo and group performances. 3 December
TRAFALGAR SQUARE: The Trafalgar Square Christmas tree lighting ceremony (4 December) kicks off a whole season of Christmas services and concerts at St Martin in the Fields, including choral performances and family carol concerts. 2-31 December
ST PETER'S CHURCH, BELGRAVIA: Charity Kids for Kids holds a Magical Candlelit Christmas Concert, with a reading by Joanna Lumley, and other special guests in attendance. Add in a trumpet fanfare, school choirs, mince pies and mulled wine, and you've got the full yule experience. The event raises money to support children and their families living in the remote villages of Darfur, Sudan, who face ongoing war. 4 December
MS SOCIETY: Central Hall Westminster is the place to head for the MS Society's Carols by Candlelight. Expect choral music, special guests including Nicola Walker and Ledley King as well as a silent auction. 4 December
RAINBOW TRUST: The Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity holds its 16th annual celebrity-studded carol concert at St. Paul’s Church, Knightsbridge to raise funds to support families caring for a life threatened or terminally ill child. The Elstree School Chapel Choir leads the music, with festive performances and celebrity readings (names to be revealed) sprinkled throughout the evening. 4 December
BATTERSEA CAROLS: We shouldn't have favourites, we know, but we do have a soft spot for the Battersea Christmas Carol Concert, not least because they bring dogs into the church to form a canine guard of honour. Naturally, money raised goes back into the work Battersea does for dogs and cats, and there's a chance to purchase Battersea-themed gifts at the end of the concert. Really though, we're here for the pooches. Takes place at St Luke's Church, Chelsea, and it's so popular, there are three events this year. 4, 5 and 12 December
SAVE THE CHILDREN: Save the Children ambassador, musician and presenter Myleene Klass performs at the charity's Christmas carol concert, a festive event at St Paul's Church in Knightsbridge. Also on the programme: timeless Christmas carols, various musical performances, special readings by celebrity guests, and a chance to hear about the work Save the Children does in the UK and around the world. 5 December
KINGDOM CHOIR: Gospel group The Kingdom Choir — who performed at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding — give a one-off Christmas performance at Cadogan Hall, offering their own take on festive classics. 8 December
NORDOFF & ROBBINS: Music therapy charity Nordoff & Robbins takes over St Luke's Church in Chelsea for an evening of traditional carols interspersed with superstar performers, hosts and celebrity readers. Singer Katie Melua headlines this year, with more star performers to be announced. 9 December
KNIGHTSBRIDGE: The Carers Trust’s annual Christmas carol concert returns to St Paul’s Church Knightsbridge. Expect music, celebrity readings, mulled wine and mince pies, exact line-up TBC. 9 December
SEASON OF THE SONG: Music academy World Heart Beat holds is Season of the Song Christmas concert at Embassy Gardens in Nine Elms. Mince pies, mulled wine and hot chocolate are served, with money raised giving young people living in difficult circumstances an opportunity to learn music. 9 December
CHILDLINE'S CAROL CONCERT: Presenter Kate Lawler hosts as actors Ben Miller, Gwyneth Strong, and Chris Harper, and musicians including former Sugababe Heidi Range, classical singer Ellen Williams, and a BBC Young Chorister of the Year all take part in Childline's carol concert at Holy Trinity Church on Sloane Square. 11 December
CAROLS AND ICES: Experience Christmas carols sung from within the ice wells at London Canal Museum — a unique and atmospheric take on a carol concert. The Carols and Ices evening at the King's Cross museum also features boat trips on the canal at night, and Victorian ice cream-making demonstrations. 11 December
ALL SOULS CAROLS: Last year, more than 14,000 people enjoyed (FREE!) carol services at All Souls Langham Place (near Oxford Circus), and the event is back across five evenings this year. Experience the Nativity story told through music and festive readings, with a live choir and orchestra performing, and free mince pies and warm Christmas punch available after the service. 13, 14, 18, 20, 21 December
ALEXANDRA PALACE: The Philharmonia Orchestra’s brass ensemble puts a lively twist on Christmas music at the Alexandra Palace Theatre, performing a mix of carols and festive music. 15 December
CYSTIC FIBROSIS TRUST: Jenny Agutter, David Haig, Synnove Karlsen and Luke Martineau are among the celebrity speakers at the Cystic Fibrosis Trust's Carols by Candlelight, taking place at St Luke's in Chelsea. 16 December
LONDON ORATORY: Intrigued by the fancy-looking building next to the V&A on Brompton Road? It's the London Oratory, an ornate church with its own choir, Schola Cantorum of the London Oratory, who perform at its annual carol service. 17 December
