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 2024, including stunning settings, charity fundraisers — and the service where they welcome dogs into church.
ST PAUL'S CATHEDRAL: Age UK (5 December) and Blood Cancer UK (17 December) are among the charities which have bagged St Paul's Cathedral as the rather impressive venue for their carol concerts this year. Of course, St Paul's has its own programme of Christmas concerts and services too, including Advent carol services. From 30 November
CADOGAN HALL: Around the corner from Sloane Square, Chelsea's Cadogan Hall has a busy programme of Christmas events running throughout December. Highlights include Childline's Merry Little Christmas Show (10 December), West End Does: Christmas in Oz (1 December), and Candlelit Carols (23 December). 1-29 December
ST PAUL'S CHURCH COVENT GARDEN: It's no surprise that a venue dubbed 'the actor's church' hosts A Musical Theatre Christmas, bringing together cast members from West End musicals to raise money for The Actors' Church Benevolent Fund. A selection of other carol concerts and Christmas celebrations take place throughout late November and December too. 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. Money raised this year goes towards care for people with heart and lung conditions. 3 December. The same venue holds several other concerts, including the Asthma and Lung UK service on 2 December.
MACMILLAN CAROL CONCERT: Cancer charity Macmillan takes over Cadogan Hall for one night, for a family-friendly event hosted by Dame Joanna Lumley. Music comes from Ryan Quigley, the Vivace Chorus, and other performers. 3 December
MAYOR'S CHARITY SERVICE: The Mayor of Kensington and Chelsea holds a charity Christmas carol service at Christ Church Kensington, in aid of The Kensington + Chelsea Foundation. 3 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. (9 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 BOTOLPH WITHOUT BISHOPSGATE: Located near Liverpool Street, City church St Botolph Without Bishopsgate holds a traditional carol service to which everyone is welcome. It's followed by complimentary mulled wine and warm mince pies. 4 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, Emilia Fox, 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. 4 December
TRAFALGAR SQUARE: The Trafalgar Square Christmas tree lighting ceremony (5 December) kicks off a whole season of Christmas services and concerts at St Martin in the Fields, including choral performances and family carol concerts.
ST PETER'S CHURCH, BELGRAVIA: Charity Kids for Kids holds a Magical Candlelit Christmas Concert, attended by Timothy West and other special guests. 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. 5 December
RAINBOW TRUST: The Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity holds its 15th 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 event is hosted by radio presenter and broadcaster Jane Garvey, with special guests including actress Olivia Williams, tennis star Annabel Croft and broadcaster and award-winning journalist Angela Rippon CBE. 5 December
CHISWICK: Eamonn Holmes hosts a carol concert in aid of dog rescue charity K-9 Angels, at St Michael and All Angels Church in Chiswick. Former S Club 7 members Jo O'Meara and Jon Lee perform, along with other special guests. 5 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. 5 and 6 December
ST JOHN'S PADDINGTON: Local charity the North Paddington Foodbank holds a fundraising carol service at St John's Paddington. 6 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. 6 December
ST ANDREW HOLBORN: City Chorus perform a range of choral music, including works by Barber, Bruckner, Gjeilo, McDowall, and Sibelius, with carols for choir and audience, at St Andrew Holborn. 6 December
ALL SOULS CHRISTMAS: The All Souls Music Christmas concert has an historical aspect, taking the form of a journey through festive music, including carols, concertos and oratorios, over the past 2,000 years. From the 3rd-century Oxyrhynchus hymn, through Bach and Handel to Silent Night, and from Hark the Herald to Sir Cliff Richard's Saviour’s Day, hear them all at All Souls Langham Place, just north of Oxford Circus. 7 December
BARBICAN CHRISTMAS CONCERTS: Barbican has several traditional Christmas musical celebrations on its December programme, including A Gospel Christmas (7 December), Christmas with King's College Choir (20 December), Candlelit Carols (21 December) and a Christmas carol singalong (22 December). 7-22 December
GUARD'S CHAPEL: The Choir of the Guards' Chapel, one of the Bands of the Household Division, the Fanfare Trumpeters, and 500 members of the public sing carols together at the Guard's Chapel inside Wellington Barracks. It's a popular one so two different services take place on the same day, lunchtime and evening. 8 December. The same venue is used for the Brooke donkey and horse charity Christmas concert a few days later, celebrating the organisation's 90th anniversary. 12 December
ST JOHN'S WATERLOO: Well-known choir The Sixteen perform at United Society Partners in the Gospel Christmas carol service at St John's Waterloo. Tickets include mulled wine and mince pies. 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. Tony Mortimer of East 17 is accompanied by singers from the Latymer Prep School Choir, marking 30 years since the release of the Christmas number one, Stay Another Day. The line-up also includes performances by Jamie Cullum and Lemar, hosted by Smooth Radio presenter, Angie Greaves, with a reading by actor Jemma Redgrave. Tickets include a souvenir brochure, mulled wine and mince pie. 10 December
KNIGHTSBRIDGE: Actors Dame Imelda Staunton and Greg Wise join Angela Rippon, Joanna Gosling and friends at Carers Trust’s annual Christmas carol concert in St Paul’s Church Knightsbridge. Expect music, celebrity readings, mulled wine and mince pies. 10 December
GROSVENOR CHAPEL: The National Churches Trust hosts its annual Carols by Candlelight concert at Grosvenor Chapel in Mayfair, raising funds to support struggling churches to stay open and in use. Enjoy traditional carols by a brass band, as well as music by singer Joe Stilgoe and readings from Sir Michael Palin, Katie Derham and Bill Bryson, hosted by comedian Tim Vine. Attend in person, or sign up for the livestream, where you can make a donation alongside your free ticket. 10 December
BATTERSEA CHORAL SOCIETY: Head to Holy Trinity Church on Sloane Street for Battersea Choral Society's Christmas concert, with familiar carols performed, and audience participation very much encouraged. The event raises money for Wandsworth Music, a charity supporting children and young people learning music in the local area. 10 December
KING EDWARD VII'S HOSPITAL: St Marylebone Parish Church is the venue for King Edward VII Hospital’s Christmas Concert, with special guests (Sir Derek Jacobi CBE and Victoria Smurfit made an appearance last year). Money raised goes to the hospital's Pain Management Programme for the medical care of service men and women. 11 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. 11 December
ROYAL FOUNDATION OF ST KATHARINE: A mix of traditional carols and more modern Christmas songs is promised at the Christmas carol service at St Katharine’s Chapel in Limehouse. Singers from The Spirituals Gospel Choir at St Katharine’s lead the music, interspersed with Christmas readings, and a Christmas message and prayers led by the Master of St Katharine’s, Roger Preece. 12 December
MS SOCIETY: Westminster Chapel is the place to head for the MS Society's Carols by Candlelight. Expect choral music, special guests including actor and director Andy Serkis, Bridgerton’s Lorraine Ashbourne, Clare Balding and Downton Abbey’s Sophie McShera, as well as a silent auction. 12 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. 12 December
EALING ABBEY: Yes, there's an Abbey in Ealing, and it offers a carols by candlelight event consisting of a selection of music and readings, performed by the Ealing Abbey Choir & Orchestra. 14 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. 16 December
UNION CHAPEL: The Grade-I listed Union Chapel in Islington has several festive events going on, including its Carols by Candlelight evening, which tells the Christmas story through words, poetry, and prayer from Union Chapel Voices. FREE to attend, 22 December
