Treat your ears to carols both trad and modern at these festive songfests
Whether you’re a regular in church or only step into one occasionally to admire the architecture, we can all agree that hearing ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’ or ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’ reverberating around the spires during Yuletide just hits different. Christmas isn’t Christmas without carol concerts. In between all the of the chaos and hubbub of the festive season, from gift shopping to light displays, festivals and big events, most of the carol services offer welcome moments of respite and reflection.
London plays host to a huge variety of Christmas concerts (many of the free) in the run-up to the day. And there’s enough to suit all styles and moods, from the iconic splendour of St Paul’s annual concerts to glam charity bashes and events that highlight cultural traditions. Here’s the best of them.
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Classical music impresario Raymond Gubbay presents his annual handpicked selection of music for the festive season. Highlights include the Christmas carol singalong (Dec 20), Gustav Holsts’s The Planets (Dec 27), Beethoven's Ninth (Dec 29), the music of Zimmer vs Williams (Dec 31), and the New Year's Day Proms. All set to take place in the Barbican's lovely hall, these musical picks are a classy, Christmassy way to spend an evening.
When? Sat Dec 20 - Thur Jan 1
Price: From £18.50
Get yourself feeling ridiculously festive with an evening of carols inside Sir Christopher Wren’s architectural masterpiece, aka St Paul’s Cathedral. The legendary London landmark hosts a series of mostly free, unticketed carol concerts each year. Visit over December for a huge range of concerts, including family-friendly services, Messiaen's La Nativité du Seigneur (one of the greatest organ works of the 20th century), and traditional carols. Things kick off with an advent service on November 29. The big events to look out for are A Celebration of Christmas (Dec 9) and the Christmas Carol Services (Dec 23 and 24. The concerts are always hugely popular, so get down there early and be prepared to queue. Start practising your high notes now. You can find full information here.
When? November 29-December 25
Price: Free
Trafalgar Square’s enormous Chrisrtmas tree heralds the arrival of the festive season when it’s lit at the start of December each year, but it isn’t the only thing to admire in London’s ceremonial heartlands over the festive season. Carols are sung beneath the Christmas tree for several hours each day from the second week of December until Christmas Eve, with more than 50 local carol groups taking part each year. The hour-long sessions are free to watch, but performing groups will be taking donations for some great causes, including Mind, Samaritans, Doctors Without Borders and Crisis. Check out the full schedule of concerts here, and stop by for a wholesome little break from all that frantic last-minute gift shopping.
Find more Christmas carol concerts in London
Central London’s beautiful St Martin’s in the Field church is right next to Trafalgar Square which means every Christmas it’s in the shadow of one of London’s most impressive Christmas trees, so you can bet its programme of festive carols and services is a special one. Throughout December the church holds a wealth of events led by the famous and well-loved St Martin's Voices. Make a beeline for the Blessing of the Crib Service, which involves carols, drama and a real-life donkey, or head to one of the special ticketed concerts which range from performances from groups like the Gay Men’s Chorus to candle-lit celebrations.
When? December 2-January 3
Price: Free
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