The best Christmas carol services and concerts in London for 2026

Kensington’s grand Italianate music hall is quite possibly the most iconic place in London to enjoy a Christmassy concert. Join the crowd for its classic carol-singing knees up, the week before Christmas. In the week before the big day, it'll host 15 concerts, with slots at 11am, 3pm and 7.30pm so you can easily fit them into your busy festive schedule. This year, there'll be performances from Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, National Youth Choir, Royal Choral Sociey, and British Imperial Military Band, plus various presenters and soloists..

When? December 19-24

Price: From £21.50

Christmas might be the merriest time of year, but it can also be one of the most stressful. Dashing around Oxford Circus, trying to get suitable presents for everyone while fighting the crowds of others doing the same? Nightmare. At nearby All Souls Langham Place, though, you’ll find carol services ready to soothe your shopping stress and remind you of the real magic of Christmas. A stunning choir will be performing some of the season’s best-loved songs under twinkling lights and mirrorball (not something every church boasts), while the services will wrap up with complimentary mince pies and hot Christmas punch. There’ll be three hour-long concerts a day across eight dates. The cherry on top? Entry is completely free. No wonder the church advises arriving 30 minutes early to make sure you can get in.

When? December 12-23

Price: Free

The Macmillan Christmas Carol Concert is a star-studded affair, with some of the biggest names in arts and entertainment lending their talents to this festive charity bash. This year's line-up will include Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty, performed by Adam Johnson’s orchestra, the Vivace Chorus, soprano Abigail Iveson Wiegold and jazz trumpet superstar Ryan Quigley.The event is all in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, so you can do a festive good deed while having a jolly night out. 

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 advent services on November 28 and 29 (free unticketed). Then, the big events to look out for are A Celebration of Christmas (Dec 10) and the Christmas Carol Services (Dec 23 and 24, free ticketed). 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. 

Not everyone is lucky enough to have somewhere cosy to enjoy Christmas from, and that includes some of our four-legged friends. Help the famous Battersea Dogs & Cats Home continue to do its work rescuing London’s strays while belting your heart out in a Chelsea church – a guaranteed festive and feel good time. Carols will be performed by the Collegium Music of London Chamber Choir (CML) and the night will end with a round of mulled wine and mince pies, plus the chance to raise even more funds from charity stalls.

There are few more magnificent places in London for a singalong than the Old Royal Naval College’s neo-classical Chapel of St Peter & St Paul. In this afternoon service led by the Trinity Laban Choir, classic Yuletide hymns will reverberate off the chapel’s gilded ceiling and stunning naval motifs. Even if you’re not local to Greenwich, this concert is worth travelling for as the ticket also includes entry to the building’s spectacular Painted Hall (known as ‘Britain’s Sistine Chapel’), which currently features Peter Walker's installation 'Peace Doves'.

Every year, Childline’s Carol Concert raises thousands and thousands of pounds for the NSPCC’s listening service. There will be readings, musical performances and, of course, plenty of opportunities for the audience, armed with a complimentary mince pie and glass of fizz, to singalong. Expect appearances from several famous faces, including actor and children’s author Ben Miller, ex-Sugababe Heidi Range, actress Gwyneth Strong, classical singer Ellen Williams and members of the Call the Midwife cast.