London Christmas Carol Concerts 2014

COSA STATE ASPETTANDO?!?!

St Martins In The Field

This church overlooking Trafalgar Square has an admirable programme of Christmas concerts and services coming up, but our pick is Advent Carols by Candlelight, which marks the start of the Advent season with a selection of choral music and hymns by London Concert Choir. Tickets £26.10-£29
7.30pm, 29 November

Greenwich

Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice hosts a festive concert in the 18th century Chapel of the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich.  With a mix of choir and congregational carols, the concert will also feature a torch-lit procession by the 3rd Greenwich Park Girl Guides and personal readings by the Mayors of Greenwich and Bexley. A pre-concert drinks reception in the Queen Mary Undercroft will start off the evening, with festive drinks and mince pies. Tickets are £20 and need to be prebooked.
7pm, 30 November

Carols by Candlelight

Carols by Candelight concerts are almost two-a-penny in London, but the Prostate Cancer UK concert at St Paul’s Church in Knightsbridge has some famous faces scheduled to perform readings, including Sir Michael Parkinson and Zoë Wanamaker. Music will be a mixture of traditional and modern carols by Tiffinians and Voce Chamber Choir, directed by Suzi Digby OBE. The Singology Choir will be guiding the audience through some gospel pieces.  Tickets are £15 for adults/£10 for children, and need to be prebooked, with all money going to Prostate Cancer UK.
7pm, 3 December

Tower of London

Street Child’s Christmas carol concert takes place in the prestigious Chapel Royal at the Tower of London. Mince pies and mulled wine help bring the carol service to life, and money raised goes towards the Ebola Crisis Appeal. Tickets are £20, available here.
6.30pm, 4 December

Calendar Boys!

The fabulous London Gay Men’s Chorus take over Cadogan Hall with their always entertaining take on Christmas favourites and some more left-field musical choices. Famed for their superb choreography, this show is themed around the idea of opening an advent calendar — with surprises behind each door! Tickets are £15-38 (best buy them quick — last year’s show was a sell-out) available here.
7.30pm, on both 5 and 6 December

Battersea Dogs

The Battersea Cats and Dogs Home annual Carol Concert had us at “festive dog Guard of Honour”. Current Battersea dogs will be welcoming visitors to the service and joining in the festive fun. Head along to St Luke’s Church on Sydney Street in Chelsea to deck the halls with bow-wows of holly. Mulled wine and mince pies will be served to humans. Tickets are £20 for adults, £10 for children, with money raised going towards caring for the animals.
7pm, 8 December

Air Ambulance

St Stephen Walbrook Church near Cannon Street (another of Sir Christopher Wren’s works) is the venue for London’s Air Ambulance’s Christmas Carol Concert. Music is provided by three choirs: the Hogan Lovells Choir, City of London School for Girls Choir and The Barts and The London’s Music Society. Actress Donna Air, BBC presenter Victoria Hollins and Lady Moss, wife of Sir Stirling Moss, narrate the story of Christmas, and there’s a special festive sermon delivered by the Bishop of London. Tickets are £25 and need prebooking.
6pm, 10 December

Westminster Abbey Choir

Like the idea of  Abbey choir music but don’t fancy the overwhelming setting of Westminster Abbey? Get thee to Cadogan Hall in Chelsea, where the Choir of Westminster Abbey perform a rare concert away from their usual territory. Tickets range from £18-£30 and need to be prebooked
7.30pm, 11 December

Rat Pack

If traditional carols aren’t your thing, Cadogan Hall’s The Rat Pack at Christmas sees festive classics, including White Christmas, Baby It’s Cold Outside, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas and Let It Snow performed by The Definitive Rat Pack, accompanied by Manhattan Swing Orchestra. Prebook tickets (£29.50-£34.50).
7.30pm, 13 December

Wintershall Nativity

For one day only, the Wintershall Nativity leaves its home in Surrey for two performances at BBC Broadcasting House Piazza on Langham Place. Why so special? The 70-strong cast includes musicians, choristers… and live farmyard animals. Sheep and donkeys help tell the Christian story of Christmas. Tickets are £19.50 for adults and £10 for children. We recommend booking early.
4pm/6.30pm, 17 December

St Paul’s Family Carols

If it’s an astounding location you’re looking for, you can’t beat St Paul’s Cathedral. Wren’s masterpiece hosts several special services and carol concerts in December, including several charity events, but the one that stands out for us is the Family Carol Concert. At just 45 minutes long, it’s perfect for children. The event is free and unticketed, but has been extremely popular in recent years, and once the 2,400 capacity is reached, that’s it. Doors open one hour before the service – there’s more info here.
11am, 20 December

This is just a small selection of the many carol concerts going on in London in the run-up to Christmas. Let us know about others in the comments below.

Il mio preferito è quello di St Paul….fa veramente bene all’anima ❤