Christmas Concert

Christmas Concert

Date Time Location Price
Wednesday, 20th December 2023 7.00pm - 8.20pm The Abbey £15 - £45 Buy tickets via St John's Smith Square

A feast of seasonal music from the Choir of Westminster Abbey.

Drawing inspiration from the traditional Festival of Lessons and Carols, the Choir of Westminster Abbey presents an enticing Christmas programme featuring festive choral works interspersed with much-loved carols and seasonal readings telling the story of the Nativity. The centrepiece of the programme is Benjamin Britten’s magical Ceremony of Carols for treble voices and harp, performed by the Abbey Choristers with harpist Anne Denholm.

The Choir of Westminster Abbey is renowned worldwide as one of the finest ensembles of its type, its repertoire extending from plainsong and Renaissance polyphony to twentieth-century masterpieces and new commissions. In addition to singing the daily services, as it has done since the fourteenth century, the Choir plays a central role in the many royal and state occasions which are held in the Abbey, most recently the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and The Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

This concert takes place thanks to the generous support of David Keltner and the late Patricia Owen Keltner

Performers

The Choir of Westminster Abbey
Peter Holder - organ
Anne Denholm - harp
Andrew Nethsingha - conductor

What the critics say

“The Christmas Eve carol service at Westminster Abbey is one of the most warming events in the festive calendar … The singing is a constant delight.”
The Daily Telegraph

Tickets

  • Reserved seating - £45, £36, £30 
  • Restricted view £25
  • Very restricted view - £20
  • No view (unreserved) - £15

There is a £3.00 transaction fee.

Attending the concert

Timings

  • Doors open at 6.15pm and the concert will begin at 7.00pm.
  • There will be no interval and the performance will end at around 8.20pm.
  • Latecomers will be admitted but may not be able to occupy their allocated seats until a suitable break in the performance.

Access and security

  • Entry to Westminster Abbey is via the Great West Door
  • Your bag will be searched and we ask you not to bring any large items with you (for example suitcases, large backpacks or folding bicycles) as these will not be allowed inside and we are unable to store them for you.

Filming and photography

Please note that photography, filming and sound recording are not permitted at Abbey concerts.

Food and drink

The Cellarium Café and Terrace will be open from 5.00pm–6.45pm serving a two-course Christmas menu (last orders 6.15pm) and pre-concert drinks and snacks.

Call 020 7222 0516 or email [email protected] to book.

General

  • Older children are very welcome at our evening concerts but we do not recommend them for children under the age of six.
  • While concerts provide an excellent opportunity to enjoy the Abbey’s special atmosphere and magnificent architecture, the church is not open for visiting on concert evenings. Find out how to plan your visit.