--- site: London Drum url: https://londondrum.com/events/?p=36043 canonical: https://londondrum.com/events/?p=36043 title: "Christmas Services at St Paul's & Westminster Abbey · St Paul's Cathedral, London · 24-25 Dec 2026" description: "Attend an atmospheric candlelit service and hear Christmas carols sung by the choir" author: London Drum updated: 2026-08-04 clipped: 2026-11-15 --- # Christmas services at St. Paul's & Westminster Abbey ![Christmas Services at St Paul's & Westminster Abbey](https://londondrum.com/i/eve/christmas-services.webp)
## Useful things to know before your visit Address: [St. Paul's](https://londondrum.com/attractions/st-pauls-cathedral.php), St. Paul's Churchyard, The City EC4M 8AD. Telephone: 0207 246 8350 ### What are the dates? [24th](https://londondrum.com/events/?m=24-december) to [25th December 2026](https://londondrum.com/events/?m=25-december) ### How much do the tickets cost? St. Paul's Cathedral: Free and unticketed · See [stpauls.co.uk](https://www.stpauls.co.uk/site-search?keys=christmas) · Westminster Abbey: Free, but you still need to order a ticket; See [westminster-abbey.org](https://www.westminster-abbey.org/worship-music/services-times/advent-and-christmas) ### Which buses go to St. Paul's? Bus routes 4, 8, 15, 17, 23, 25, 26, 56, 76, 100, 172, 242 and 521 all stop close by ### Which is the closest train station? The nearest station is [St. Paul's](https://londondrum.com/transport/trains.php?station=st-pauls) on the Central line. It only takes a minute to walk to St. Paul's ### Which other attractions are nearby? These attractions are all within 15 minutes walk of St. Paul's: One New Change, Postman's Park, Guildhall, Guildhall Art Gallery, London Mithraeum, St. Bartholomew-the-Great, Mansion House, Dr. Johnson's House, London Museum, Globe Theatre, Bank of England Museum, Tate Modern, Royal Exchange and Temple Church Can you imagine a more perfect way to usher in Christmas than attending a mass at [St. Paul's](https://londondrum.com/attractions/st-pauls-cathedral.php) or [Westminster Abbey](https://londondrum.com/attractions/westminster-abbey.php)? ## Christmas services at St. Paul's Cathedral ![Christmas mass inside St. Paul's Cathedral](https://londondrum.com/i/eve/christmas-mass-inside-st-pauls.webp) **Christmas Eve** - You don't have to be a member of the church to attend the _Midnight Eucharist_ (11.30 PM to 1 AM). The congregation will be invited to share in the bread and wine and if you normally receive communion in your own church you'll be welcome you to receive it here. Alternatively you can just go forward and receive a blessing instead. ![Christmas service inside St. Paul's Cathedral](https://londondrum.com/i/eve/christmas-service-inside-st-pauls.webp) The Midnight Mass is free and unticketed but space is limited so you should try and arrive as early as possible. (There's a chance that the cathedral may become full, and you don't want to be left outside at midnight!) **Christmas Day** - There are two main services to choose from on Christmas Day: _Choral Eucharist_ (11 AM to 12.30 PM) and _Festal Evensong_ (3 PM to 4 PM). ![Christmas decorations inside St. Paul's Cathedral](https://londondrum.com/i/eve/christmas-decorations-inside-st-pauls.webp) The Choral Eucharist is the main service of the day with Holy Communion and Christmas carols performed by the congregation and Cathedral Choir. The Festal Evensong is a traditional service with readings, prayers and carols sung by the Cathedral Choir. Both services are free and unticketed but space is limited so you should try and arrive early. ## Christmas services at Westminster Abbey ![Choir singing Christmas carols in Westminster Abbey](https://londondrum.com/i/eve/westminster-abbey-christmas-choir.webp) **Christmas Eve** - Make your Christmas an extra bit special by attending _Midnight Mass_ at [Westminster Abbey](https://londondrum.com/attractions/westminster-abbey.php) (11 PM to 00.30 AM). It's a traditional service with a sermon, Holy Communion and Christmas carols sung by the Abbey Choir. The service is free to attend but you still need to book a ticket beforehand. See [their website](https://www.westminster-abbey.org/worship-music/services-times/advent-and-christmas) for details. ![Westminster Abbey choir](https://londondrum.com/i/eve/westminster-abbey-choir.webp) **Christmas Day** - The _Sung Eucharist_ (10.30 AM to 12 noon) on Christmas morning includes a sermon, Holy Communion, and carols sung by the congregation and Abbey Choir. It's free to attend but you still need to book a ticket on [their website](https://www.westminster-abbey.org/worship-music/services-times/advent-and-christmas) beforehand. I've ranked Westminster Abbey as ★2 in [the historic sites I'd recommend](https://londondrum.com/planner/top-10-historic-sites.php), ★3 in [the must-see London landmarks](https://londondrum.com/planner/top-10-landmarks.php), ★4 in [the 25 things to do in London at least once](https://londondrum.com/planner/top-25-ultimate-bucket-list.php) and ★9 in [my favourite places for photos in London](https://londondrum.com/planner/top-10-places-for-photo.php)