I will be in London over Christmas this year. I have been searching for information about Christmas Eve worship services, but I haven't been able to find anything definitive. I have looked for information on Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's, but am open to other suggestions. If anyone knows specifics about where we should go, what time it starts, and if we need to book ahead, I would appreciate your help.
Thank you.
Posted by
Land of La
8710 posts
Each of their websites have the information you seek. http://www.westminster-abbey.org/whats-on/christmas-at-westminster-abbey or http://www.stpauls.co.uk/Calendar/month/1_Dec_2012 Have been to St. Paul's for midnight mass. Remember arriving an hour early and there was a queue already. Lovely service. Don't recall pre booking but it's been a few years. St. Martin of the Fields should be considered. http://www.smitf.org/event/parish-carol-service/ Lastly, check out the November issue of Timeout London. You can do so online: http://www.timeout.com/london/ Excellent travel resource. The November issue should list other church services for Christmas Eve worship. Lastly, if you aren't staying in an apartment and preparing your own Christmas feast be certain to pre book somewhere to dine on Christmas day. Will be very quiet in London on Christmas day. Very little open, public transport shut down. Personally, I find the "shutdown" refreshing. The quiet enjoyable. Have spent early Xmas morning watching the Peter Pan Cup race in Hyde Park's Serpentine, then a few hours strolling and people watching. Don't know when you'll be arriving but I suggest trying to see a Panto as well. Much fun and part of a traditional British Christmas. Again, Timeout will have a listing of them.
Posted by
Denver, Colorado, USA
713 posts
I don't think you "book" a worship service. For instance, right at Trafalgar Square is the wonderful St. Martin in the Fields church. Their online calendar mentions 3 services at different times on December 24. I didn't check to see what they say about admission and seating. The thing to remember is that public transport in London shuts down on Christmas so be prepared to walk or take cabs to get around - not sure exactly when the shutdown is, if it's right at midnight or not, but that should be easy to find. I'm sure the folks here are going to be very helpful, but you might also visit the London Forum on tripadvisor.com for more information.
Posted by
Los Angeles, California
1986 posts
There are also many other small local churches scattered around London which (vitually) all have christmas eve services that are well worth attending. Most of these have notice boards outside with the times of services.
Posted by
Ohio
12 posts
My experience: We arrived in London on Christmas Eve, 2011 and attended the 7:00 pm Carols by Candlelight program at Royal Albert Hall, which was wonderful (tickets must be purchased ahead of time as it will sell out). Since the tube had stopped running, we walked from the Hall to a local Catholic church for midnight Mass. Mass ended up lasting two full hours, which was a bit too much for my family...two musical programs in a row!
We walked back from the church in Chelsea to our hotel in Belgravia at 2:00 a.m. on Christmas Day. The streets were empty and our family of five felt surprisingly safe.