FAQs: Christmas services and events
FAQs: Christmas services and events
We look forward to welcoming you safely this Advent and Christmas. Here is some useful information about what to expect when attending one of our Advent and Christmas services or events.
Yes, throughout December, regular daytime opening hours and service times may vary. Please check our What’s on calendar and Service Schedule for details of services and sightseeing opening times.
Our in-house ticketed events in 2025 are: Handel's Messiah on 3rd December, A Celebration of Christmas on 9th December, Family Carols on 20th December, and the Christmas Carol Services at 4pm on 23rd and 24th December.
All other Advent and Christmas services and events are unticketed and free of charge.
Please note that seating is unreserved for all these events except Handel's Messiah.
Please find more information about these events on our Advent and Christmas page.
Tickets for Handel's Messiah will be on sale soon.
This year, tickets for A Celebration of Christmas on 9th December, Family Carols on 20th December, and the 4pm Christmas Carol services on 23rd and 24th December, will be distributed through a free ballot system. The ballot will be open in November and announced on our social media and website.
Over the past few years, our Christmas services have grown in popularity creating an unprecedented demand for tickets. We are grateful for feedback from members of the public and want to make attending our Christmas ticketed events fairer for all.
For our 2025 ticketed Christmas services: A Celebration of Christmas on 9th December, Family Carols on 20th December, and our 4pm Christmas Carol services on 23rd and 24th December, we are opening a free ticket ballot to distribute tickets more fairly. The ballot system will allow anyone to enter and will choose successful entries at random, no matter when you entered. If you are successful in the ballot, you will be able to book two tickets (with the exception of Family Carols, which will give you the opportunity to book up to five tickets).
We hope this will give everyone who enters a fairer opportunity to attend one of our ticketed Christmas services and events this year.
The ballot will open soon – follow our social media and check our website for updates.
The free ticket ballot includes our ticketed Christmas Services: A Celebration of Christmas on 9th December, Family Carols on 20th December, and our 4pm Christmas Carol services on 23rd and 24th December.
The ballot will open soon – follow our social media and check our website for updates.
Anyone can enter the free ballot tickets to our ticketed Christmas Services: A Celebration of Christmas on 9th December, Family Carols on 20th December, and our 4pm Christmas Carol services on 23rd and 24th December.
Links to enter the ballot can be found on each balloted ticketed event on the Advent and Christmas page once the ballot is open. You can only enter the ballot once for each ticketed event.
If your ballot entry is successful, you will receive an email after the ballot has closed. Successful entrants will have seven days to claim their tickets.
For Family Carols, you will be able to book up to five tickets. For all other balloted events and services, you will be able to book up to two tickets.
Any unclaimed tickets after the seven days will be made available for general release the following day.
The ballot will open soon – follow our social media and check our website for updates.
Seven days after the ballot closes, we will release unclaimed tickets for members of the public to book through our website.
Tickets may also become available later if returns are made due to cancellations.
If your child is under two years old and will sit on a lap, they do not need a ticket. Children over two years old will need a ticket.
Yes, for some of our Advent and Christmas services and events, queues will develop outside prior to the Cathedral doors opening. For this reason, we advise you to arrive in good time, and dress for the weather, including warm/waterproof clothing and bringing umbrellas.
Doors for all special services and events open one hour before the listed start time. For services for which you have a ticket, please arrive in good time and make sure you are seated 15 minutes before the service or event to guarantee your seats.
Seating is available on a first come, first served basis. To help us ensure everyone is seated fairly, we kindly ask that groups enter the Cathedral together and are seated 15 minutes prior to the start time. Please note that once the service begins, entry will close so that the service can continue without interruption.
For those with access needs and their carers our accessible entrance is via the North Transept. Find out more on our Accessibility page.
For those who use walking aids or rollators and who have not booked a wheelchair user ticket at a ticketed event, please sit near to the closest pillar where there is room to keep your walking aid nearby. Please do not store walking aids in an aisle where they could block an exit.
Yes, toilet facilities will be available. Please ask a member of staff or a volunteer, who will signpost you to the nearest available facilities.
If you wish to keep your pram or buggy nearby during the service, we recommend sitting close to a pillar. Please do not place buggies or prams in an aisle where they could block an exit.
There are no cloakroom facilities at the Cathedral. We kindly ask that you do not bring bags unless necessary, and to keep all personal belongings to a minimum, as you will need to keep these with you at all times.
If you do need to bring a bag with you, please be aware that the maximum size permitted is 450 x 300 x 250mm.
The safety and security of all our worshippers, visitors, staff and volunteers is of the utmost importance to us. We have a variety of security measures in place to keep you safe and work closely with the City of London police and other security partners. Security screening and bag checking will be in operation at all times. Our friendly and approachable staff will be on hand to help you during your visit.
Find out more on our safety and security page.
For copyright reasons, and to protect the privacy of others, filming and photography are not permitted during any of our services and events.
We kindly ask that you do not bring opened food and drink to the service or event.
Advent and Christmas
Find information about all the services and concerts taking place at St Paul's Cathedral this Advent and Christmas.