If you're anywhere near Oxford Circus on 19, 20 or 21 December, there's a good chance you'll hear carols drifting above the noise of last-minute shopping. That'll be All Souls Langham Place, whose annual free carol services have quietly become a fixture of the London festive calendar.
Held inside the striking John Nash church just off Regent Street, the hour-long services mix classic carol sing-alongs with nativity readings, choral performances and a full orchestra.
There's no booking, and entry is first-come, first-served, so turning up early is sensible. If it fills up, which it often does, the entire service is shown on a giant screen outside, complete with complimentary mince pies and hot Christmas punch to keep spirits high. With thousands attending each year, it's less a quiet church service and more a shared London moment, unfolding right in the middle of the West End.
Here are the remaining service dates and times to catch over the final festive weekend:
- Thursday 18 December: 1.05pm, 5.30pm, 7.30pm
- Saturday 20 December: 3.30pm, 5.30pm, 7.30pm
- Sunday 21 December: 9.30am, 5.30pm, 7.30pm