There is a collection of certain events, experiences, sights and sounds that evoke the feeling of Christmas in an instant and deeply emotional way. Live music is high on the list of these, drawing on thousands of years of celebrations, performance and songs that have made the journey from the sacred sounds of worship to a much more secular use, lighting up public ceremonies in a communal way to bring people together during the festive season.
Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, across Europe in particular, a new culture of public concerts appeared, with Christmas concerts quickly becoming among the most popular to create annual fixtures in cultural calendars. Instantly recognisable pieces such as Handel’s Messiah and classic carols like ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’ are now ingrained into our shared understanding of this time of year. London has led the way for Christmas Concerts in modern times, utilising its excellent venue infrastructure and external, open spaces to great effect for some stirring recitals and moving performances across November and December.
Here is a collection of the very best for Christmas 2025.
John Rutter’s Christmas Celebration at the Royal Albert Hall
The composer and conductor John Rutter will be in charge of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Bach Choir for two performances on the 4th of December in this legendary venue. His signature seasonal repertoire promises to be a pleasing mix of his own works, traditional carols and a collection of lesser known pieces that are amongst his festive favourites. Classics such as Candlelight Carol and Shepherd's Pipe Carol are mixed into a set that includes light hearted numbers such as Frosty the Snowman, too.
For many in the audience, this annual concert signifies the beginning of the Christmas concert season and as such, tickets are likely to be moving fast. It offers a wonderful grand scale of experience with such stellar players and surroundings aligned with the intimacy of familiar pieces to sing along to, which is difficult to match for festive cheer. If possible, aim for centre seats to enjoy the clarity of the orchestra and voices in their true layered nuance.
Raymond Gubbay Christmas Festival at the Barbican
The Brutalist masterpiece that is The Barbican is one of London’s most important cultural landmarks and ranks amongst the biggest performing arts spaces in Europe. Every year, the impresario Raymond Gubbay creates a programme of events that use this world-class venue as a hub for festive concerts and performances to delight the capital city. In 2025, it looks to be as well thought out and connected as ever, with rousing recitals of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and Holst’s The Planets lining up alongside the participatory favourite of the Christmas Carol Singalong. This festival culminates with the New Year’s Day Proms of marches, waltzes and British hits from throughout the centuries. The incredible musicians of the London Concert Orchestra and voices from the London Concert Choir ensure that the quality is always as high as the volume, reaching to the roof and back down again. This is a mix of formal and community-driven concerts that make live classical music accessible to everybody, from old hands to the new faces of young families, in an excellent festive showcase.
St Martin -in-the-Fields Christmas Concerts
These concerts are a unique kind of performances that draw on the history and status that surrounds the St Martin-in-the-Fields church at the edge of Trafalgar Square. The space was designed by famed Baroque architect James Gibbs over 300 years ago, with a marvellous application of acoustics that eventually led to the Academy of St Martin in the Fields being founded as the global standard of chamber orchestras. Christmas concerts here run through Advent into the New Year, often augmented by scripture readings and poetry on the themes of social connection. However, the Carols by Candlelight evenings are a clear highlight when the church is illuminated only by the flicker of flames as the choir and orchestra work through interpretations of Handel, Vivaldi and Bach. Importantly, all proceeds support the church’s homeless outreach and crisis services that have a real impact on the community in the area all year round.
The Macmillan Concert at Cadogan Hall
The intimate surroundings of Cadogan Hall on Sloane Street may not have the majesty and global recognition of larger venues on the list, but it allows for amazing concerts such as this to take place, where performance and purpose come together. MacMillan have been offering vital support to cancer sufferers and their families for over a hundred years and events such as this go a long way to raising money and awareness for their fantastic cause. On Tuesday the 2nd of December, performers such as singer Nicola Emmanuelle, jazz trumpeter Ryna Quigley and the Sussex House Chapel Choir will be working from a songbook of Christmas standards that range from excerpts from The Nutcracker Suite to O Holy Night and some festive Ella Fitzgerald numbers too. It will undoubtedly sell out quickly and get the Christmas season into full swing. With Stephen Mangan acting as the host for the evening, there may also be a few more humorous moments in the mix as an added gift for the audience.
Christmas Classics at Southbank Centre
Traditions are at the heart of the Christmas spirit, and this collection of performances stands out as one of the finest there is in the whole city for a celebration of all things festive. The Royal Festival Hall is a spectacular concert space constructed in post-war modernist glory that becomes the home of the London Philharmonic Orchestra and London Philharmonic Choir on Saturday, December 13th of December followed by the Philharmonia Choir and London Youth Choirs on Sunday, the 14th of December. With near-perfect acoustics and breathtaking views over the River Thames in a winter wonderland, there is a joyous atmosphere here that combines classical spectacle with accessible live music. Sing-alongs are encouraged for classic Christmas carols, and the lyrics are even projected live to help any young voices join in the fun. For the ultimate experience, private box packages are also available with a dedicated host to take care of everything while guests immerse themselves in the music.
Christmas in London is a genuine thrill. Making any of these concerts a part of your plans is always a surefire way to raise cheer and spread the joys of the season among families and friends. They promise to bring anything but a silent night into your calendar with loud voices and beautiful songs that demand to be heard during the holiday season.
