London Evensong: Where to Hear It, Ranked
Updated October 27, 2026
Choral Evensong is the Church of England's sung evening service, and London is one of the best places in the world to hear it. Every service below is free and open to everyone; you do not need a ticket. The two big names, Westminster Abbey and St Paul's Cathedral, sing it on most days. Southwark Cathedral is the quieter choice south of the river, and Temple Church sings it once a week. Westminster Cathedral is Catholic, so its evening service is Vespers, not Evensong. This list is ranked by how easy each one is for a visitor to fit into a day. Times change for feasts, holidays and special services, so check each church's own listing for your day.
- #1
Westminster Abbey
Evensong in the Quire where monarchs are crowned, free and unticketed
The usual pattern is Evensong at 5pm on weekdays and 3pm on Sunday, sung in the Quire. In the week of 25 October 2026, it was sung at 5pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Wednesday at 5pm was said Evening Prayer with no choir. Weekday Evensong is usually sung by the Lay Vicars and on some days by the full Choir of Westminster Abbey: up to 30 boys and 12 adult singers. Enter by the Great West Door, not the visitor entrance. Arrive early and expect a security check. Photography is not allowed during services. Times change at short notice, so check the Abbey's service listing for your day. More in our guide to Evensong at Westminster Abbey.
- #2
St Paul's Cathedral
The longest weekly schedule, under Wren's dome
St Paul's says its Choral Evensong is on most days at 5pm, and at 3pm on Sunday. It lasts around 45 minutes and is free and unticketed. It follows the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, and you can follow along with a printed order of service. The service is held on the Cathedral Floor. St Paul's is in the City of London, about 30 minutes from Westminster Abbey by Tube.
- #3
Southwark Cathedral
A later weekday start, by London Bridge
Southwark Cathedral's November 2026 listings show Choral Evensong at 5:30pm on weekdays and 3pm on Sunday, with no regular Saturday Evensong. Different choirs sing on different days, including the Cathedral Choir, the Schola Cantorum and the Lay Clerks. The cathedral says admission to services is free and everyone is welcome. The later weekday start helps if you spend the afternoon at the Tower of London or Borough Market.
- #4
Westminster Cathedral (sung Vespers)
The Catholic evening service, 15 minutes' walk from the Abbey
Westminster Cathedral is Catholic, so it sings Vespers, the Catholic evening office, rather than Evensong. Its choir describes itself as the only Catholic cathedral choir in the world to sing daily Mass and Vespers. The choir has up to 20 boy trebles and altos and ten professional Lay Clerks. The cathedral does not publish Vespers times on its main pages. Check its liturgical calendar for the time on your day. Entry to the cathedral is free.
- #5
Temple Church
One Evensong a week, in a 12th-century round church
Temple Church lists Choral Evensong on Wednesdays at 6pm. It holds no services in August and September. Some Evensongs are sung by the Temple Church Choir and some by other choirs. The church stands between Fleet Street and the Thames, inside the Inner and Middle Temple. Check its weekly services page before you go.
- #6
The Chapel Royal, St James's Palace
Not Evensong, but a sung royal service on Sunday mornings
The Chapel Royal is a working chapel inside the grounds of St James's Palace. The royal family's website says its sung services are open to the public every Sunday morning, except in August and September and on the Sundays after Easter and Christmas. It does not list a weekly Evensong. Go if you want to hear the Chapel Royal choir, and plan an Evensong elsewhere for the afternoon.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best Evensong in London?
For most visitors, Westminster Abbey or St Paul's Cathedral. Both sing it on most days, both are free, and neither needs a ticket. Southwark Cathedral is quieter, with a 5:30pm weekday start in its November 2026 listings.
Is Evensong free in London?
Yes. Westminster Abbey, St Paul's and Southwark Cathedral all say their services are free, and you do not need a ticket. Westminster Cathedral is free to enter, so its Vespers costs nothing either.
What time is Evensong at Westminster Abbey?
The usual pattern is 5pm on weekdays (Wednesday is often said Evening Prayer, with no choir) and 3pm on Sunday. Times change, so check the Abbey's service listing for your day.
Is Evensong the same as Vespers?
They are related but not the same. Evensong is the Church of England's sung evening service from the Book of Common Prayer. Vespers is the Catholic evening office, sung daily at Westminster Cathedral.
Can tourists go to Evensong?
Yes. Everyone is welcome. Arrive early, dress smartly, turn your phone off and do not take photos. At Westminster Abbey, use the Great West Door, not the visitor entrance.
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