Yes, with caveats
Westminster Abbey at Christmas: Services and Tickets
Updated October 27, 2026
Quick answer
At Christmas, Westminster Abbey holds carol services and Christmas services that are free but, for the biggest ones, ticketed. The Abbey's FAQ lists Lessons and Carols on 23 and 24 December and the Christmas midnight service on 24 December as services you must book. For 2026, the Abbey says Lessons and Carols tickets will be released on Monday 16 and Wednesday 18 November at 9:30am and 2:30pm. Service times for Christmas 2026 were not yet published on 27 October 2026. Most other services stay unticketed, and sightseeing continues Monday to Saturday unless the Abbey announces a closure.
December at a glance
Crowds: high- High
- 7.9°C
- Low
- 3°C
- Rain
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
December in London averages highs of 7.9C and lows of 3C, with 63 mm of rain over about 12 wet days. Mid-December daylight runs from about 7:59am to 3:51pm, the shortest of the year. Crowd level reflects the Abbey's note that school holidays are among its busiest times and the demand for its Christmas services.
Climate data: Open-Meteo climate normals 1991–2020 (MRI_AGCM3_2_S)
Carol services and how to get a place
The Abbey's Lessons and Carols services on 23 and 24 December are ticketed. The Abbey says services are free of charge, but these two must be booked in advance. For 2026, the Abbey says tickets will be released on Monday 16 November and Wednesday 18 November, at 9:30am and 2:30pm. Bookings go through Eventbrite, linked from the event pages on the Abbey's site. You can book up to two tickets per application, and the Abbey may cancel large numbers of applications. Tickets cannot be exchanged. If a service sells out, join the waiting list: it holds up to 10 people, and you get eight hours to claim a place when one is released.
Christmas Eve and the midnight service
On Christmas Eve the Abbey holds its Christmas midnight service, which the Abbey's FAQ calls Christmas Midnight Mass. In 2025 it was listed as the Sung Eucharist of Christmas Night, sung by the Choir of Westminster Abbey, with attendance by free ticket only. Expect the same booking route for 2026: a free ticket through the Abbey's event pages. The start time for 2026 was not published when this page was written. Check the Abbey's Advent and Christmas page in November. Services are also streamed and can be watched on the Abbey's website.
Christmas Day services
Christmas Day 2026 falls on a Friday. The Abbey holds a Christmas Day Sung Eucharist. One version of its Christmas FAQ lists it as ticketed and another does not, so check the event page before you go. The Abbey has also held Christmas Day Evensong in past years. Most of the Abbey's services are not ticketed: arrive early, enter by the Great West Door, expect a security check, and dress smartly. Photography is not allowed during services. A historical footnote: William the Conqueror was crowned in the Abbey on Christmas Day 1066.
Visiting hours in December
Normal sightseeing hours are Monday to Friday from 9:30am, last admission 3:30pm, and Saturday with last admission 3:00pm. Sunday is worship only. On 27 October 2026 the Abbey had not published any changed hours or closures for December 2026. In some past years it has closed to sightseers around Christmas, so check its opening times page for the exact dates before you book. A timed ticket with free cancellation up to 24 hours before is useful in December, when the diary can change. Inside, the Cellarium Café lists a festive lunch from 23 November to 19 December and a seasonal afternoon tea.
Closures over the holiday
The UK bank holidays this Christmas are Christmas Day (Friday 25 December 2026) and the Boxing Day holiday (Monday 28 December 2026). Check the Abbey's opening times for both days, and remember that special services and rehearsals can close parts of the church at short notice. Elsewhere in London, the National Gallery says it closes on 24 to 26 December and 1 January. Plan your Abbey visit for early or mid-December, on a weekday morning, and keep Christmas week for the services.
What to bring in December
- ✓ Warm layers and a waterproof: the security line is outdoors and December averages 12 wet days.
- ✓ Your Eventbrite ticket on your phone for any ticketed service.
- ✓ A small bag only (no larger than 40 × 30 × 20 cm); no backpacks or luggage.
- ✓ Smart clothing for services.
Daylight and public holidays, month by month
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight | Public holidays 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:59 | 16:19 | 8.3 h | — |
| February | 07:15 | 17:14 | 10 h | — |
| March | 06:15 | 18:03 | 11.8 h | — |
| April | 06:05 | 19:55 | 13.8 h | Good Friday (3) |
| May | 05:09 | 20:44 | 15.6 h | Early May Bank Holiday (4), Spring Bank Holiday (25) |
| June | 04:42 | 21:19 | 16.6 h | — |
| July | 05:00 | 21:11 | 16.2 h | — |
| August | 05:45 | 20:24 | 14.6 h | — |
| September | 06:35 | 19:16 | 12.7 h | — |
| October | 07:23 | 18:08 | 10.7 h | — |
| November | 07:18 | 16:12 | 8.9 h | — |
| December | 07:59 | 15:51 | 7.9 h | Christmas Day (25), St. Stephen's Day (28) |
Sunrise and sunset on the 15th of each month at 51.499, -0.128 (Europe/London), sea-level horizon. Computed, not observed; within a few minutes. Holidays: national public holidays (GB) from Nager.Date; banks and some attractions may close or run holiday hours.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get tickets for the Westminster Abbey carol service?
Book through Eventbrite from the Abbey's event page. For 2026, the Abbey says Lessons and Carols tickets will be released on Monday 16 and Wednesday 18 November, at 9:30am and 2:30pm. You can book up to two tickets per application.
Is there a midnight mass at Westminster Abbey?
Yes. The Abbey holds a Christmas midnight service on 24 December; in 2025 it was the Sung Eucharist of Christmas Night, by free ticket only. The 2026 time had not been published on 27 October 2026.
Is Westminster Abbey open on Christmas Eve?
For services, yes. For sightseeing, the Abbey had not published its December 2026 hours on 27 October 2026, and it has closed to sightseers around Christmas in some past years. Check its opening times page before you book.
Are Westminster Abbey Christmas services free?
Yes. The Abbey says its services are free of charge. The biggest Christmas services must be booked in advance (the 2025 midnight service was by free ticket only); most other services are unticketed.
What happened in Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day 1066?
William the Conqueror was crowned king there. The Abbey has hosted 40 coronations since 1066.
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