London - Christmas - Church Services

[Katie]

Hi,

We will be in London from 22-28 December. Mr Katie is keen to go to St. Paul's for their Christmas Eve church service.

Has anyone done this before?
What were crowds like?
How early should we get there?
Will a cab to Highbury after the service cost us our first born?
Is there a cab shortage at that time? I know there'll be no public transport.

Any other church-y options that you'd recommend for Christmas in London? C of E/Anglican is the church-ly inclination.

 

[Geegeela]

Well I think you know if you have your heart set on St.Pauls things are not going to be easy in ALL the areas you have mentioned.

Here is some relative details on St.Pauls.

https://www.stpauls.co.uk/worship-music/worship/christmas/paternoster-square-screen

And this is what The Tube is doing.

With the exception of Christmas Day, when you have no hope of gettinganywhere by public transport, the tube is running an only slightly reducednormal service over the Christmas period.

There's a normal service on all lines on Monday December 23 and TuesdayDecember 24, although on Christmas Eve last trains will be at Sundaytimes. There are no tubes on Christmas Day, and a special service on alllines on Boxing Day, with trains running from 8.30am and last trains atSunday times.

A Saturday service will run on all lines on Friday December 27 and SaturdayDecember 28, with only a handful of closures. Likewise Sunday 29 will see aSunday service, and Monday 30 a Saturday service.

New Year's Eve will see the usual cheerful bunfight of free travelbetween 11.45pm and 4.30am, with special services on all lines. It'sdefinitely the best way to get back from your celebrations, but do double checkyour routes as there's a scattering of closures and some stations are exit only.Tubes will operate on a reduced Sunday service on January 1, should youfeel brave enough to come out form under the duvet.

Now, if I could head you in “another direction” Midnight Mass at Salisbury Cathedral is an experience that will add joy to your life forever.

I fully understand that this is most likely not a remote possibility for you but if by some incredible quirk of fate (faith) you did manage it then you will not be disappointed.

Merry Christmas.

 

[Geegeela]

If St.Paul’s and the logistics become too daunting you might like to grab one of these

http://canterburycathedral.org/YM4-2YT96-8859GA9T55/cr.aspx

and with the cup that cheers have a lovely wintry Christmas Eve at home.

 

[OATEK]

Hi,

We will be in London from 22-28 December. Mr Katie is keen to go to St. Paul's for their Christmas Eve church service.

Has anyone done this before?
What were crowds like?
How early should we get there?
Will a cab to Highbury after the service cost us our first born?
Is there a cab shortage at that time? I know there'll be no public transport.

Any other church-y options that you'd recommend for Christmas in London? C of E/Anglican is the church-ly inclination.

We went to the service at St James, Westminster (just near Fortnum and Mason's in Piccadilly) a few years ago. They had several recognised choristers for some special pieces, and general carols for all the congregation. We thought it was wonderful.

The other one we attended was by invitation only at the Queens Chapel, St James Palace. But that is a long story...

As has been mentioned, there is NO public transport on Christmas Day. If you need to get somewhere and back, you need to think about booking a mini-cab well in advance, locking in times, and agreeing a fare (2 to 3 times normal fare generally). So if looking for a church on Christmas Day, it needs to be in walking distance.