The best carol concerts

Come All Ye Faithful and get the seasonal spirit with the most rousing carol services the capital has to offer.

Cathedral and abbey choirs

WESTMINSTER ABBEY Dean's Yard, SW1. Wed 25, Thur 26 & Fri 27 Dec, 3pm. Choral evensong. On Christmas Eve at 11.30pm there's another magnificent midnight mass, with polychoral Gabrieli to send a celebratory frisson up the spine, and the abbey's service of lessons and carols takes place the same day, at 4pm. Turn up early.

ST MARGARET'S CHURCH, WESTMINSTER ABBEY, St Margaret Street, SW1. Sun 22 Dec, 6.30pm. St Margaret's Choir sings the now traditional service of nine lessons and carols.

ST ALBANS ABBEY St Albans, Herts. Sun 22 & Mon 23 Dec, 8pm. There's always a huge demand for the Abbey's Festival Of Lessons and Carols, so any unsold or returned tickets can be bought obtained only from the Abbey's information desk, which is open from Mon-Sat, 10.30am-4.30pm.

Central London

ENGLISH BAROQUE CHOIR Regent Hall, 275 Oxford Street, W1. Sat 21 Dec, 6.30pm. The English Baroque Choir, conducted by Jeremy Jackman, is joined by the Hamilton Ringers for this Christmas entertainment designed for the whole family. £10, child £5. Call 020-8902 6298.

LONDON FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA/NEW LONDON CHAMBER CHOIR St James's Church, Piccadilly, W1. Sat 21 Dec, 7.30pm. Another festive programme under the baton of Ross Pople. The music includes Britten's A Ceremony Of Carols and a symphony by Haydn, plus carols for audience participation. £10-£15. Call 020-7928 9250.

SOUTHEND YOUNG SINGERS St Martin-In-The-Fields, Trafalgar Square, SW1. Fri 20 Dec, 1.05pm. A selection of carols and seasonal songs in this free lunchtime concert, perfect for a break from the shopping.

LONDON WELSH CHORALE St Paul's Church, Wilton Place, SW7. Sat 21 Dec, 7.30pm. Kenneth Bowen conducts in this Winter Concert which includes Bach's Magnificat and Parts 1-3 of the Christmas Oratorio. £10, concs available. For details e-mail info@londonwelsh chorale.org.uk.

West London

HARROW CHORAL SOCIETY Harrow School, Harrow On The Hill, Middx. Sat 21 Dec, 7.30pm. Harrow's finest voices come together to give their annual Christmas concert amid the panelled splendour of Harrow School's Speech Room. For tickets call Catherine Stanley on 020-8950 3277.

North London

ECLECTIC VOICES/ HIGHBURY YOUNG SINGERS Christ Church, Highbury Grove, N5. Fri 20 Dec, 7.30pm. Scott Stroman's aptly named group are joined by Highbury Young Singers in 'A Christmas Spectacular'. For tickets email info@ eclecticvoices.org.uk.

South London

WIMBLEDON CHORAL SOCIETY St Paul's Wimbledon Park, Augustus Road, SW19. Sat 21 Dec, 7pm. Actress Prunella Scales and tenor Ian Partridge join the highly esteemed Wimbledon Choral Society in this seasonal celebration. Michael Ashcroft conducts. Returns only, but if you can find a ticket, they're £8, under-16s £5, family £22. Call 020-8605 2444.

CHOIR OF ST ALPHEGE, GREENWICH St Alphege's Church, Greenwich, SE10. Tue 24 Dec, 10.45pm. The excellent church choir gives a short concert before midnight mass.

East London

ST JOHN OF JERUSALEM FESTIVAL CHORUS St John Of Jerusalem Church, Lauriston Road, E9. Sun 22 Dec, 6pm. A new slant on the family concert, as the Rev James Funnell conducts the St John Of Jerusalem Festival Chorus and tenor Simon Funnell in the church's Christmas Carol Service. Carols by Herbert Howells, Anthony Caesar and others.

LONDON ADVENTIST CHORALE Shoreditch Church, Leonard Street, EC2, Fri 20 Dec, 7pm. Infectious, uplifting carol medley from the LAC singers at this year's Jubilee celebrations. Part of the Spitalfields Winter Festival. £4-£20.