Here we list the major cathedral carol services this Christmas, many of which are in the Nine Lessons and Carols format started at Truro Cathedral in Cornwall 133 years ago.
Early arrival is advised for non-ticketed services-in particular, check the instructions for the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King’s College, Cambridge on Christmas Eve
Birmingham December 23, 4.30pm, and 24, 5.30pm (0121-262 1840; www.birminghamcathedral.com)
Bristol December 19, 7.30pm, Christmas Star Concert. Tickets £10 (0117-370 0486; www.bristol-cathedral.co.uk)
Canterbury December 23, 7.30pm (doors open 6pm) (01227 762862; www.canterbury-cathedral.org)
Carlisle December 22, 3pm, and 24, 6.30pm (01228 548151; www.carlislecathedral.org.uk)
Chester December 14 and 21, 7.30pm. Tickets £12.50 (01244 324756; www.chestercathedral.com)
Chichester December 21 and 22, 6pm, and 23, 3pm (doors open at 2pm) (01243 782595; www.chichestercathedral.org.uk)
Christ Church Oxford December 13 and 20, 8pm (01865 276155; www.chchchoir.org)
Coventry December 14, 7.30pm. Tickets £15 (024 7652 1210; www.coventrycathedral.org.uk)
Durham December 22, 7pm, and 24, 3pm (0191-386 4266; www.durhamcathedral.co.uk)
Edinburgh December 22 and 24, 7.30pm (0131-225 6293; www.cathedral.net)
Ely December 21, 7.30pm, ‘Hark the Herald’. Tickets from £10 (01353 667735; www.elycathedral.org)
Exeter December 14 and 18, 7.30pm. Tickets £8 (01392 285983; www.exeter-cathedral.org.uk)
Gloucester December 23 and 24, 6pm (01452 528095; www.gloucestercathedral.org.uk)
Hereford December 22 and 23, 7pm. Apply for tickets with sae (maximum of 4) to Hereford Cathedral, 5 College Cloisters, Cathedral Close, Hereford HR1 2NG (01432 374200; www.herefordcathedral.org)
King’s College, Cambridge December 24, 3pm. Queueing starts 7.30am; generally, those there by 9am are guaranteed entry. Coffee and loos available in cathedral grounds; bags may be left with the porters (www.kings.cam.ac.uk)
Lichfield December 22, 6pm (01543 306100; www.lichfield-cathedral.org)
Lincoln December 14, Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols, 2pm and 7.30pm, tickets £8 and £20, and
Carol Service December 24, 4pm (01522 561600; http://lincolncathedral.com)
Liverpool December 21 and 24, 3pm (0151-709 6271; www.liverpoolcathedral.org.uk)
Manchester December 22, 7.30pm (01621-833 2220; www.manchestercathedral.org)
Newcastle December 24, 6pm (0191-232 1939; www.stnicholascathedral.co.uk)
Norwich December 22, 6pm (01603 218300; www.norwichcathedral.org.uk)
Peterborough December 24, 4pm (01733 355315; www.peterborough-cathedral.org.uk)
Ripon December 23 and 24, 5.30pm (01765 603462; www.riponcathedral.org.uk)
St David’s December 22, 7pm (01437 720202; www.stdavidscathedral.org.uk)
St Paul’s December 23 and 24, 4pm (also relayed live on screen in Paternoster Square) (020-7246 8350; www.stpauls.co.uk)
Salisbury December 21, 7pm, and 22, 5pm (doors open an hour earlier). (01722 555120; www.salisburycathedral.org.uk)
Sheffield December 24, 7pm in the Cutlers Hall (0114-275 3434; www.sheffieldcathedral.org)
Truro December 17, 7pm, re-enactment of original 1880 Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols (01872 276782; www.trurocathedral.org.uk)
Wakefield December 20, Carols by Candlelight, 7.30pm. Tickets £12 or £9 (01924 373923; wakefieldcathedral.org.uk)
Wells December 23, 6pm (01749 674483; www.wellscathedral.org.uk)
Winchester December 18 (ticketed), 19 and 21 (not ticketed), 6.30pm (01962 857275; www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk)
York Minster December 22, 4pm (01904 557200; www.yorkminster.org)
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