King’s Carols, Cambridge University’s Christmas Eve carol service, is one of the most famous carol services in the world. And anyone with the patience to queue can go for free.
But before heading to King’s College Chapel in Cambridge, England, make sure you know what service you plan to attend. There are two popular carol services from King’s. Only one actually takes place on Christmas Eve and only one is open to the public.
Carols of the king
The familiar televised carol service with its robed and candlelit showgirls, shown on Christmas Eve by BBC2 and around the world on BBC television channels, is recorded in early December with an invited audience. They’ve been doing it that way, more or less, for about 60 years.
It’s a completely different service from the Party of Nine Lessons and Christmas Carols, broadcast live on BBC Radio 4 at 15:00 GMT (10am EST-7am PST) on Christmas Eve, and all over the world to millions of listeners. throughout the holiday season. This is the place you can attend, with a little patience and a warm coat.
The service, adapted from one created in 1880, was first held at King’s on Christmas Eve in 1918, just over a month after the end of World War I. It was first broadcast by the BBC in 1928. Today, at least 450 radio stations, including the American public media network, carry the broadcast. Since it’s been around for almost 90 years, and since thousands of churches have adopted its format, there’s a good chance you grew up hearing it.
Read a more detailed history of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Christmas Carols
Here’s how to attend
The King’s College Chapel Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is free to anyone who wants to attend, but it is extremely popular, so you need patience and must be willing to line up very early for a chance for a seat:
- People begin lining up at 7:30 am when the first members of the public are admitted onto the King’s College grounds.
- Entry is only through the front door at King’s Parade. All the other doors of the College are closed.
- The college gatekeepers count the number of people joining the line. Once there are as many in a row as there are seats available in the chapel, doormen tell newcomers that they are unlikely to be seated.
- In general, anyone in the queue before 9:30 am will likely get a seat, but it is not guaranteed.
- Dress warmly and consider bringing something portable, such as a folding cane seat, to sit on because the chapel doors do not open until 1:30 p.m. Service begins at 3 p.m. and ends at approximately 4:30 p.m.
- Once you are inside the university grounds, restrooms are available and the university cafeteria is open and serves refreshments.
- You cannot bring bags, packages, or your folding seat to the chapel, but you can leave all of that with the chargers in a designated area.
Special Admission for the Disabled
There are a limited number of advance tickets available for people unable to queue due to disability or illness. The demand for these tickets is high, so if you need one, you must request it by mail. In 2018, they appear to have shortened a full month from the mail request period; now it ends on September 30 instead of the end of October, as in all previous years. So if you haven’t applied for tickets this year, you’re out of luck. Receive your postal application as soon as the application period opens on May 18 for a better chance next year.
Submit requests to The PA to the Dean, King’s College, Cambridge, CB2 1ST UK.
How to find King’s College Chapel, Cambridge
King’s College Chapel is located within the grounds of King’s College on King’s Parade in the center of town. Public transportation on Christmas Eve ends earlier than normal and is generally very busy, but if you plan ahead you should be able to get to King’s College Chapel with relative ease.
By train
Regular direct trains leave London’s King’s Cross Station for Cambridge from very early in the morning. The trip takes about an hour and 20 minutes. There are also frequent trains from London’s Liverpool Street Station, via Stansted Airport. This train lasts approximately one hour and 40 minutes. Plan to leave London before 6:15 a.m. (that’s right, 6:15 a.m.) if you want to get there early enough for the carol service queue.
The cheapest advance round-trip fare (in 2018) is around £ 36, but train services between London and Cambridge are scheduled to stop in December, so you may want to consider driving, taking a bus, or even to stay. Return services end earlier than normal on Christmas Eve, so be sure to reserve your ticket well in advance. Check National Rail inquiries for schedules and to book your train – the earlier you book, the cheaper it will be.
The train station is about 1.3 kilometers from the city center. If taxis are not available, take bus 1 or 7 to Cambridge Emmanuel Street. Both services run on Christmas Eve.
By the coach
Services between London Victoria Coach Station and Cambridge city center take between one hour and 45 minutes and three hours on Christmas Eve. The round-trip fare, bought as two one-way tickets, is roughly £ 15. I don’t really recommend the coach ride for this particular trip. To get there in time to queue for Carol’s at King’s, you would have to catch a bus at 4:20 am and return trips, from 5 pm onwards, take up to 3 hours. See National Express Coaches for hours and fees.
By car
Cambridge is a small city that is largely pedestrianized at its center. It will be congested with last minute shoppers on Christmas Eve. If you plan to drive from London, plan to allow plenty of time. It may only be 63 miles away, but it’s not the easiest 63 miles on any day, let alone Christmas Eve.
Your best bet is to choose the city’s Park and Ride parking lots, where you can park on the outskirts of the city and catch a reasonably priced local bus (usually for a parking and transportation fee) to the city center. The Madingley Road Park & ​​Ride is the closest to King’s. Parking costs £ 1 for up to 18 hours and the bus costs £ 3 each way. On Christmas Eve 2016 there is a normal service on Saturdays, but the first bus leaves the parking lot at 8 am
Parking in the city center is available, but when you add the amount of time you can be waiting in line plus the time for the service itself, you could end up spending around £ 30 to park. The closest car park to the city center is the Grand Arcade car park on Corn Exchange Street, Cambridge CB2 3QF.