What is it about Christmas that makes people want to open their mouths in public and bellow out songs that they barely remember during the rest of the year? We may have terrible voices and some of us may be devout atheists but who can resist the opportunity to enter one of London's gloriously atmospheric churches to join in with O Little Town of Bethlehem or Once in Royal David's City?

Handel's Messiah is another yuletide tradition. Whether you stand up for the Hallelujah chorus or remain resolutely in your seat, Christmas is not complete without it. Take your pick from the performances listed here — and if Handel and carols are still not enough, we also present a selection of other seasonal highlights, some classical, some not so classical; some kitsch and some solemn, some singalong and some definitely not.

Thursday 18 December
7.30pm St John's Smith Square, SW1 £12-£32 (020 7222 1061)
Ave maris stella (Hail, O star of the sea) is the title of this programme from the Tallis Scholars under Peter Phillips. Medieval and renaissance hymns performed to the highest standard.

Friday 19 December
7.30pm Cadogan Hall, Sloane Terrace, SW1 £10-£35 (also Saturday, matinee and evening; 020 7730 4500 for details)
The boys are back in town: the London Gay Men's Chorus presents For Christmas's Sake! Check ticket availability: the Saturday matinee
is probably the best bet.

Saturday 20 December
8.00pm Royal Albert Hall, SW7 £11.50‑£39.50 (020 7589 8212)
Mozart and Rimsky-Korsakov come to the party, soprano Janis Kelly sings, the London Philharmonic Orchestra plays, as do the Fanfare Trumpeters of the Band of the Welsh Guards.

Sunday 21 December
7.30pm St John's Smith Square, SW1 £18‑£48 (020 7222 1061)
A high-octane reading of Handel's Messiah is guaranteed from Stephen Layton, Polyphony and Britten Sinfonia with a fine line-up of soloists.
.30pm Royal Albert Hall, SW7 £11.50‑£36.50 (020 7589 8212)
Santa Claus returns, this time with his elves in tow. Gareth Hudson conducts Southend Boys' Choir, Southend Girls' Choir and the London Concert Orchestra.

7.30pm Barbican, EC2 £16-£36
(0845 120 7500)
Every Christmas, impresario Raymond Gubbay takes over the Barbican for a big-name Christmas Festival. Tonight's gala has everything from Bach to Lloyd Webber by way of Puccini and Prokofiev, plus carols for all.

Monday 22nd December
7pm St Mary Abbots, W8 (020 7937 5136)
Nine Lessons and Carols by candlelight: one of the most evocative of the year's services, offered later than many churches.

Tuesday 23 December
4pm St Paul's Cathedral, EC4
(020 7246 8350)
A Christmas carol service sung by the Cathedral Choir. Repeated on Christmas Eve.

7.30pm Cadogan Hall, Sloane Terrace, SW1 £30-£80 (020 7730 4500)
With Jonathan Papp at the piano, Dame Kiri te Kanawa presents seasonal classics and opera arias. At those prices, pray that nobody sings along.

Wednesday 24 December
4pm St Mary Abbots, W8 (020 7937 5136)
Children's Crib Service: attended by local children who dress up in costume - so the streets of Kensington witness infant shepherds, Wise Men and Marys. Midnight Mass starts at 11.30pm.

THE BEST OF THE REST
Singalongs assured

Tuesday 6 December 7.45pm St Columba's Church, Pont Street, SW1, £15
(020 7937 7540)

Wednesday 17 December
7.30pm Royal Albert Hall, SW7 £11.50‑£36.50 (020 7589 8212)

Thursday 18 December
5pm & 7.30pm St James's Church, Piccadilly W1 £8 (5pm), £12-£20 (7.30pm) (07505 025673)

Friday 19 December
7.30pm Church of St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, WC2 £7 (020 7766 1100)

Saturday 20 December
5pm & 7.30pm St James's Church, Piccadilly, W1 £10 (5pm), £16 (7.30pm) (020 7381 0441)

Sunday 21 December
6pm St Pancras Church, Euston Road, NW1 (020 7388 1461)
6.30pm St Alfege Church, Greenwich Church Street, SE10

Wednesday 24 December
5pm St Pancras Church, NW1
(020  7388 1461)