Carols on the Hill

About

Carols on the Hill is a beloved Windsor tradition, dating back decades.

This year we celebrate 77 years of this community gathering in aid of charity with carol singing by a lighted Christmas tree near the statue of Queen Victoria, against the iconic backdrop of Windsor Castle.  The event will feature musical support from The Band of The Household Cavalry. 

Join us for this timeless Christmas favourite – it’s an unmissable highlight of the season in Windsor!

The History of Carols on the Hill

Now in its 77th year, Carols on the Hill is a wonderful evening for the whole family!  The precedent for this much-loved open air Christmas Service stretches back to December 1949 when a Christmas tree was erected and illuminated for the first time near the Queen Victoria Statue, providing a charming focal point for Windsor & Eton Rotary Club and Inner Wheel's efforts to gather and distribute hundreds of gifts for children in various hospitals.  Shortly before Christmas Eve, a group of Rotary Club singers gathered round the tree to sing hymns and Carols alongside a large audience which included The Mayor, thus laying foundations of a tradition which has continued largely unbroken throughout the intervening decades.

Carols on the Hill in 2026

The event also includes a Living Advent Calendar performance as well as a collection for two local charities – Emerge Advocacy and St Vincent de Paul Christmas Lunch Project – and will feature musical support from The Band of The Household Cavalry.