How to Play Oranges and Lemons

By Jaques of London · Est. 1795 · Updated 2026-08-17

Oranges and Lemons is a classic British singing game for six or more children. Two players form a human arch and the rest snake underneath in a chain while everyone sings the well-known rhyme. The suspense builds as the song nears its end, because nobody knows exactly when the arch will fall and catch them.

It is loved for being simple to explain, needing no equipment whatsoever, and working in almost any outdoor or large indoor space. The final tug-of-war gives it a satisfying, energetic finish that keeps children thoroughly engaged from start to finish.

A little history

The rhyme "Oranges and Lemons" is traditionally associated with the bells of several London churches, each line naming a different parish. It appears in collections of English nursery rhymes from at least the early eighteenth century, with a version recorded by Tommy Thumb's Pretty Song Book around 1744. The playground game that uses the rhyme is widely documented in Victorian and Edwardian descriptions of children's street games, though precisely when and how the arch-and-catch format was attached to this particular rhyme is unclear.

Setting up

1. Choose two players to be the arch-makers. Traditionally one is called 'Oranges' and the other 'Lemons', though they keep their identities secret from the other players.
2. The two arch-makers face each other, join both hands, and raise their arms to form an arch at a height comfortable for the other players to pass under.
3. All remaining players form a single-file chain by placing their hands on the shoulders of the person in front.
4. The chain lines up ready to pass through the arch. An adult or older child can lead the singing if needed.

How to play

1. The whole group begins singing the rhyme 'Oranges and Lemons'. The chain of players weaves continuously through the arch, looping around and coming back through again in a circle.
2. The arch-makers may raise and lower their arms gently as players pass under, but must not drop the arch early.
3. As the rhyme reaches the final lines ('Here comes a candle to light you to bed, and here comes a chopper to chop off your head'), the arch-makers begin to lower their arms slowly on the word 'chop'.
4. On the very last word of the rhyme ('head'), the arch-makers bring their arms down firmly to catch whichever player is passing through at that moment.
5. The caught player is taken quietly to one side, out of earshot of the other players. The arch-makers whisper the two secret identities (Oranges and Lemons) and ask the caught player to choose one. The caught player stands behind their chosen arch-maker without revealing which side they chose.
6. Play resumes. The chain passes through again and the rhyme is sung repeatedly until all players have been caught and have secretly chosen a side.
7. Once every player has been caught and allocated, the two teams line up behind their respective arch-maker in a straight line, each player holding the waist of the person in front.
8. The two arch-makers clasp each other's hands (or wrists). On a signal, both teams pull in opposite directions in a tug-of-war until one team pulls the other across a agreed central line.

Winning and scoring

The team that pulls the opposing team across the central line in the final tug-of-war wins the game. There is no points system: it is a single decisive contest. If the two teams are very uneven in size, players can agree beforehand to give the smaller team a head start, or simply replay with new arch-makers.

The fine points

The most common dispute is whether a player was 'properly' caught. The standard ruling is that a player is caught only if the arch comes down while any part of their body (other than their hands, which are on the shoulders ahead) is between the arch-makers' arms. If the arch closes behind the last player in the chain and no one is inside, simply continue singing and circling until someone is caught. Do not rush the closure.

A second frequent issue is players deliberately slowing down or speeding up to avoid the arch. This is generally considered against the spirit of the game: the chain should move at a steady, even pace throughout. If the arch-makers drop deliberately early to target a specific player, that catch should be replayed. The arch-makers are not permitted to watch who is approaching and time the drop strategically; the drop should happen on the final word of the rhyme regardless.

How to win more often

• If you are an arch-maker, keep your expression neutral throughout the song so players cannot read any anticipation on your face near the end of the rhyme.
• As a chain player, keep a steady pace and avoid gaps between you and the player ahead. Gaps let others shuffle forward or back and manipulate their position near the arch.
• When choosing Oranges or Lemons as a caught player, consider roughly how many players are left uncaught and try to balance the teams if fairness matters to your group.
• In the tug-of-war, anchor your feet and lean back rather than pulling with your arms alone. Lower body weight wins more contests than upper body strength.
• For younger or mixed-age groups, place stronger players at the front of the tug-of-war line rather than at the back, as the frontmost player bears the most direct tension.

Variations

London Bridge version

Some groups use the rhyme and structure of London Bridge is Falling Down instead of Oranges and Lemons, with the same arch-and-catch mechanic. The catch moment falls on the line 'my fair lady'. The tug-of-war finale remains identical. This version is common in nursery settings as younger children often know the London Bridge rhyme first.

Multiple arches

For larger groups of fifteen or more, two or three arches are set up at intervals around a wide circular route. Each arch pair has their own secret identities and catches independently. Players caught at different arches form separate teams, resulting in three or four-way tug-of-war contests at the end, which can be run as a small elimination bracket.

Timed singing

Rather than ending the song at a fixed line, a designated caller controls the pace and can stretch or compress the final verse unpredictably. This removes any ability for chain players to anticipate the drop by counting verses and adds considerably to the tension. Suitable for older children who have played the standard version many times.

No tug-of-war finish

For indoor or restricted-space play, the tug-of-war is replaced by a seated team quiz or a series of relay races between the two teams. This keeps the secret-choosing element intact while removing the physical contest that requires open ground. Commonly used in classroom or hall settings.

Oranges and Lemons: frequently asked questions