Take in over 1400 years of history and marvel at the architecture at one of London’s most iconic landmarks.
St Paul's Cathedral is a true wonder of London, and a "must see" for any visitor.
An impressive sight on the London skyline, St Paul’s Cathedral is a Baroque-style Anglican cathedral that has been overlooking the city of London for more than 1400 years in one guise or another.
It is the seat of the Bishop of London and the mother church of the Diocese of London and as a Grade I listed building, the church has been reconstructed after both fire and war damage over the years.
Its instantly recognisable dome stands prominent against the backdrop of London which, for 250 years, made it the tallest building in the city.
The first church on the site where the current cathedral now stands was a wooden structure which was consecrated in 604AD by the monk and bishop Saint Mellitus and the Abbot of Chertsey (and subsequently Bishop of London), Saint Erkenwald.
The buildings constructed at this time were not particularly long lasting and were damaged by Viking invasion and fire a number of times. It was not until around 1087 that Bishop Maurice (Chaplain of William the Conqueror) oversaw the building of a cathedral that remained standing for nearly 600 years.
Up until the Reformation, the cathedral was a Catholic place of worship but after a brief reprisal under the reign of Mary I it was finally confirmed as a Protestant church in 1559 with Elizabeth I on the throne.
Fire damage, and damage caused during the English Civil War, caused deterioration of the cathedral and renovation works were planned to rebuild it.
In 1666 Sir Christopher Wren proposed a renovation of the existing cathedral with an imposing dome but around a week after this was authorised to go ahead a fire started in Pudding Lane. Within two days the Great Fire of London had reached the cathedral destroying major parts and rendering it beyond repair.
After the fire, Christopher Wren spent nine years perfecting the complete redesign of the new cathedral with construction starting in 1675. 33 years later the final stone was laid by Wren’s son and the son of the master mason who had worked on the project.
The interior decorations of the church were developed over the following years with Sir James Thornhill chosen to adorn the interior of the dome with scenes of the life of St Paul. He completed this within two years and he then moved onto other parts of the cathedral’s interior.
Despite the decorations contained within the cathedral it proved an unpopular place of worship with the monarchy for many years. Queen Victoria claimed it was a ‘dreary’ place which was an impetus to clean up and improve it and make the cathedral more inviting.
Stained glass was brought in, mosaics placed in the dome and a rearrangement made in the quire with more money brought into the cathedral from local wealthy philanthropists. High profile funerals and then Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee Thanksgiving service were held here which improved the cathedral’s standing.
During the early part of the 20th century the cathedral was closed for five years for safety reasons to strengthen the dome and piers. This proved invaluable work as during WWII the cathedral was struck directly twice and this work undoubtedly reduced the amount of damage that was done.
Once all damage was repaired post-war, the cathedral became a place that was visited by many heads of state and social reformers who were looking at making the world a better place.
As well as a place of celebration (such as the marriage of Prince Charles and Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth’s Golden and Diamond jubilee thanksgiving services).
St Paul’s has also brought people together in times of great sadness such as after the 7/7 bombings with special services held in memorial.
The prominent dome that presides over the London skyline at 111 metres high and the structure weighs in at a massive 65,000 tonnes in total.
It is topped with a ball and cross standing 7 metres high and three galleries are situated within the dome at various heights.
The cathedral is open Monday to Saturday for sightseeing and Sundays for worship only.
Sightseeing times for Monday, Tuesday, Thursday to Saturday, opening at 8am until 4.30pm and Wednesdays 10am until 4.30pm. Last entry for all days is 4pm.
The cathedral can close for special services so checking the website before visiting is advised.
The Stone Gallery and Golden Gallery are open daily in the school holidays and in term time Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays. The Whispering Gallery is currently closed until further notice.
Tickets can be bought in advance online from www.stpauls.co.uk or on the day at a slightly higher price (see price in brackets);
It takes approximately 2 hours to visit St Paul’s Cathedral.
There are four types of media guides available to compliment your visit to the cathedral and all are included in the price of your entry;
In person guided tours are also available. An introductory talk to the cathedral (15-20 minutes), a general guided tour (1hr) and the Geometric staircase viewing (10minutes) are all included in the ticket price and can be accessed Monday to Saturday. They cannot be booked in advance however so approach the guiding desk on your day of visit if you would like to take part.
Private guide tours (£5 extra to the ticket price), Triforium Tours (£8 extra to the ticket price) and Touch Tours for visually impaired visitors (included in the entrance price) can be booked a month in advance by contacting the Sales and Admissions team (0207 246 8357).
Bags may be checked upon entry to the cathedral and large bags are not permitted. There is no cloakroom facility to store baggage.
Pushchairs and buggies are welcome in the cathedral however there are a number of stairs to navigate to reach certain parts.
Toilets are located in the Crypt.
There are currently no cafe facilities within the cathedral but there are numerous places in the surrounding area which would cater for all tastes and budgets.
A gift shop is located in the Crypt of the cathedral.
Smoking or vaping is not permitted anywhere in the cathedral.
There is only photography for personal use permitted during normal sightseeing hours within the cathedral - there are some limitations to where it can be done, follow signage.
No photography is allowed during services, in St Dunstan’s Chapel, in the Whispering Gallery or anywhere at all within the cathedral on a Sunday.
Filming, along with use of equipment such as selfie sticks, tripods and additional lighting, is not permitted.
St Paul’s Cathedral is located in the City of London atop Ludgate Hill, north east of Blackfriars.
It sits just south of St Bart’s Hospital, the Barbican centre and the London Stock exchange and on the north side of the River Thames.
St Paul’s Church Yard runs along the south of the cathedral, New Change on the east and Paternoster Row on the north.
By Tube - The nearest tube stop to St Paul’s Cathedral is St Paul’s (Central Line) which is approximately a 3 minute walk. Alternatively there is Mansion House or Blackfriars (both District and Circle lines) which are a 5 minute walk.
By Bus - Bus numbers 4, 8, 11, 15, 17, 23, 25, 26, 56, 76, 100, 172, 242 and 521. All serve St Paul’s Cathedral along with a variety of Tour Bus operators that stop in the vicinity.
By Train - The closest mainline train station is Liverpool Street which is approximately a 15minute walk. This can take you out of the City and to many parts of the UK.
By Boat - The nearest boat terminal on the Thames is approximately a 9 minute walk at Blackfriars Pier where riverboats can take you to other famous landmarks.
By Car - Driving in central London is not recommended due to lack of, and price of, parking and also due to the congestion charge which applies to vehicles entering this central zone. However if necessary to drive, the nearest car park to St Paul’s is Baynard House car park on Queen Victoria Street (EC4V 4BQ).
Due to the location of the cathedral there are numerous options for accommodation in the central London vicinity.
From hostels and budget hotel options all the way through to five star luxury, there are many places to stay.
Central London, by its nature as a capital city, has many attractions to see and things to do. Just a few of the many options available in the vicinity of the cathedral are:
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Services at St Paul’s Cathedral are free to attend however to visit fully there is a charge. You can find the admission prices here.
There are a number of people buried at St Paul’s Cathedral, most notably Sir Christopher Wren, Horatio Nelson, Arthur Wellesley (The ‘Iron’ Duke of Wellington) and Aethelred the Unready.
Although originally a Catholic church after the Reformation it became an Anglican cathedral.
As with any place of worship, modest and respectful attire is requested although there is no formal dress code at St Paul’s Cathedral.
Certain criteria must be met to enable someone to get married at St Paul’s Cathedral.
You must be a member of the cathedral community or members/holders (or their children but not grandchildren) of the following; Order of St Michael and St George, Order of the British Empire, holders of the British Empire Medal or members of the Imperial Society of the Knights Bachelor.
There is only photography for personal use permitted during normal sightseeing hours within the cathedral - there are some limitations to where it can be done, follow signage. You can find more details here.
St Paul’s Cathedral is a big building at 157 metres long and 69 metres wide across the transepts with two 64 metre towers and 111 metre high dome.
Yes, you can go inside St Paul’s Cathedral, either to take part in a service or to explore its many highlights.
It takes approximately 2 hours to visit St Paul’s Cathedral.
The highest part of St Paul’s Cathedral that you can climb to on a visit is the Golden Gallery at 85 metres above the cathedral floor.
Situated 30 metres above the cathedral floor the Whispering Gallery runs around the inside of the dome. A peculiarity of its construction allows a whisper against the wall on one side of the gallery to be heard on the other side!
Sir Christopher Wren built St Paul’s Cathedral in the Baroque architectural style.
St Paul’s Cathedral was the tallest building in London from 1710 to 1965.
There are 12 bells at St Paul’s Cathedral hung in the north west tower. Together these are the second biggest ring of bells in the world.
St Paul’s Cathedral is mainly made of Portland stone which is mainly found in Dorset, England.
St Paul’s Cathedral is over 1400 years old with the first place of worship built on the site in 604AD.
The nearest tube stops to St Paul’s Cathedral are St Paul’s (Central Line) which is approximately a 3 minute walk or Mansion House or Blackfriars (both District and Circle lines) which are a 5 minute walk.