St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's is London's baroque heartbeat: Wren's great dome rising over a city rebuilt after fire and war. Inside, sunlight grazes mosaics and soaring arches; below, the crypt holds Nelson and Wellington. Climb if you can: the Whispering Gallery's curved acoustics, the Stone Gallery's open terrace, and the narrow Golden Gallery crown the climb with sweeping views. Worship continues daily, but most visits are self-guided with an excellent audio tour included. Accessibility is strong on the floor and crypt, though upper galleries are stair-only. Arrive early, dress for the climb, and pause before stepping into the highest balcony. When you descend, sit a minute in the Quire to read the Victorian mosaics in quiet sequence.
Opening Hours
What's not to miss inside?
Whispering Gallery
Famous acoustic marvelCompleted in 1708, this circular gallery carries a whisper around the curve of the 34-metre-wide dome.
📍 Inner dome, 257 steps
Stone Gallery
First outdoor panoramaAdded during construction in the 1690s, this terrace rings the dome and reveals London’s skyline in all directions.
📍 Outer dome, 376 steps
Golden Gallery
Highest public viewpointAt roughly 85 metres above the floor, this narrow balcony crowns Wren’s dome completed in 1710.
📍 Cupola, 528 steps total
The Crypt
National heroes’ tombsFinal resting place of Admiral Nelson (1806) and the Duke of Wellington (1852), with memorials spanning three centuries.
📍 Cathedral floor, lower level
Quire and Mosaics
Sumptuous Victorian decorationFrom the 1870s, glittering mosaics and carved choir stalls enriched Wren’s interior after damage and darkening by pollution.
📍 East end of nave
Inspire your Friends
- The present cathedral was built 1675-1710 by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of 1666.
- Its dome rises to about 111 metres, once the tallest building in London for over 250 years.
- State occasions here include Admiral Nelson’s funeral (1806), Wellington’s (1852) and Sir Winston Churchill’s (1965).
- Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer were married here on 29 July 1981.
- During the Blitz, firewatchers saved the dome on the night of 29-30 December 1940 amid over 1,500 fires in the City.
