St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's, with its world-famous dome, is an iconic feature of the London skyline. Step inside and you can enjoy the cathedral's awe-inspiring interior, and uncover fascinating stories about its history.
St Paul's Cathedral is Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece.
St Paul's is London's Cathedral and embodies the spiritual life and heritage of the British people. Cathedrals serve a wide community. A Cathedral houses the seat - or in Latin, cathedra - of the bishop, making it a centre for Christian worship and teaching, and the Christian mission.
St. Paul's was an inspiration to the nation during the Second World War, when much of the surrounding area was destroyed during the Blitz, pictures were shown of St. Paul's standing steadfast, its dome wreathed in smoke and flames. It was miraculous that St. Paul's survived such an onslaught, although not completely unscathed. A bomb demolished the High Alter, and the Crypt suffered damage as did many of the stained glass windows. These were later replaced with clear glass, which was Wren's original intention, improving the light within the Cathedral.
The present Cathedral replaces Old St. Pauls, which was destroyed in the great fire of London in 1666. Sir Christopher Wren was commissioned to design the replacement. His first two designs were turned down before finally his third design was accepted, and work begun in 1675. The first service was held in 1697 but it was a further 13 years before work was completed in 1710.
St. Paul's may be considered the world's first Protestant Cathedral.
The interior of St. Paul's, like the exterior, is dominated by its great Dome, which crowns the intersection of the cathedral.
One of the largest Cathedral domes in the world 111.3 meters high, weighing 65,000 tonnes it is supported by eight pillars. The frescos, which decorate the interior of the dome are by Sir James Thornhill.
Around the Dome there are three Galleries, the most famous is the Whispering Gallery, which runs around the interior, 259 steps from ground level. The acoustics in this part of the Cathedral make words whispered to the wall, audible 100 feet away on the opposite side. The Stone Gallery, 378 steps from ground level, is on the exterior of the Dome, from where you have a good view of the city and the River Thames. The most superb views are from the Golden Gallery, 530 steps from ground level, the highest point of the outer Dome.
St. Paul's contains many interesting artefacts and fine memorials to great Britons. In The North Isle is the Chapel of all Souls, dedicated to the memory of Lord Kitchener and servicemen who died in the Great War. This isle also contains the magnificent memorial to the Duke of Wellington, hero of the battle of Waterloo.
In The North Transept hangs Holman Hunt's "Light of the World", this is the third version of the painting, painted by Hunt in 1900; the original hangs in Keble College, Oxford. The South Transept contains Nelson's Monument, the naval hero died in the battle of Trafalgar in 1805. It shows Nelson leaning on an anchor and features a lion, a symbol that the person commemorated died in battle. There are also memorials to J.M.W. Turner the artist, and Captain Scott the explorer who died returning from the North Pole in 1912.
The first part of the Cathedral to be completed and consecrated was the Quire, where the choir and clergy sit during services. Here you can see the Bishops Throne, or cathedra, from which the name Cathedral derives. The magnificent organ case, one of the Cathedral's greatest artefacts, and the delicately carved choir stalls on each side of the chancel are by Grinling Gibbons. The High Alter we see today is a replacement for the Victorian Alter damaged during the Blitz. It is made of marble and carved gilded oak, with a canopy based on a sketch by Wren.
The Apse is home to the American Memorial Chapel honouring the American Servicemen and women who died in World War II. The limewood panelling incorporates a rocket as a tribute to America's achievements in space.
The South Quire Isle contains a marble effigy of John Donne who died in 1631, a Dean of old St. Paul's and one of Britain's finest Poets. This is one of the few effigies to have survived the great fire, and today you can still see scorch marks on the base of the statue.
The Crypt, thought to be the largest in Europe, contains around 200 memorials. Here are the tombs of Nelson, Wellington, and of Sir Alexander Fleming who discovered penicillin. In Artist's Corner are the graves of Sir Arthur Sullivan the composer, Sir Henry Moor the sculptor, the artists Sir John Everett Millais and Joshua Reynolds.
Surrounded by tombs and memorials to his family, is the simple marble slab marking the resting place of Sir Christopher Wren, above is the inscription chosen by his son "lector, si monumentum requiris, circumspice" (reader if you seek his monument, look around).
History timeline
For more than one thousand four hundred years, a cathedral dedicated to St Paul has stood at the highest point in the City.
The present Cathedral, the masterpiece of Britain's most famous architect Sir Christopher Wren, is at least the fourth to have stood on the site. It was built between 1675 and 1710, after its predecessor was destroyed in the Great Fire of London, and services began in 1697.
604 – The first cathedral dedicated to St Paul's is built on the site by Mellitus – Bishop of the East Saxons.
962 – St Paul's is burnt and rebuilt in stone in that year.
1087 – Church was rebuilt after another fire by the Normans.
1633 – Restoration of the Norman cathedral begins under the direction of the architect Indigo Jones.
1666 – The Great fire of London destroy Old St Paul's cathedral.
1668 – Wren is commissioned to produce a news design for St Paul's Cathedral.
1675 – Wren's design – also known as th Warrant Design, is given royal approval and the first building contract are confirmed.
1710 – Construciton on the new cathedral is completed.
1940 – The cathedral is the target for a bombing raid during the Blitz. During firebombing the Prime Minister Churchill declares, taht St Paul's must be saved.
1981 – Prince Charles marries Lady Diana Spence in the quire.
2011 – 300 years since last big restoration.
5 Interesting facts about St Paul's cathedral
Lord Nelson
After Lord Nelson died at the Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1804 he was buried in the centre of the crypt directly beneath the crossing and dome.
Duke of Wellington
In 1852, 1 million people watched the duke of Wellington’s funeral procession to St Paul’s before he was interred in the crypt in luxulyanite sarcophagus.
Attempted bombing
In 1913, suffragettes – in an attempt to bring attention to their cause – planted a bomb under the Bishop’s throne in the choir. Luckily, it was defused before it exploded.
Sir Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Churchill’s state funeral at St Paul’s Cathedral on 30 January 1965 was the first to be broadcast to the nation on both radio and television.
The Royal wedding
Charles, Prince of Wales, married Lady Diana Spencer on 2 July 1981 after which St Paul’s became one of the most visited churches in England.
St Paul's, with its world-famous dome, is an iconic feature of the London skyline. Step inside and you can enjoy the cathedral's awe-inspiring interior, and uncover fascinating stories about its history.
St Paul's Cathedral is Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece.
St Paul's is London's Cathedral and embodies the spiritual life and heritage of the British people. Cathedrals serve a wide community. A Cathedral houses the seat - or in Latin, cathedra - of the bishop, making it a centre for Christian worship and teaching, and the Christian mission.
St. Paul's was an inspiration to the nation during the Second World War, when much of the surrounding area was destroyed during the Blitz, pictures were shown of St. Paul's standing steadfast, its dome wreathed in smoke and flames. It was miraculous that St. Paul's survived such an onslaught, although not completely unscathed. A bomb demolished the High Alter, and the Crypt suffered damage as did many of the stained glass windows. These were later replaced with clear glass, which was Wren's original intention, improving the light within the Cathedral.
The present Cathedral replaces Old St. Pauls, which was destroyed in the great fire of London in 1666. Sir Christopher Wren was commissioned to design the replacement. His first two designs were turned down before finally his third design was accepted, and work begun in 1675. The first service was held in 1697 but it was a further 13 years before work was completed in 1710.
St. Paul's may be considered the world's first Protestant Cathedral.
The interior of St. Paul's, like the exterior, is dominated by its great Dome, which crowns the intersection of the cathedral.
One of the largest Cathedral domes in the world 111.3 meters high, weighing 65,000 tonnes it is supported by eight pillars. The frescos, which decorate the interior of the dome are by Sir James Thornhill.
Around the Dome there are three Galleries, the most famous is the Whispering Gallery, which runs around the interior, 259 steps from ground level. The acoustics in this part of the Cathedral make words whispered to the wall, audible 100 feet away on the opposite side. The Stone Gallery, 378 steps from ground level, is on the exterior of the Dome, from where you have a good view of the city and the River Thames. The most superb views are from the Golden Gallery, 530 steps from ground level, the highest point of the outer Dome.
St. Paul's contains many interesting artefacts and fine memorials to great Britons. In The North Isle is the Chapel of all Souls, dedicated to the memory of Lord Kitchener and servicemen who died in the Great War. This isle also contains the magnificent memorial to the Duke of Wellington, hero of the battle of Waterloo.
In The North Transept hangs Holman Hunt's "Light of the World", this is the third version of the painting, painted by Hunt in 1900; the original hangs in Keble College, Oxford. The South Transept contains Nelson's Monument, the naval hero died in the battle of Trafalgar in 1805. It shows Nelson leaning on an anchor and features a lion, a symbol that the person commemorated died in battle. There are also memorials to J.M.W. Turner the artist, and Captain Scott the explorer who died returning from the North Pole in 1912.
The first part of the Cathedral to be completed and consecrated was the Quire, where the choir and clergy sit during services. Here you can see the Bishops Throne, or cathedra, from which the name Cathedral derives. The magnificent organ case, one of the Cathedral's greatest artefacts, and the delicately carved choir stalls on each side of the chancel are by Grinling Gibbons. The High Alter we see today is a replacement for the Victorian Alter damaged during the Blitz. It is made of marble and carved gilded oak, with a canopy based on a sketch by Wren.
The Apse is home to the American Memorial Chapel honouring the American Servicemen and women who died in World War II. The limewood panelling incorporates a rocket as a tribute to America's achievements in space.
The South Quire Isle contains a marble effigy of John Donne who died in 1631, a Dean of old St. Paul's and one of Britain's finest Poets. This is one of the few effigies to have survived the great fire, and today you can still see scorch marks on the base of the statue.
The Crypt, thought to be the largest in Europe, contains around 200 memorials. Here are the tombs of Nelson, Wellington, and of Sir Alexander Fleming who discovered penicillin. In Artist's Corner are the graves of Sir Arthur Sullivan the composer, Sir Henry Moor the sculptor, the artists Sir John Everett Millais and Joshua Reynolds.
Surrounded by tombs and memorials to his family, is the simple marble slab marking the resting place of Sir Christopher Wren, above is the inscription chosen by his son "lector, si monumentum requiris, circumspice" (reader if you seek his monument, look around).
History timeline
For more than one thousand four hundred years, a cathedral dedicated to St Paul has stood at the highest point in the City.
The present Cathedral, the masterpiece of Britain's most famous architect Sir Christopher Wren, is at least the fourth to have stood on the site. It was built between 1675 and 1710, after its predecessor was destroyed in the Great Fire of London, and services began in 1697.
604 – The first cathedral dedicated to St Paul's is built on the site by Mellitus – Bishop of the East Saxons.
962 – St Paul's is burnt and rebuilt in stone in that year.
1087 – Church was rebuilt after another fire by the Normans.
1633 – Restoration of the Norman cathedral begins under the direction of the architect Indigo Jones.
1666 – The Great fire of London destroy Old St Paul's cathedral.
1668 – Wren is commissioned to produce a news design for St Paul's Cathedral.
1675 – Wren's design – also known as th Warrant Design, is given royal approval and the first building contract are confirmed.
1710 – Construciton on the new cathedral is completed.
1940 – The cathedral is the target for a bombing raid during the Blitz. During firebombing the Prime Minister Churchill declares, taht St Paul's must be saved.
1981 – Prince Charles marries Lady Diana Spence in the quire.
2011 – 300 years since last big restoration.
5 Interesting facts about St Paul's cathedral
Lord Nelson
After Lord Nelson died at the Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1804 he was buried in the centre of the crypt directly beneath the crossing and dome.
Duke of Wellington
In 1852, 1 million people watched the duke of Wellington’s funeral procession to St Paul’s before he was interred in the crypt in luxulyanite sarcophagus.
Attempted bombing
In 1913, suffragettes – in an attempt to bring attention to their cause – planted a bomb under the Bishop’s throne in the choir. Luckily, it was defused before it exploded.
Sir Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Churchill’s state funeral at St Paul’s Cathedral on 30 January 1965 was the first to be broadcast to the nation on both radio and television.
The Royal wedding
Charles, Prince of Wales, married Lady Diana Spencer on 2 July 1981 after which St Paul’s became one of the most visited churches in England.
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Opening time
St Paul's Cathedral is open for sightseeing from Monday to Saturday between 8.30am - 4pm.
Last tickets are sold at 4pm and the cathedral closes for sightseeing at 4.30pm.
The price of admission includes entry to the cathedral floor, crypt and the three galleries in the dome (Whispering, Stone and Golden). Admission also includes multimedia guides and guided tours (for individuals and family visitors).
Special services or events may occasionally close all, or part, of the cathedral. Check the cathedral calendar before you visit.
Tickets
Full price ticket | £ 16,00
Children (6-17 yrs.) | £ 7,00
Student and Seniors | £ 14,00
Familly ticket | £ 39,00
Access
By Underground The nearest Underground station is St Paul's on the Central Line (2 minute walk). Mansion House, Cannon Street and Blackfriars stations on the District and Circle Lines are also within walking distance. Please contact London Transport for information about the closest station to the cathedral with wheelchair access.
By train The major local over-ground stations are London Bridge (20 minute walk), Cannon Street (8 minute walk), and Blackfriars (5 minute walk).
By bus Buses stopping directly outside the cathedral: Bus Routes: 4, 11, 15, 23, 25, 26, 100, 242.
By bike Free bicycle parking is provided in designated places on streets throughout the City.
By car Visitors to St Paul's are advised to arrive by public transport whenever possible. There is a public car park on Queen Victoria Street to the south of the cathedral. On-street parking is very restricted around the cathedral itself, but if you do need to drive to St Paul's, avoid frustration by checking the City streetworks first.