St. Paul's Cathedral

★ 4.7 (57,158)$$$ · Expensive

St. Paul's Cathedral was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and completed in 1710 to replace the medieval cathedral destroyed in the Great Fire of London, its dome dominating the City skyline for centuries and famously photographed rising above the smoke during the Blitz. Inside, visitors can climb to the Whispering Gallery for its acoustic trick, then continue higher to the Stone and Golden Galleries for sweeping views over the City. With a 4.7 rating from over 57,000 reviews, it draws praise for both the architectural detail and the crypt, which holds Wren's own tomb along with Nelson's and Wellington's. The 90-minute duration and dome climb make it a moderately active visit, well suited to anyone pairing it with a walk over the Millennium Bridge to Tate Modern.

✨ Reasons to go

1Designed by Sir Christopher Wren and completed in 1710 to replace the medieval cathedral lost in the Great Fire of London
2The Whispering Gallery lets visitors test its acoustic trick before climbing further to the Stone and Golden Galleries
3The crypt holds the tombs of Wren himself, along with Lord Nelson and the Duke of Wellington

💡 Good to know

1Book tickets online for a discount and faster entry
2wear comfortable shoes for the 528-step climb to the Golden Gallery if you want the rooftop view
3time your visit around Evensong, which is free to attend and lets you hear the choir in the space it was built for.

⏱️ Typical visit

1h30

🕰️ Best time

early morning, morning, lunchtime or afternoon

🚶 Walking intensity

Moderate walking

📍

Address

St. Paul's Churchyard, London EC4M 8AD, UKGoogle Apple

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Booking

Booking required

What people say

"St Paul's Cathedral was one of the highlights of our trip to London. The architecture is absolutely breathtaking, both inside and out, and the level of detail throughout the building is truly remarkable. Climbing to the dome was well worth the effort, as the views over London are spectacular and provide a unique perspective of the city. The atmosphere inside the cathedral is peaceful and inspiring, making it a wonderful place to spend time whether you are interested in history, architecture, or simply looking for a moment of reflection. The staff and volunteers were friendly and helpful, and the entire site is exceptionally well maintained. The audio guide was informative and added a lot of context to the experience. A must-visit landmark in London. Beautiful, historic, and unforgettable – I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting the city."

— Nikolai Nikolov

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