St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral is Christopher Wren's masterpiece, rebuilt after the Great Fire of London destroyed the medieval original in 1666, with its dome (the second-largest in the world at the time of completion) dominating the City skyline for centuries, and famously photographed still standing amid the destruction of the Blitz during WWII. Winston Churchill's funeral and Charles and Diana's wedding both took place here, cementing its role as a site for major national occasions alongside Westminster Abbey.
Climbing the dome (528 steps in stages) rewards visitors with the Whispering Gallery partway up, where a whisper against the wall carries clearly to the opposite side, and ultimately the Golden Gallery at the very top with panoramic views over London. The crypt holds tombs of Wren himself (with an epitaph reading, roughly, 'if you seek his monument, look around you'), Nelson, and Wellington among others.
Budget 1.5-2 hours for the cathedral floor, longer if climbing the dome given the number of steps and stops along the way.
St Paul's Cathedral FAQs
Yes, 528 steps lead up through the Whispering Gallery to the Golden Gallery at the top, with panoramic views over London.
No, general sightseeing requires a paid ticket; attending a service is free.
Christopher Wren, the cathedral's architect, along with Admiral Nelson and the Duke of Wellington, are buried in the crypt.
A gallery partway up the dome where the curved wall carries a whisper clearly across to the opposite side, a well-known acoustic feature of the climb.
It's reserved for worship on Sundays and not open for general sightseeing that day; services are free to attend.
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