St Paul’s Cathedral in London

In the heart of London’s City district, St Paul‘s Cathedral is the^second largest cathedral in the world after St Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

Follow the guide!

👉 If you are looking for practical information about visiting St. Paul’s Cathedral, scroll down to the bottom of the article! ⬇️

Brief history of Saint Paul’s Cathedral

The history of St Paul’s Cathedral is quite eventful, to say the least! Between fires and Viking attacks, the cathedral had to be rebuilt no less than four times between the 7^th and 17^th centuries.

Visitors first four cathedrals

If cathedrals were built over the centuries before the construction of the current Saint Paul’s cathedral. However, they were not the first religious buildings to be built on this site. A dolmen, then a temple dedicated to Diana, goddess of hunting, preceded the first cathedral.

• First cathedral: erected in the year 604, the first Christian building, built in wood, was not very long-lived… and disappeared in a fire.
• Second cathedral: the second cathedral was reconstructed from stone between 675 and 685, but was unfortunately destroyed by invading Vikings in the 9^th century.
• Third cathedral: a third cathedral was built in 962… then destroyed in turn in a fire…
• Fourth cathedral: a new cathedral, nicknamed the “Old Saint Paul”, was built between the 11^th and the 12^th centuries. According to historical sources, this cathedral was an architectural masterpiece of Norman and Gothic styles. But in 1666, the the “Old Saint Paul” was destroyed in the Great Fire of London^.

Construction of St Paul’s Cathedral

Three years after the Great Fire of London, a decision was taken to build a 5^th cathedral (if that’s not resilience, then what is!)

The project was entrusted to famous British architect Sir Christopher Wren, also known for designing Kensington Palace (which the Captain most definitely recommends visiting).

The first two projects submitted by the architect were not retained by the Anglican clergy, but third time’s the charm! Wren’s third project was finally approved and construction works began in 1675. 35 years later, St. Paul’s Cathedral was finally completed.

St Paul’s Cathedral during the Second World War

During of the bombing of London in 1940, St. Paul’s Cathedral, which was unsurprisingly easily identifiable from the sky, became a privileged target of the German aviation. Miraculously, the Cathedral came out of the blitz (almost) unscathed and did not suffer any irreparable damage, thanks in part to the mobilization of civilians who saved the building from the flames!

St Paul’s thus became a symbol of hope for all Londoners!

Recent history of Saint Paul’s Cathedral

St Paul’s Cathedral remains today intrinsically linked to the history of the country.

In 1965, the funeral of Winston Churchill was held here, and 16 years later, Prince Charles and Lady Diana exchanged vows in front of the world’s cameras at St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Saint Paul’s Cathedral in a few words

Blending classical and baroque influences, St. Paul’s Cathedral moves away from the gothic aesthetic, which architect Christopher Wren considered old-fashioned, outdated, and too closely associated with Catholicism.

Captain dome of the cathedral was inspired by the dome designed by Michelangelo for St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, and the dome designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart for the Hôtel des Invalides in Paris.

Wren’s ambition? Designing a singular and innovative building which would leave a mark and redefine the aesthetics of the Anglican Church… A successful bet!

Visiting St. Paul’s Cathedral

St cathedral counts in three different levels:

• The ground floor
• The galleries
• The crypt in the basement

An audio-guide is offered to visitors at the entrance of the cathedral (it is included in the entrance ticket): Captain Ulysses found it very well done and can only recommend it!

Captain first floor

Vast and luminous, the first floor – including the nave, transepts and choir – is is a perfect example of the Baroque aesthetic.

Be sure to have a look at the organ, located under the dome, the high altar in the form of a monumental baldachin, as well as the ceiling of the choir covered in mosaics.

Captain dome and the three galleries

Captain The dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral includes three circular galleries in the form of a balcony. Be prepared, to reach the highest gallery, you will have to climb no less than 528 steps: the view from the top is well worth the efforts!

The Whispering Gallery

Located some thirty meters above the nave (257 steps), the Whispering Gallery is the most famous of the three galleries, partly due to its incredible acoustics. A whisper from one side of the gallery is perfectly audible on the opposite side, at a distance of 34 meters (the mechanics are quite similar to those of the theater of Epidaurus in Greece).

Stone Gallery

119 marches plus loin, à 52 mètres du sol, la Galerie de pierre (Stone Galleryen anglais) est située à l’extérieur de la coupole. De là, la vue sur le quartier de la City et la capitale est imprenable : la Tamise, le London Eye, la Tate Modern, le Parlement au loin…

Stone Gallery

If you still have a little bit of energy, you can keep climbing to get to the Golden Gallery, perched 85 meters above the ground.

It’s also known to be the you’ll enjoy a breathtaking view on London. That said, if you are afraid of heights, it may be better to abstain!

The crypt

In the basement, the crypt contains the tombs of emblematic personalities of the British history. Among them, the tomb of the cathedral’s architect, Christopher Wren, as well as that of Admiral Nelson (who defeated Napoleon at Trafalgar), the Duke of Wellington (Napoleon’s victor at Waterloo) or the painter Edwin Landseer.

Access

Getting to Saint Paul’s Cathedral

St Paul’s Cathedral is located in the heart of the City, London’s business district.

The nearest subway station is St Paul’s (Central line). The cathedral is also easily accessible from Mansion House (Circle and District lines) and Blackfriars (Circle and District lines).

“Bus lines 4, 11, 15, 23, 25, 26, 100, and 242 also stop near St. Paul’s, as well as hop-on hop-off tourist buses. These are a convenient option for getting around the city’s main sites and monuments.

👉 More info: book your hop-on hop-off bus tour (+ cruise)

Opening hours St. Paul’s Cathedral

St Paul’s Cathedral is open to visitors from Monday to Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 pm. Sundays are reserved for religious services.

Admission St. Paul’s Cathedral

FYI: tickets bought on site are more expensive than tickets bought online. It’s best to book a skip-the-line ticket in advance to avoid the potentially terribly long waiting lines!

👉 More info: Skip-the-line tickets to Saint Paul’s Cathedral

👉 Skip the lines: book your tickets and visits in advance!