St Paul's Cathedral
Christopher Wren's baroque masterpiece — climb 528 steps for the Whispering, Stone and Golden Galleries.
About
Why visit St Paul's Cathedral
Sir Christopher Wren's cathedral rose from the ashes of the Great Fire of 1666 and has crowned Ludgate Hill ever since — site of Churchill's funeral, Charles and Diana's wedding, and Queen Elizabeth II's jubilees. The 111-metre dome once dominated the London skyline; today the climb rewards with the acoustic Whispering Gallery and city-wide views from the Golden Gallery.
- The dome is the second largest in the world, after St Peter's in Rome.
- During the Blitz, volunteer fire-watchers saved the cathedral from a direct hit in 1940.
- Wren is buried in the crypt beneath a Latin epitaph meaning 'if you seek his monument, look around'.
Not to miss
Highlights
The moments that define a visit to St Paul's Cathedral.
Cathedral Floor
The nave, choir and quire under Wren's soaring baroque arches.
Whispering Gallery
259 steps up, where a whisper travels 30 m around the dome.
Stone Gallery
376 steps to the first outdoor gallery around the dome.
Golden Gallery
528 steps and the highest public viewpoint — panoramic City views.
The Crypt
Tombs of Wellington, Nelson and Wren himself.
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Local know-how
Visitor tips
Small things that turn a good visit into a great one.
The dome climb closes earlier than the cathedral floor — go up first thing.
Free entry for anyone attending a service (Evensong is a highlight).
Photography is not permitted inside the cathedral, only in the crypt café.
Nearby
Combine with
Other guides within a short walk.
Tower of London
Crown Jewels and 1,000 years of royal history, guarded by Yeoman Warders.
Open guideTower Bridge
The Victorian bascule bridge with a glass floor 42 m above the Thames.
Open guideLondon Eye
135m Thames-side observation wheel with 360° views across Westminster and the City.
Open guideSee it with a guide
Tours & experiences
Curated picks across guided walks, skip-the-line entry and after-hours access.