Quick Facts
St Paul's Cathedral was designed by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London (1666) and completed in 1710. It hosted Princess Diana's wedding (1981), Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, Churchill's funeral and Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday service. Survived the Blitz with its dome intact — symbolic of London's resilience.
- Address: St Paul's Churchyard, EC4M 8AD
- Nearest Tube: St Paul's (1 min walk)
- Open: Mon-Sat 8:30am-4:30pm (closed Sundays for tourists; services only)
- Cost: £25 adult online, £28 at door
The Three Galleries
- Whispering Gallery (259 steps up) — at the base of the dome, 30m up. Whisper to the wall and your friend hears it 30m away.
- Stone Gallery (376 steps) — outside the dome, 53m up, panoramic London view
- Golden Gallery (528 steps) — at the very top of the dome, 85m up. Best London views from inside the dome.
🪜 Stair warning: 528 steps total to the top, no lift to the galleries. Some sections are narrow spiral staircases. Not suitable for limited mobility, vertigo, or kids under 7.
Tickets & Times
| Ticket | Online | Door |
|---|---|---|
| Adult (18+) | £25 | £28 |
| Concession (student/65+) | £21 | £24 |
| Child (6-17) | £10 | £12 |
| Family (2+2) | £62 | £68 |
| Under 6 | Free | Free |
Tickets include audio guide, multimedia guide, and full access — cathedral floor, crypt, and all three galleries.
Free Alternatives
- Sunday services — free, including 11am Eucharist with full choir. No tourism during services.
- Evensong — 5pm Mon-Sat, free, magnificent acoustic and choir
- Exterior + steps — free, most-photographed angle
- Paternoster Square behind the cathedral — free, modern plaza, café
Combine with Nearby Sights
- Millennium Bridge (3 min walk) — direct walk to Tate Modern across the Thames
- Tate Modern (10 min) — across the river
- One New Change rooftop (right next to St Paul's) — free 7th-floor terrace with cathedral close-up
- Postman's Park (5 min) — quiet hidden park with Victorian heroism memorial
- Old Bailey (5 min) — public gallery free for trials
- Sky Garden (15 min walk) — free with online booking, 35-floor London panorama
📸 Best photos: Millennium Bridge with St Paul's framed at sunset; from One New Change rooftop bar; from St Paul's steps looking up. The night-illuminated dome is magnificent.