St Paul's Cathedral

St Paul's Cathedral is a landmark that has represented London in its present form for over 300 years and is an international symbol of the strength, creativity and pride that makes London and its people so special.

The cathedral is much more than an Anglican church, a cathedral dedicated to St Paul has watched over the City of London since 604AD, the current cathedral is the fourth to occupy the present site; it was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and built between 1675 and 1710 to replace the cathedral lost in the Great Fire of London.

Today St Paul's is a magnificent record of the changing tastes of Great Britain over the past 300 years and the pillars, arches and artwork residing in the cathedral rivals the beauty of the exterior design. Although the cathedral has been consistently updated since being rebuilt by Wren, many original features remain including Jean Tijou's wrought iron gates and the organ that was installed in 1695.

The most striking feature of Wren's St Paul's has to be the huge dome that is instantly recognisable and which can be seen from all over London. The dome is one of the largest cathedral domes in the world; it is 113,3 metres in height and weights 65,000 tonnes - quite a weight, one that is supported by eight pillars and decorated with scenes of St Paul's life that were painted by Sir James Thornhill between 1715 and 1719.

Queen Victoria introduced the mosaics that are now such an integral part of the cathedral's interior in the mid-19th century after complaining that the cathedral was "most dreary, dingy and undevotional." Other recent additions to the cathedral include the American Memorial Chapel that stands in an area that was damaged during the Second World War and is a gesture of gratitude from the people of Britain to the American soldiers that died during the conflict.

As a venue for the celebration of births, deaths and marriage St Paul's is the number one choice for any self-respecting Royal and over the years the cathedral has played host to the jubilee celebrations of Queen Victoria, services marking the end of both World Wars and the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana. The Cathedral is as popular with tourists as it is with royalty and all through the year you can expect to see a steady stream of visitors in and outside of the cathedral, so either get there early or attend a evening service to see the building in its full glory.

A hefty admission fee is charged for entering the cathedral however; you can appreciate the beauty of the exterior of the building or why not attend a service and experience all that St Paul's has to offer including its magnificent choir.

Regular free music and family events take place at the cathedral, you can find out more about these in our Music and Family sections. Find out more about St Paul's.

How to get there

The closest tube station is at St Paul's on the Central Line, if travelling by over-ground the closest stations are at Blackfriars and Cannon Street.

If travelling by bus the 4, 8, 11, 15, 17, 23, 25, 26, 56, 76, 100, 172, 242, 388 and the 521 serve St Paul's and the surrounding area.