{"id":18750,"date":"2025-02-25T18:48:59","date_gmt":"2025-02-25T18:48:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.citiestotravel.com\/st-pauls-cathedral-in-london-is-it-worth-a-visit\/"},"modified":"2026-09-18T13:23:16","modified_gmt":"2026-09-18T13:23:16","slug":"st-pauls-cathedral-in-london","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.citiestotravel.com\/en\/st-pauls-cathedral-in-london\/","title":{"rendered":"St Paul’s Cathedral in London: is it worth a visit?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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St Paul’s Cathedral is, alongside Westminster Abbey<\/a>, one of the most famous religious landmarks in London<\/a>. The cathedral was designed at the end of the seventeenth century by the renowned architect Sir Christopher Wren, after the earlier medieval cathedral was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. The large dome is particularly characteristic of St Paul’s Cathedral and has been a recognizable part of London’s skyline for centuries. The cathedral has also hosted several important national events, including royal weddings and state funerals.<\/p>\n

For many visitors, St Paul’s Cathedral is therefore on the list during a first city trip to London. But is a visit to the cathedral really worth it?<\/p>\n

I have visited St Paul’s Cathedral myself and in this article I share what you can expect during a visit. You will read about what there is to see, the ticket options available and what you need to keep in mind practically. This will help you decide for yourself whether a visit to St Paul’s Cathedral fits into your city trip to London<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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What is St Paul's Cathedral?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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St Paul’s Cathedral is the famous cathedral in the heart of London and one of the city’s best known buildings. The current cathedral was designed by Sir Christopher Wren after the previous cathedral was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. Construction of the current St Paul’s Cathedral began in 1675 and was completed in 1710.<\/p>\n

The building is particularly famous for its large dome, which is an important part of London’s skyline. The interior is richly decorated, and during a visit you can explore not only the cathedral itself, but also the crypt and the different galleries inside the dome.<\/p>\n

St Paul’s Cathedral also has an important place in British history. In 1981, the wedding of Prince Charles and Diana Spencer took place here. In 1965, the state funeral of Winston Churchill was held in the cathedral.<\/p>\n

Today, St Paul’s Cathedral is a popular attraction for visitors to London. You can explore the cathedral as part of a tour of the building, but you can also climb the dome for views across the city.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Is a Visit to St Paul's Cathedral Worth It? My Experience<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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I have been visiting London several times a year for more than fifteen years and have visited St Paul’s Cathedral several times during that period. Personally, I find the admission ticket rather expensive. Nevertheless, I do think a visit to the cathedral is worthwhile. For me, it is especially the combination of the impressive architecture, history and views over London that makes St Paul’s Cathedral special.<\/p>\n

One of my favourite parts is the view from the dome. After climbing 528 steps, you reach the Golden Gallery, where you are rewarded with beautiful views of London’s skyline. The climb to the top can be quite challenging, but for me, the view makes it worthwhile.<\/p>\n

I also find the Whispering Gallery fascinating. Here you can experience how sound travels along the curved wall of the dome. If you stand with your face towards the wall and whisper very softly, someone on the other side of the dome can hear your voice clearly.<\/p>\n

I have also experienced this unusual acoustic effect at Grand Central<\/a> Terminal in New York<\/a>. However, I find the Whispering Gallery at St Paul’s Cathedral more impressive. At Grand Central Terminal, you sometimes have to whisper quite loudly to hear each other because of the noise. Inside the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral, it is much quieter. This makes it easier to notice how far sound can travel along the curved wall.<\/p>\n

The climb to the galleries is something to keep in mind. The stairs are narrow and steep, and the climb can be physically demanding. If you have difficulty walking or do not feel comfortable in narrow spaces, it is therefore worth taking this into consideration beforehand. The cathedral itself and the crypt are much more accessible to visit.<\/p>\n

Personally, I find the admission ticket rather expensive. This can be an important consideration, especially for families with young children, as St Paul’s Cathedral is mainly about architecture, history and the building itself. As a result, there may be less to experience for young children than at some other attractions in London.<\/p>\n

Are you mainly visiting London for a great view of the city and have little interest in history, architecture or churches? Then there are other options to consider. For example, you can visit free viewpoints such as One New Change or Sky Garden. If you do want to see the cathedral itself and are interested in seeing one of London’s best known historic buildings from the inside, then I do think St Paul’s Cathedral is worth visiting.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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What can be seen at St. Paul's Cathedral? <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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During a visit to St Paul’s Cathedral in London, you can discover different parts of the cathedral. There is quite a lot to see, and if you want to take your time exploring everything, you can easily spend a few hours here. If you are visiting St Paul’s Cathedral for the first time, there are several parts that are particularly interesting to see.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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The Interior of St Paul's Cathedral<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The interior of St Paul’s Cathedral immediately impresses with its enormous space and the many architectural and artistic details. The nave is approximately 34 metres wide and 110 metres long and leads towards the high altar. The high dome and rich decoration mean that you continue to discover new details as you walk around.<\/p>\n

The interior of the cathedral clearly reflects the Baroque style of the building. You will find sculptures, paintings and various memorials, among other things. One of the most prominent monuments is the large statue of the Duke of Wellington, the British military leader who played an important role in the victory over Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo.<\/p>\n

During your visit, be sure to take some time to look up. The dome and interior can be viewed from various places inside the cathedral, giving you a good impression of the scale and level of detail of the building.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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The Crypt<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Beneath St Paul’s Cathedral is a large crypt containing graves, memorials and several chapels. The crypt is a special part of the visit because several famous British figures are buried or commemorated here.<\/p>\n

Among them is the tomb of Horatio Nelson, the British vice admiral who became famous for his role during the Napoleonic Wars. The Duke of Wellington also has his final resting place here. Another notable tomb is that of Sir Christopher Wren, the architect who designed St Paul’s Cathedral.<\/p>\n

The crypt is quieter than the part of the cathedral above, making it a very different part of the visit. Personally, I think it is worth taking some time to look around and see the various memorials.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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The Dome and the Views over London<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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The dome of St Paul’s Cathedral is a striking feature of the cathedral, both from the outside and inside. During your visit, you can reach several galleries within the dome. The climb to the top can be quite strenuous, but along the way you get different views of the interior and eventually of London’s skyline.<\/p>\n

There are three galleries you can visit during the climb.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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1. Whisper Gallery<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The first gallery is located approximately 30 metres above the floor of the cathedral. Here you can experience the dome’s remarkable acoustic effect. When someone whispers softly against the curved wall, the sound can be clearly heard on the other side of the gallery.<\/p>\n

From this height, you also have a beautiful view of the interior of the cathedral and the enormous dome. Please note that photography is not allowed in the Whispering Gallery.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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2. Stone Gallery<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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De Stone Gallery bevindt zich ongeveer 53 meter boven de grond. Vanaf deze galerij krijg je voor het eerst een uitzicht naar buiten over Londen. Je kijkt onder andere uit over de Theems, de City of London en verschillende bekende gebouwen in de omgeving.<\/p>\n

Bij helder weer kun je vanaf hier onder andere The Shard<\/a> en de London Eye<\/a> in de verte zien.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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3. Golden Gallery<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Golden Gallery is the highest of the three galleries and is located approximately 85 metres above ground level. From here, you have panoramic views over London and the area surrounding St Paul’s Cathedral.<\/p>\n

The name Golden Gallery refers to the decorative finish of the gallery. It is the highest point of the cathedral accessible to visitors and is a highlight of the climb for many visitors.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Tickets for St Paul's Cathedral<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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St Paul’s Cathedral is a popular attraction in London. If you want to visit the cathedral during your city trip, it is useful to check in advance which tickets are available and whether you need to reserve a specific date or time. This allows you to plan your visit more easily.<\/p>\n

Below, you can view the available tickets for St Paul’s Cathedral and reserve a ticket for the date you want to visit the cathedral.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Powered by GetYourGuide<\/a><\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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How Long Does a Visit to St Paul's Cathedral Take?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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For a visit to St Paul’s Cathedral, you can allow an average of 1.5 to 2 hours. Exactly how much time you need depends on what you want to see and whether you also want to climb the dome.<\/p>\n

Short visit: approximately 1 hour<\/strong>
If you are short on time, you can see the main parts of the cathedral and visit the crypt. If you skip the dome, you will be finished more quickly.<\/p>\n

Average visit: 1.5 to 2 hours<\/strong>
This is a good guideline if you want to explore the cathedral at a relaxed pace, visit the crypt and also climb the dome. Allow some extra time if you want to stop regularly to admire the interior and the views.<\/p>\n

Extended visit: 2.5 hours or longer<\/strong>
If you want to take your time, use the multimedia guide and pay close attention to the various monuments and details in the cathedral, you can easily spend more than two hours inside.<\/p>\n

Keep the climb to the dome in mind<\/h3>\n

The climb to the galleries in the dome not only takes time, but also requires some effort. In total, you have to climb 528 steps to reach the highest gallery. The stairs become narrower as you go higher. In some places, you may therefore need to wait briefly when other visitors are coming down.<\/p>\n

If you want to explore St Paul’s Cathedral extensively and climb the dome, I would allow some extra time in your schedule rather than planning the visit too tightly.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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When Is the Best Time to Visit St Paul's Cathedral?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Based on my visits to St Paul’s Cathedral, I would preferably visit the cathedral on a weekday morning around opening time. In my experience, it is usually quieter at that time, allowing you to explore the cathedral and the dome at your own pace.<\/p>\n

If you visit on a busy day or later in the day, the cathedral and the stairs leading to the galleries can be more crowded. Especially if you want to climb the dome, I find it more pleasant to visit at a quieter time. You have more space along the way and do not have to wait as often for other visitors.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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What Are the Opening Hours of St Paul's Cathedral?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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The regular opening hours of St Paul’s Cathedral are from Monday to Saturday. On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the cathedral opens at 8:30 am. On Wednesday, you can enter from 10:00 am. Last admission is normally at 4:00 pm, and the visit ends at 4:30 pm.<\/p>\n

If you also want to climb the dome during your visit, separate times apply. Access to the Dome Galleries normally begins at 9:30 am. On Wednesday, the galleries open at 10:00 am. Last admission to the dome is at 4:15 pm.<\/p>\n

St Paul’s Cathedral is normally not open for regular sightseeing on Sundays. Several church services take place on Sundays. Attending a service is free and you do not need to reserve a ticket. Everyone is welcome to attend a service, regardless of their religious beliefs.<\/p>\n

During a service, the cathedral is not accessible for tourist sightseeing. You cannot walk around to explore the building, take photographs or visit the dome and crypt.<\/p>\n

Please note that opening hours can change due to church services, special events or other activities at the cathedral. Always check the current opening hours and schedule of St Paul’s Cathedral before your visit.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Where Is St Paul's Cathedral Located in London?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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St Paul’s Cathedral is located in the City of London, the historic and financial centre of London. The cathedral stands on Ludgate Hill, not far from the River Thames. Because of its central location, St Paul’s Cathedral is easy to combine with other attractions in the city.<\/p>\n

The address of St Paul’s Cathedral is:<\/p>\n

St Paul’s Churchyard, London EC4M 8AD, United Kingdom<\/strong><\/p>\n

The map below shows you exactly where St Paul’s Cathedral is located.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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