St. Paul’s Cathedral is unique in the world. This magnificent cathedral, which towers at a height of 100 meters, was designed by the famous Cristopher Wren. It is the second-largest cathedral in Great Britain, second only to the Liverpool Cathedral.
The site where St. Paul’s Cathedral is located used to house several religious buildings, some dating back to the year 604, some to the 17th century. There is evidence that there used to be a Greek temple at the site before the construction of other religious buildings.
The original church built there was made out of wood, and it perished in the Great Fire of London in 1666, when half of London was engulfed in flames. The cathedral was renovated and reconstructed several times, until it finally acquired the shape it has today in the 16th century, after the Reformation took place. It was built out of Portland stone, while the dominant styles on the church are renaissance and baroque. The dome of the cathedral was built to resemble the dome of Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which can be easily seen just by looking at the two buildings. The cathedral is around 100 meters tall, containing 365 steps, one for each day of a year.
Thanks to its impressive look and size, it has become one of the main symbols of the city of London. The cathedral’s frescoes are particularly beautiful. The dome is surely the most impressive part of St. Paul’s Cathedral. It contains within itself a circular gallery. Walking its 257 steps, visitors will be able to reach the first gallery, The Whispering Gallery, which is located at a height of 30 meters. This gallery has impressive acoustic traits, so every single whisper or sound can be heard very clearly on the other side of the gallery.
The stone gallery can be reached by climbing the 365 steps inside. It offers an incredible view of the city. However, the most beautiful part lies at the top of the dome. The Golden Gallery, situated at the top of the cathedral, at a height of 85 meters, will surely leave you breathless.
Visitors to the cathedral can visit the crypt where the remains of demolished churches are located, as well as various monuments. In addition to this, the graves of some of the most famous citizens of Great Britain are located there, including that of Lord Nelson, Lord Wellington and Winston Churchill.
Ticket price for St. Paul's Cathedral
Regular ticket price: £ 20
Reduced ticket price: £ 17.50 - for students and pensioners
Reduced ticket price: £ 7.20 - for children aged 6 to 17
Working hours of St. Peter's Cathedral
Monday to Saturday: 09:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The last entrance is at 4:00 p.m.
