St Paul’s Cathedral has seen the good, the bad and the ugly of London since its construction in the seventeenth century. Staring out over the city from the top of its dome it’s easy to imagine the history that it has witnessed – the ebb and flow of city life is clear here. From the ancient Roman outlines of the city, to the Tower of London and Southwark Cathedral, to the clean modern lines of the Shard and the bobbles of the London Eye, St Paul’s overlooks it all.
The sheer size and beauty of the Cathedral never fails to stun me. Sitting regally atop Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, it rises above the office buildings and tourist shops to take centre stage. I had been wanting to visit ever since I first moved to London, and so Nicole, Stacey and I chose this beautifully sunny day in January to take full advantage of the amazing views from the dome.
Cathedrals were traditionally built not only as houses of worship, but also to demonstrate through their size and beauty the power of the Church. St Paul’s certainly does that. When you enter the nave, you have to crane your head all the way back to view the gorgeous stonework that covers every inch. Gold glints from all angles in the centre of the Cathedral, and the sheer scale becomes clear when you sit in the semicircle of chairs in front of the high altar and realise that over a hundred chairs barely span the width of the nave.
The Nave – Image © Peter Smith
The Dome – Image © Graham Lacdao
We were determined not to waste the sunshine – we have adapted quickly to London! So we passed quickly through the nave and took to the stairs. At first these are wide and shallow, but they quickly curve into a tight spiral that leads you upwards to the Whispering Gallery. Acoustics are a funny thing, and in here you can whisper into the wall on one side and be clearly heard on the other. I found this quite unnerving, especially when Stacey chose to whisper creepy lines in a husky tone!
From The Whispering Gallery – Image © Graham Lacdao
Once we’d had our fill of sounding like a horror movie, we climbed the remainder of the 528 steps to the Golden Gallery. This is the smallest of the three galleries, and sits atop the curve of the Dome. It’s a bit of a squeeze in some points, but I was too busy drinking in the panoramic views of London to mind.
Southbank and the London Eye
The City, Canary Wharf in the distance, and Tower Bridge
The Walkie-Talkie, Tower Bridge, and the Shard
Shakespeare’s Globe, the Tate Modern, and the Millennium Bridge
It wasn’t until the light began to go that I could be persuaded down into the crypt, although the many memorials and tombs are also fascinating.
Crypt – Nelson Chamber – Image © Graham Lacdao
Even as we left St Paul’s and headed across the river on the Millennium Bridge, I couldn’t resist a few last shots of it. I loved the golden tint provided by the afternoon sun.
As you’ll know if you follow me on Instagram I’m lucky enough to work very close to St Paul’s and I am a little obsessed with photographing it – but the hashtag #stpaulsloversanonymous proves I’m not alone!
Whether you live in London or are just passing through, make sure you take the time to visit this beautiful building and, if possible, climb the dome for some of the best views of London.
Bits & Pieces
St Paul’s Cathedral is open for sightseeing Monday to Saturday only – on Sunday it is open for worship, but you won’t be able to climb into the galleries or the Dome
At £16 for an adult entrance at the time of writing, St Paul’s is one of London’s pricier attractions. Hoewver, this does include a comprehensive and well-presented audioguide which contains a loads of fascinating information and videos. Find more information on tickets and the Cathedral here
Additionally, if you’re a UK tax-paying resident, you can Gift Aid your ticket, which means not only does the Cathedral receive a better tax rate on your donation, but in return they allow you to come back as many times as you’d like during the year at no additional cost. I’ll definitely be making use of this!
Have you visited St Paul’s Cathedral? Did you climb the Dome?
Just a little note that photography is not allowed inside St Paul’s, and so the interior shots were all helpfully provided by the Cathedral. I’m not religious, but while there were others clicking away, I think it’s important to show respect by following these rules, whether they are set down by a church, a museum, or a cultural group.
