St Paul’s Cathedral rose from the ashes of the Great Fire of 1666. The architect Sir Christopher Wren rebuilt it between 1675 and 1710, crowning it with one of the largest domes in the world – still a landmark of the London skyline.
What to see
The nave and the dome
Under the dome, the mosaics and the light are breathtaking. Wren is buried in the crypt, with a simple inscription: “Reader, if you seek his monument, look around you.”
The galleries
Climb the steps inside the dome to the Whispering Gallery, where a whisper against the wall can be heard on the other side; then to the Stone Gallery and the Golden Gallery at the top, with views over the City and the Thames.
The crypt
Admiral Nelson and the Duke of Wellington are buried here.
Tips
- Book online; sightseeing is Monday to Saturday – on Sundays the cathedral is open for worship only.
- The climb to the Golden Gallery has more than 500 steps and no lift.
- Walk across the Millennium Bridge to Tate Modern afterwards.
