St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral is the Anglican cathedral of London and the seat of the Bishop of London, standing on Ludgate Hill at the highest point of the City of London. A church has occupied the site since AD 604, but the present building was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and completed in 1710, replacing the medieval Old St Paul's destroyed in the Great Fire of London of 1666.
Wren's English Baroque design is crowned by one of the largest church domes in the world, an engineering and aesthetic triumph that has defined the London skyline for more than three centuries. The interior dazzles with monumental space, mosaics and the famous Whispering Gallery encircling the base of the dome, while the crypt holds the tombs of national heroes such as Nelson, Wellington and Wren himself.
The cathedral has been the backdrop to great occasions of state, from the funerals of Churchill and Thatcher to the wedding of Charles and Diana and royal jubilee services. Having survived bombing during the Blitz, it endures as a powerful symbol of resilience and remains a major destination for worshippers and visitors alike.
- Annual visitors
- ≈ 1,500,000
- Location
- 51.5138, -0.0983
- Local time
- 23:35 (Europe/London)
🕘 Visiting hours
| Mon–Sat | 08:30–16:30 |
| Sun | Closed |
Sundays reserved for worship; last entry ~16:00; approximate
✨ Saints & blessed venerated here
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Paul the Apostle Saint
Patron saint to whom the cathedral is dedicated
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Mellitus Saint
First bishop of London who founded the original church on the site in 604
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Erkenwald Saint
Bishop of London whose great medieval shrine stood in Old St Paul's
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Thomas Becket Saint
London-born martyr historically venerated; depicted in cathedral imagery
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John Donne Saint
Dean of St Paul's whose effigy uniquely survived the Great Fire; commemorated figure
Care & donations
The Dean and Chapter of St Paul's
Admission charge for sightseeing; donations welcomed; free entry for worship
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