 | London St Pauls Cathedral Reviews | Tips 1 - 10 of 212 |  |
Recently voted the number one man-made attraction in London, St Paul’s Cathedral stands proudly in the heart of the city's square mile, and is one of London’s architectural marvels.
Construction of the cathedral was completed in 1708 on the site of four previously destroyed cathedrals, the oldest dating back to the year 604. It is currently nearing the completion of extensive restoration in preparation for its 300 year anniversary.
St Paul's Cathedral has been the site of royal weddings, and funerals of Britain's leaders. Its substantial crypt has memorials to military greats such as Admiral Nelson, whose remains lie at the centre of the Crypt, directly beneath the centre of the dome.
The cathedral's huge dome is the second largest in the world (after St Peter's in Rome). Climb up into the dome to the Whispering Gallery, which is so named as if you whisper it can be heard across the other side of the dome. Ascend further to the external Stone Gallery or upwards to the Golden Gallery for fabulous views across London.
When we visited the cathedral the dome was being restored so we were unable to get a close up look. Hope to return soon to have a proper squiz. Leave a Comment
|
 | |  |
Visiting London?
Read reviews about London Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
A church dedicated to St Paul has overlooked the City of London since 604AD. The current Cathedral, started in 1669, is the fourth and was built after a fire destroyed 4/5th of all of London in 1666, destroying 13,200 houses and 89 churches (including the St. Paul's Cathedral).
St Paul’s has been the stage for many important events in English history such as the funerals of Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington and Sir Winston Churchill; Jubilee celebrations for Queen Victoria, King George V; peace services marking the end of the First and Second World Wars; the 100th birthday of Queen Elizabeth; the wedding of Charles to Lady; and the Golden Jubilee of the Queen.
When you enter and see the dome from the inside it may look strange, it’s smaller and lower than you probably expected. Between the inner and outer domes is a brick cone, which supports the 850-ton lantern.
Climb 259 spiral steps and check out the Whispering Gallery in the interior of the dome, it’s an acoustic marvel where even the faintest whisper can be heard clearly on the opposite side. Sit on one side, have someone sit on the opposite side, and whisper away. From there a second steep climb leads to the Stone Gallery, opening onto a panoramic view of London. Another 153 steps take you to the Inner Golden Gallery, situated at the top of the inner dome.
After all those steps you are probably tired as heck and wondering why you even wanted to see the city from there. After the heart rate goes back to normal, snap a picture with you at the top. This will be a badge of honor and something to gloat about to friends who didn’t make it
OPEN:
Cathedral Mon.-Sat. 8:30-4, closed occasionally for special services;
Ambulatory, crypt, and gallery Mon.-Sat. 9-5:15. Shop and Crypt Café also Sun. 10:30-5 Leave a Comment
|
| | |
st. paul's cathedral is a prominent landmark in central london. the original cathedral was destroyed in the great fire of london in 1666. the current cathedral was designed by christopher wren and rebuilt in 1675. the dome of the cathedral is second largest in the world after st. peters in rome. open 8:30 am to 4pm, monday-saturday.
|
St. Paul's Cathedral is a Renaissance Church and Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece, which took 35 years to build. It dominates the North bank of the River Thames. Even though St. Paul's was bombed several times during WWII, it survived because of the determination of the fire brigade. After the war, the church was renovated and brought back to its former splendor.
%(Note: The wedding of Lady Diana Spencer and Prince Charles took place here in 1981.)
Visible from all over London, the church's dome is patterned after St. Peter's in Rome...this dome is St. Paul's most distinctive feature. It's really a "dome within a dome, supported by a hidden superstructure and crowned with a stone lantern."
When I was inside and looked up, I actually had vertigo!
Fortunately, it's possible to climb up for a fantastic view of London. There are three galleries around the dome to experience these views.
St. Paul's also has the largest crypt in all of Europe. Appropriately, Sir Christopher Wren is buried here. Leave a Comment
|
| | |
The Cathedral is well worth visiting even at the perhaps expensive rate of 7 pounds entry and an additional few pounds for the tour. I highly recommend the guided tour, as walking through the cathedral without any information is not only boring but also hardly worth the 7 pounds. The problem with the tour for many tourists is the length of time it takes, but it gives a fairly complete and insightful history.
The dome is one of the highlights of visiting the cathedral. From the top, you can see most of london though the stairs are a bit daunting for some. Make sure you ask exactly when they will stop allowing visitors to climb to the top, as sometimes it is well before the closing time of the cathedral.
If one isnt interested in the history or the dome, you still enter the church without paying the admission if you dont mind sitting through a service. Just make sure it is a public service and say that you are there for the service. you might also want to dress semi appropriately.
You might also want to check the event calendar, as preformances such as Handel's Messiah are well worth attending. At the moment, visiting hours are between 8:30 am and 4:00 pm though these fluctuate with preformances, services, and the restoration they are conducting. Leave a Comment
|
| | |
Visiting London?
Read reviews about London Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
sir christopher wren's masterpiece, the dome of st paul's is a familiar landmark to the city of london. you will see it from most places around the city. it is a majestic building, and if you have the time and energy, you can climb to the top of the dome for awesome views over london. Leave a Comment
|
St Pauls is one of the key sights in London for visitors. Even as someone living and working in London, I get as excited when I see it as someone who sees it for the first time :)
The original cathedral dedicated to St Paul was built in 640AD... the current cathedral is the fourth one to stand on this site, beautifully designed by Christopher Wren.
Mnay important events have taken place here in its history: The Queens Jubilee Celebration, some famous funerals (Winston Churchill being one of them), Prince Charles and Lady Diana's wedding to name a few.
It is full to the brim with the history of London and its inhabitants. Well worth a visit! Leave a Comment
|
it's all too easy to just visit the main entrance of st paul's, take a quick look and snap, and continue on your way. i should know, it took me my third visit to london to discover that walking all the way around the cathedral is worth it!!! there is so much to see behind st paul's, and around. the rear has beautiful gardens, with statues and monuments. it's a lovely place to see on a sunny day! definitely don't miss having a look around the whole of the cathedral, it's worth the extra steps! Leave a Comment
|
This beautiful Cathedral was built in the 1600's and designed by Christopher Wren. It is really awe inspiring standing beneath it's emormous dome. I have heard that you cannot take pictures inside the Cathedral, but when I went (10 years ago) I had no problems. Leave a Comment
|
Of course it is amazing to go into St Paul's and take in the architecture of the dome and the cathedral structure, the wonderful artworks, the reams of tombstones, and tombs, but the outside is beautiful too. On a nice afternoon, it is wonderful to just sit on a bench beside the cathedral and look up at the Cathedral. There are wonderful views beyond the typical one looking up at the steps, and wondering about the bird lady from Mary Poppins. Leave a Comment
|
More London Tips Overview
| General Tips
Tips: 2,309 - Photos: 2,315 | Restaurants
Tips: 2,778 - Photos: 3,006 | Hotels and Accommodations
Tips: 1,667 - Photos: 1,279 | Things To Do
Tips: 9,159 - Photos: 11,911 | Nightlife
Tips: 1,353 - Photos: 1,087 | Off the Beaten Path
Tips: 1,547 - Photos: 1,912 | Tourist Traps
Tips: 498 - Photos: 344 | Warnings or Dangers
Tips: 688 - Photos: 387 | Transportation
Tips: 1,907 - Photos: 1,452 | Local Customs
Tips: 702 - Photos: 617 | Packing Lists
Tips: 286 - Photos: 121 | Shopping
Tips: 956 - Photos: 936 | Sports Travel
Tips: 215 - Photos: 321 | Flights
Tips: 155 - Photos: 0 |
 |
Best London Travel Deals London's Official Website
Everything you need to plan, book and get the most from your vacation London Tours
Book Day & Night Tours in London Visit Windsor, Oxford, Canterbury ! Tours of London
Crown Jewels, Tower, Thames Plus Stonehenge, Windsor & more Sponsored Links |
|
on August 23, 2006
on January 15, 2008
on July 23, 2006
on May 12, 2005
on March 17, 2005
on March 10, 2005
on April 27, 2006
on June 30, 2004
on May 29, 2004
