St Paul’s was founded in 604 AD by Saint Mellitus, a monk who arrived in Britain on a mission from Rome. The earliest cathedral buildings came and went, often damaged or destroyed by fires and raids.
In 1087, a more robust construction was started, providing a home for Christian worship for almost 600 years.
The first part of St Paul’s as we know it today was the quire, the area used as seating for the choir and clergy. This part of the building was finished in 1148, and St Paul’s Cathedral opened for worship before the rest was complete.
Until the Reformation of the Church of England, St Paul’s was a Roman Catholic cathedral used to celebrate Mass, sermons, feast days, and other typical practices. After the English Reformation, when the Church of England broke away from the Pope and Roman Catholic Church, worship at St Paul’s changed.
The poet John Donne became Dean of St Paul’s in 1621 until his death ten years later. During this time, the cathedral was a leading centre for a newly thriving Protestant culture in England.
By the 1650s, St Paul’s was in a poor state. The physical damage of the Reformation kick-started many years of problems. In 1561, lightning struck the spire and caused damage to the building’s structure. A restoration was planned but left incomplete due to the English Civil War in 1641.
When King Charles II was restored to the throne in 1660, plans to repair St Paul’s as a symbol of the Church of England were back on track. But architects couldn’t agree on how to restore the medieval structure. One day, Sir Christopher Wren, one of Britain’s most famous architects, proposed adding a dome to the cathedral roof. By 1666, the plans were agreed upon at last.
A week later, the Great Fire of London broke out on nearby Pudding Lane, reaching St Paul’s in two days. The wooden scaffolding and thousands of books fuelled the flames, putting the structure beyond hope of repair.
The building Christopher Wren designed to replace the burned down cathedral is his greatest masterpiece. After 35 years of planning, Wren’s new cathedral would provide an inspiring symbol for the Church of England, with a Morning Chapel, vestries, a treasury, organ, bell towers, and an interior fit for the most important ceremonies.
Building work started in 1675, with Portland stone, bricks, iron, and wood assembled by many skilled craftsmen. Wren lived to see his cathedral completed, with the last stone laid in 1708 by his son Christopher Wren Junior and Edward Strong, son of the master mason.
St Paul’s Cathedral is significant in size, with two 212-foot towers and an impressive 365-foot dome standing proudly above Central London. That means lots to explore! As well as its beautiful dome and cathedral floor, be sure to see the crypt, chapels, and the churchyard outside.
No visit to St Paul’s would be complete without climbing up into the dome. There are 528 steps to the top, where your reward is the view from the Golden Gallery. Enjoy a panoramic look at Central London from one of its most iconic historical landmarks. What could be better?
The Stone Gallery is a little lower, just 376 steps up, and provides more space to walk around. Lower still, the Whispering Gallery runs around the interior of the dome. It gets its name from a fun feature of its construction – a whisper spoken on one side of the gallery can be heard from the other side of the dome!
The breathtaking cathedral floor is the central part of St Paul’s, home to the High Altar, the organ, nave, and more. Walk in the footsteps of Princess Diana and Prince Charles on their wedding day, or imagine the funerals of Lord Nelson, Winston Churchill, and the Duke of Wellington, which all took place here.
Visitors today can enjoy the convenience of a touch-screen media guide, learning about St Paul’s throughout the centuries, or join an engaging guided tour to explore the unique building with an expert.
The cathedral is open to sightseers from Monday to Saturday between 8:30 am and 4:40 pm, with the last admission at 4 pm. Tickets cost £7.20 for children and £17 for adults. The fee includes a digital or in-person tour, depending on what you choose..
Whether you’re visiting the landmark or not, the area around St Paul’s is one of the most beautiful in London. Central and well connected, the St Paul’s neighbourhood also boasts many excellent bars and restaurants and proximity to the Thames, Southbank, Covent Garden, and anything else you might want from Central London.
Choose our Leonardo Royal Hotel in London St Paul’s for an ideal stay in the City of London. A stone’s throw from the cathedral, as well as St Paul’s and Blackfriars stations, it’s a comfortable, convenient choice for an elevated stay in the capital.
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