Address:
St Paul's Churchyard
Phone:
(020) 7246 8348
Hours:
Mon-Sat
8:30am – 4pm
(Galleries open at 9.30)
Cost:
Adult: £5
Child: £2.50
Official Site
|
|
|
Overview
 Designed by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London destroyed its predecessor in 1666, St. Paul’s Cathedral is actually the fifth cathedral to be built on Ludgate Hill. In fact, there has been a church on this site dedicated to
London's patron saint since 604.
Completed in 1713, St. Paul’s Cathedral is famous for being the site of many significant occasions in British history, one of the most prominent being the marriage of the late Diana, Princess of Wales to HRH, the Prince of Wales.
The Cathedral is the largest in England and is considered a masterpiece in architecture, as Wren’s utilized inspiration from various eloquent, foreign styles. For instance, the Cathedral’s façade is fashioned with two tiers of paired Corinthian columns, French-style, framed by two towers influenced by Borromini’s Roman Church of St.
Agnese.
The edifice is topped with a stunning dome that has become a symbol of national endurance, particularly because the Cathedral survived a World War II bombing that destroyed much of the surrounding structures. The inside of the 34-meter dome is decorated with scenes from the life of St. Paul. The nave, transepts and choir are in the shape of a cross, as in a medieval cathedral, but the interior reflects the Baroque movement in architecture.
A statue of Elizabethan poet John Donne can be seen in the South Choir Aisle, while Sir Christopher Wren, the Duke of Wellington and Lord Nelson are
among those buried in the crypt. Aside from numerous other memorials to British greats, other unique attractions include the Whispering Gallery, where a whisper made against the wall of the gallery is clearly audible on the opposite side, the Stone Gallery and the Golden Gallery with great views over London.
Audio tour available for 3 pounds.
|
