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A photograph of St Paul's Cathedral
Photograph · Mark Fosh · CC BY 2.0

Historic site · London Borough of Southwark, London

St Paul's Cathedral

  • Good for families
Open today, 08:30 – 16:30
Today
Open today, 08:30 – 16:30
Visit duration
2 hours Editorial visit time estimate
Accessibility
Partly step-free
Price
£27.00 per person · Standard admission · Adult
Standing
Must see · Heritage site
Rank
Rank 8 of 18,189
Plan a day around this Map

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

Plan your visit.

Opening hours

Monday 08:30 – 16:30
Last entry at 16:00 for 08:30 – 16:30
Tuesday 08:30 – 16:30
Last entry at 16:00 for 08:30 – 16:30
Wednesday 08:30 – 16:30
Last entry at 16:00 for 08:30 – 16:30
Thursday 08:30 – 16:30
Last entry at 16:00 for 08:30 – 16:30
Friday 08:30 – 16:30
Last entry at 16:00 for 08:30 – 16:30
Saturday 08:30 – 16:30
Last entry at 16:00 for 08:30 – 16:30
Sunday Closed

Checked 2026-11-04 · Source

Admission

Per person £27.00 Standard admission Adult

Checked 2026-11-04 · Source

Access and facilities

  • Accessible toilets · Limited
  • Pushchair access · Limited
  • Step-free access · Limited
  • Toilets · Available

Source · Checked 2026-08-31

A photograph of St Paul's Cathedral
Photograph · Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net). · CC BY-SA 4.0

About St Paul's Cathedral

St Paul's Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Diocese of London and the great domed building on Ludgate Hill, designed by Sir Christopher Wren and built between 1675 and 1710 after the medieval cathedral on the site burned in the Great Fire. Wren's cathedral was consecrated on 2 December 1697 by Henry Compton, Bishop of London, and the final stone of the lantern was set on 26 October 1708; Parliament declared the building officially complete on 25 December 1711.

Checked 2026-10-01 · Source

A photograph of St Paul's Cathedral
Photograph · Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net). · CC BY-SA 4.0

What's inside

A visit to St Paul's has three levels. The cathedral floor holds the nave, the quire and the Great West Doors, and the crypt below it is the largest in Europe, running under the whole building rather than only its eastern end. Above them are the three dome galleries, and the cathedral publishes the climb exactly: the Whispering Gallery is 257 steps, the Stone Gallery a further 119 steps, and the Golden Gallery another 152 steps from the Stone Gallery, all of it stairs only.

Checked 2026-10-01 · Source

How long to spend

Allow two hours at St Paul's Cathedral. That splits roughly into 45 minutes on the cathedral floor, 30 minutes in the crypt, and 45 minutes for the dome climb and the time spent on the outdoor galleries at the top. Visitors who skip the 528 steps of the full climb can do the floor and crypt comfortably in an hour and a quarter.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

Season and crowds

Monday-Saturday 08:30-16:30; Sunday worship only. Dated closures, ceremonies, performances, weather or security notices from the operator take priority over ordinary hours. Arrive early enough to complete the public route before final admission. Follow staff directions on arrival.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

Tickets

Adult online sightseeing GBP 27; worship free. The base ticket excludes transport, tours, premium access, special exhibitions and independently operated activities unless explicitly listed. Carry any required identity or concession document. Follow staff directions on arrival.

Checked 2026-10-01 · Source

A photograph of St Paul's Cathedral
Photograph · Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net). · CC BY-SA 4.0

Getting there

Use St Paul's Underground station. Use the named entrance and station because security, separate exits and large complexes can change the practical route. Allow extra time for screening and the final walk. Follow staff directions on arrival.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

What to watch out for

Accessible routes serve principal areas, but stairs or historic constraints limit the complete circuit. Historic surfaces, crowds and security remain relevant.

Checked 2026-10-01 · Source

Photography

Visitors are welcome to photograph St Paul's during sightseeing hours, Monday to Saturday, and non-flash stills photography for personal, non-commercial use is welcomed across the cathedral floor, in the crypt and on the Stone and Golden Galleries. Cameras, phones and tablet cameras are all fine. The two interior exclusions matter for planning a shot list: nothing may be photographed on the Whispering Gallery, which is the very balcony most people climb for the view down into the dome, and nothing in St Dunstan's Chapel.

Checked 2026-10-01 · Source

Place details and sources

Address
St Paul's Churchyard, EC4M 8AD, London, GB OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
Short name
Saint Paul's OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
Building
Cathedral OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
Heritage grade
Grade 2 OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
Type of place
Attraction OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
Established
1675 Wikidata · Checked 2026-09-09
Heritage designation
Grade I listed building Wikidata · Checked 2026-09-09
Architectural style
English Baroque Wikidata · Checked 2026-09-09
Religion
Christian OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
Denomination
Anglican OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
Material
Portland limestone Wikidata · Checked 2026-09-09
Height
111 m Wikidata · Checked 2026-09-09
Architect
Christopher Wren Wikidata · Checked 2026-09-09
Wikipedia article
St Paul's Cathedral Wikipedia · Checked 2026-09-09

Common questions

What are the regular hours?

Sightseeing hours are Monday to Saturday 08:30-16:30; on Sunday the cathedral is open for worship only.

What is base admission?

Adult online sightseeing tickets cost GBP 27, and attending worship is free.

Is the complete route step-free?

Accessible routes serve principal areas, but stairs or historic constraints limit the complete circuit.

Which public transport is named?

The named public transport stop is St Paul's Underground station.

Can operations alter access?

Yes. Events, ceremonies, maintenance and security can change the ordinary route.

Are upgrades included?

No. Special tours, exhibitions and premium products use separate tickets.

Where it is

Open directions in Google Maps

Nearby

Within 8 min on foot
  • Cook's Hall 45 min
    5 min walk · London Borough of Islington

    Cook's Hall

    • High
    • Historic site
  • St Mary-le-Bow 45 min
    5 min walk · London Borough of Southwark

    St Mary-le-Bow

    • Must see · Heritage site
    • Historic site
  • St Bartholomew-the-Great 45 min
    8 min walk · London Borough of Islington

    St Bartholomew-the-Great

    • High · Heritage site
    • Historic site

In London Borough of Southwark

Same category

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Last updated:

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·