St Paul’s Cathedral

St Paul’s Cathedral is not only an iconic part of the London skyline but also a symbol of the hope, resilience and strength of the city and nation it serves. Above all, St Paul’s Cathedral is a lasting monument to the glory of God. Its rich and diverse history means there is lots for visitors to the Cathedral to discover.

A Cathedral dedicated to St Paul has stood on this site since 604AD, and throughout the Cathedral has remained a busy, working church where millions come to reflect and find peace. The current Cathedral – the fourth to occupy this site – was designed by the court architect Sir Christopher Wren and built between 1675 and 1710 after its predecessor was destroyed in the Great Fire of London.

Important services have included the funerals of Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington and Sir Winston Churchill; Jubilee celebrations for Queen Victoria; peace services marking the end of the First and Second World Wars; the launch of the Festival of Britain; the Service of Remembrance and Commemoration for the 11th September 2001; the 100th birthday of the Queen Mother; the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, to Lady Diana Spencer and, most recently, the thanksgiving services for both the Golden Jubilee and 80th Birthday of Her Majesty the Queen.

A Guided Supertour of the Cathedral and Crypt is highly recommended for a first visit to St Paul's. The tours last 90 minutes and commence at 10.45, 11.15, 13.30 and 14.00. Audio tours are also available for the Cathedral and Crypt and last between 45 and 90 minutes.

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The Cathedral is open for sightseeing from Monday to Saturday 08.30 - 16.00 (last ticket sold). On Sunday the Cathedral is open for worship only and there is no sightseeing.  The galleries are open to sightseers from Monday to Saturday 09.30 - 16.15 (last admission). Please note that children must be accompanied by an adult when visiting the galleries. Special services or events may close all, or parts, of the Cathedral at short notice, so please consult the Cathedral calendar for more details.

As the cathedral is a working church it is possible to attend services daily. The cathedral also has extra services throughout the year to mark special religious events in the calendar.

Monday to Saturday services:                           Sunday Services:
07:30 Mattins                                                    08:00 Holy Communion
08:00 Holy Communion                                     10:15 Mattins
08:30 Doors open for sightseeing                    11:30 Sung Eucharist
12:30 Holy Communion                                    15:15 Evensong
16:00 Last entry for sightseeing                      16:45 Organ Recital
17:00 Evensong sung by Visiting Choir            18:00 Eucharist

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