Sights · Our pick in London
St Paul’s Cathedral
Wren’s masterpiece
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Colin · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout St Paul’s Cathedral
St Paul’s Cathedral was rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of 1666 destroyed its medieval predecessor, and was declared complete in 1711. Its dome is one of the great sights of London. Visitors can climb to the Whispering Gallery and the Stone and Golden Galleries for views over the city, and visit the crypt, where Wren, Nelson and Wellington are buried. Book online; it is a working church, so attending a service is another way to see it.
Why it's on our list
- The dome and galleries
- Whispering Gallery
- The crypt
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with St Paul’s Cathedral before you go.
Hotels nearby
The closest hotels in our guide to St Paul’s Cathedral, as the crow flies.
- The Ned0.4 mi7 min walk
- Sea Containers London0.5 mi10 min walk
- The Zetter Clerkenwell0.6 mi13 min walk
- Andaz London Liverpool Street0.8 mi16 min walk
- Shangri-La The Shard0.8 mi17 min walk
What’s nearby
Distances from St Paul’s Cathedral are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 15 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest stations
- St. Paul'sCentral0.1 mi2 min walk
- Mansion HouseDistrictCircle0.2 mi4 min walk
- City ThameslinkNational Rail0.2 mi5 min walk
Nearest taxi ranks
- Taxi rank, St Paul's Churchyard0.1 mi1 min walk
- Taxi rank0.2 mi5 min walk
Black cabs can also be hailed in the street: a lit yellow TAXI sign means the cab is available.
Key sights
- The Shard0.8 miWalk 17 minCycle 5 minCar or taxi 9 min
- Tower of London1.0 miWalk 21 minCycle 7 minCar or taxi 11 min
- Covent Garden1.1 miWalk 21 minCycle 7 minCar or taxi 11 min
- London Eye1.2 miWalk 23 minCycle 8 minCar or taxi 12 min
- The British Museum1.3 miWalk 26 minCycle 8 minCar or taxi 13 min
- Trafalgar Square1.3 miWalk 27 minCycle 9 minCar or taxi 13 min
- Leicester Square1.4 miWalk 28 minCycle 9 minCar or taxi 13 min
- Westminster Abbey1.6 miWalk 32 minCycle 10 minCar or taxi 15 min
- Buckingham Palace2.1 miWalk 42 minCycle 14 minCar or taxi 19 min
- Harrods3.0 miCycle 19 minCar or taxi 25 min
Main rail terminals
- Liverpool Street0.7 miWalk 15 minCycle 5 minCar or taxi 8 min
- London Bridge0.8 miWalk 17 minCycle 5 minCar or taxi 9 min
- Waterloo1.0 miWalk 20 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 10 min
- Charing Cross1.3 miWalk 26 minCycle 8 minCar or taxi 12 min
- King’s Cross St Pancras1.6 miWalk 32 minCycle 10 minCar or taxi 15 min
- St Pancras International (Eurostar)1.7 miWalk 35 minCycle 11 minCar or taxi 16 min
- Euston1.8 miWalk 37 minCycle 12 minCar or taxi 17 min
- Victoria2.3 miCycle 15 minCar or taxi 20 min
- Paddington3.3 miCycle 21 minCar or taxi 28 min