St. Paul's Cathedral
The Great Fire of London in 1666 left much
of the city in ruins, including the medieval St. Paul's
Cathedral that had stood on the sight for many centuries.
From the ashes of this disaster, architect Sir
Christopher Wren designed and oversaw the construction
of a new Cathedral, and the present building was the
stunning result.
Recent important historical events that have
occurred at St. Paul's include:
- Bombed by the Luftwaffe during the Second World
War, becoming a symbol of British resistance (see
picture below)
- The state funeral of war-time leader Winston Churchill
in 1965.
- The wedding of Charles and Diana in 1981.
Highlights of any visit to St. Paul's:
- The initial view of the cathedral's West Front
and Towers from Ludgate Hill (use Blackfriars
tube)
- Climbing up the Dome, the second largest
in the world.
- The Stone Gallery offers great views over London.
- The acoustics of the Whispering Gallery
inside the Dome allow whispers to be heard by listeners
on the far side.
- The huge and well-ordered interior.
- The Crypt, in which memorials to such British
heroes as Lord Nelson, Lawrence of Arabia, and Sir
Christopher Wren himself can be seen.
Getting There
Ludgate Hill, EC4. Located in the heart of the old
City.
St. Paul's, Blackfriars, or Mansion House Tubes,
St. Paul's Thameslink.
Opening Times and Admission Charges
Also check out the Great
British Heritage Pass
The cathedral is open 8.30am to 4pm Mon-Sat.
Admission charge £5 for adults.
More Information
Check out the website at www.stpauls.co.uk,
phone 0207 236 4128, or email chapter@stpaulscathedral.org.uk
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