Climbing the Dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral: The Ultimate London Skyline Experience

There is something almost magical about seeing the city of London from above. And only a few vantage points match the historical thrill of conquering the city’s most famous baroque masterpiece. Rising above the financial district, the legendary dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral invites people to trade the busy streets below for a panoramic reward above.

Climbing to the dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral is an incredible experience that elevates a typical sightseeing trip to the pinnacle of a trip to London. Regardless of your interest in the centuries-long royal history, the architectural significance, or the physical difficulty of ascending 528 steps to the summit.

We arrived in London on a cloudy Saturday morning and left our bags at a hotel on King’s Cross. From there, we walked towards the Thames River, trying to find a place to grab breakfast and enjoying the atmosphere of the city.

One of the most important churches in the world was right there at the end of the beautiful walk. St. Paul’s Cathedral has been anchored in the same plot of London soil for over 1400 years. And the church that we can see today is the fourth iteration of the cathedral. This church, which was completed in 1710 and was designed by the brilliant Sir Christopher Wren, continues to attract millions of visitors while functioning as a house of worship.

Upon entering through the imposing doors, you will be instantly taken to the expansive nave, which provides a clear view of the entire church. From there, you will walk past hundreds of wooden pens until you reach a central point directly underneath the massive inner dome. Towards the rear, you will find the historic quire, a colossal organ, and the high altar. The bombing raids of the Second World War left scars in those places that have since been fixed up.

Inside Sir Christopher Wren’s Masterpiece: Climbing the Dome of St.Paul’s Cathedral

However, as I mentioned before, the primary magnetic pull for me was to go all the way to the top. Climbing the dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral is an energetic physical challenge, but it rewards your effort easily. You’ll rise 111 meters above the city streets and pass by three distinct architectural layers. An inner dome that can be seen from the ground, then a huge outer shell that shapes the London skyline, and finally a hidden brick cone stuck between them to spread the huge 65,000-ton weight.

To conquer St. Paul’s Cathedral, the ascent means that you will have to go through three distinct gallery levels, each one offering a radically different perspective of the building and the metropolis below it.

The first one that you will visit, after 259 steps, is the Whispering Gallery. This initial stop provides a vertiginous look down at the cathedral floor. As the name suggests, the curved shape of the building makes it possible for a soft whisper against the wall to reach someone standing across from you through the dome.

When you reach 378 steps up, you will be at the Stone Gallery. This open-air stone balcony goes around the exterior base of the dome and opens up for a sweeping view of the urban landscape below. It is the perfect viewpoint to start taking pictures of the modern skyscrapers and historical rooftops below.

The final push will guide you 528 steps up the St. Paul’s Cathedral. Now you are at the Golden Gallery, and the increasingly narrow spiral staircases grow tighter with every rotation. There is a feeling of achievement upon reaching the outer dome, and the expansive vistas are legendary. Now you can see the winding River Thames, the Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe, and miles of the sprawling British capital.

The way down demands a careful, lengthy descent back down those same 528 steps. Once back on solid ground, descending further into the subterranean Crypt provides a profound historical anchor.

Many of the country’s most famous historical figures are buried in this atmospheric, vaulted lower level. These include Admiral Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, and Sir Christopher Wren himself, who is buried beneath a simple but moving black marble slab.

I must admit that I spent a lot more time than I had anticipated looking at all the details in this area of St. Paul’s Cathedral, which I had never heard of before. I believe I was too focused on the dome and completely forgot about the crypts.

Practical Information for Visitors of the St. Paul’s Cathedral

The galleries open at 09:30, and the St. Paul’s Cathedral is open Monday through Saturday from 08:30 to 16:30. Sundays are reserved strictly for worship services.

Tickets are available for general admission, which includes access to the crypt, the cathedral floor, all three dome galleries, and a fantastic multimedia audio guide. My advice is to buy them online in advance just to avoid problems and massive queues.

The St. Paul’s Cathedral is easy to get to from the St. Paul’s Underground station, local bus routes, or a nice walk like I did.

One thing that I have to say before I go is that proper preparation is essential before setting foot on the spiral staircases. Because the upper ascents use strict one-way stairwells that are very narrow, I say that anyone who gets severe dizziness or is physically tired should really think about their limits before pushing past the first levels.

For those with the stamina, though, the climb to the top is still one of the best things to do in London.

Conquering 528 Steps: A Guide to Climbing the Dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral

St. Paul’s Churchyard, London
EC4M 8AD, United Kingdom

www.stpauls.co.uk