Synonymous with the London skyline, the dome at St Paul’s Cathedral remains one of the most famous landmarks within the city. Following the 1666 Great Fire of London, St Paul’s Cathedral was rebuilt by St Christopher Wren & is the final resting place for may notable historic figures as well as hosting Royal Marriages & Coronations. Steeped in a thousand years of history, the cathedral continues to be a popular sightseeing attraction for visitors to London. Follow our money saving guide below packed with tips & tricks to help you make the most of your visit.
St Paul’s Cathedral; Dome Only Tickets from £13.50
For those more interested in exploring the dome within St Paul’s Cathedral and taking in the views from the top, here’s an opportunity to enjoy a discounted entry ticket. Running every Sunday between 12:30pm & 2pm until 28 September 2025, enjoy reduced price tickets that offer access to the Whispering Gallery, Stone Gallery & the Golden Gallery. Tickets must be booked in advance and are priced at £13.50 an adult/£5 a child, (6-17 years) with further concessionary rates available. This ticket does not allow you to explore the rest of the cathedral but rather limited to the Dome & views from the top.
St Paul’s Cathedral; Tickets from £25 an adult/£10 a child
Visit Britain have teamed up with St Paul’s Cathedral to offer admission tickets from just £25 an adult/£10 a child, (6-17 years). Admission includes access to the Cathedral, Whispering Gallery, Stone Gallery, Golden Gallery & Crypt. Good to see this option allows you some flexibility as you can cancel up to 48 hours in advance to receive a full refund.
TO BOOK GO TO St Paul’s Cathedral Tickets from £25pp/£10 a child.
St Paul’s Cathedral Sightseeing Tickets from £1pp
Low income households can pick up £1 sightseeing tickets for St Paul’s Cathedral that are available for for one adult and up to 4 children, (age 6-17 years). These tickets are available to those in receipt of selected benefits where tickets can be purchased online or at the door. More information available over at £1 Sightseeing Tickets for St Paul’s Cathedral.
St Paul’s Cathedral, (photo; Phil Loach)
St Paul’s Cathedral; London Explorer Pass
The London Explorer Pass includes entry to 60+ London attractions/experiences including St Paul’s Cathedral, The Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Hampton Court Palace, Kew Gardens & London Zoo. Simply opt to visit between 3 & 6 visitor attractions from a wide range of options, (1 credit = 1 attraction visit) that includes St Paul’s Cathedral and pick up discounts off single entry prices.
TO BOOK GO TO London Explorer Pass includes entry to St Paul’s Cathedral.
St Paul’s Cathedral; FREE Entry
Whilst St Paul’s Cathedral relies on paid admission charges to cover their running costs, it remains a working church offering free entry to those that wish to worship by attending a service. For most services, you do not need book, simply turn up on the day. Once inside the cathedral, you are asked to remain seated to maintain an atmosphere conducive with prayer.
St Paul’s Cathedral; Concessions
There are concessionary tickets in place for students, seniors, (65 years +) plus a wide variety of discounted family tickets. Visitors living with a disability can claim a free sightseeing admission ticket for themselves and an accompanying carer.
St Paul’s Cathedral; 2 for 1 Voucher
For those travelling by train into London, look out for this 2 for 1 voucher for St Paul’s Cathedral that offers value for money. This offers 1 person free entry when accompanied by a full paying person when presented together with valid train tickets; simply book ahead & watch out for any excluded dates. This 2 for 1 promotion secures you individual tickets and does not include guided tours or special events with more details can be found at 2 for 1 voucher offers.
FOLLOW OUR London Eye Guide packed with cheap ticket offers plus tips & tricks to beat the queues!
St Paul’s Cathedral
St Paul’s Cathedral Free Entry; Evensong
Choral evensong offers you a chance to experience St Paul’s Cathedral as intended and enjoy the ethereal voices of the choir. Running every day at 5pm, (3pm Sundays), Evensong is a free, unticketed service that gives visitors an opportunity to experience the voices of the Cathedral choir. This 45 minute session is open to the public with more information available over at Evensong at St Paul’s Cathedral.
St Paul’s Cathedral; National Art Pass
National Art Passholders are eligible for a 50% off walk-up individual adult, concession or child admission tickets for St Paul’s Cathedral. Passholders do not need to book in advance & cannot be used in conjunction with any other or promotion. It is not valid against guided tours or special event tickets. Look out for discounted 3 month National Art Pass offers that run at selected times during the year too!
St Paul’s Cathedral; Clubcard Vouchers
Tesco shoppers can redeem their clubcard vouchers towards entry costs at St Paul’s Cathedral. Reward partner codes are validated upon arrival (not online) and are redeemable against walk-up individual adult, concession, child and family admission tickets only. Worth noting you have the option to top up vouchers with another payment option for those short of clubcard vouchers.
St Paul’s Cathedral; Free Entry for Blue Peter Badgeholders
Valid Blue Peter badgeholders can pick up FREE entry to St Paul’s Cathedral when accompanied by a full paying or concessionary adult. Eligible badgeholders must be between the age of 6 & 15 years and present both the Blue Peter badge & badge card on the day of their visit. The free admission offer doesn’t apply for guided tours or special event tickets. Good to know that 1 paying adult can be accompanied by up to 2 children with badges and valid badge cards with more information over at St Paul’s Cathedral – Free Entry for Blue Peter Badgeholders.
St Paul’s Cathedral; FREE Entry For Former Choristers
Bit of a long shot but worth noting that former choristers can gain free entry to St Paul’s Cathedral & bring up to 6 accompanying family members! Simply pre-book & enter your promotional code to take advantage of this free ticket offer.
FOLLOW OUR Budget Views Of London Guide including FREE Entry Options!
St Paul’s Cathedral – View From The Golden Gallery
St Paul’s Cathedral; Dome & Galleries
Your admission tickets includes access to the Dome, Whispering Gallery, Stone Gallery & Golden Gallery that are all well worth a visit. The Whispering Gallery allows you to see the cathedral from height whilst enjoying the acoustic properties of the dome. You then have the option of returning to the cathedral floor or continuing your journey to the top where you’ll be rewarded with stunning 360 degree views over London from the top of St Paul’s Cathedral.
1. There are 257 steps up to the Whispering Gallery, the stairs are steep with no resting or passing places. There is a one-way system in place for both the ascent & decent so you’ll need to consider your level of fitness before embarking on this trip.
2. If you have children within your party, worth noting that any person under 18 years must be accompanied by an adult throughout their visit to the Galleries.
3. As the name suggests that Whispering Gallery allows visitors to whisper to each other from opposite sides of the dome and be clearly heard. This architectural marvel must be experienced before you move on with your journey – turn inwards towards the stone dome when trying this out.
4. Upon leaving the Whispering Gallery, you have the choice of returning the Cathedral floor or continuing up to the Stone & Golden Galleries. There are a further 119 steep steps from the Whispering Gallery to the Stone Gallery followed by an additional 152 steps up to the Golden Gallery. The ascent from the Stone to the Golden Gallery narrows considerably and is particularly cramped so not for the faint hearted.
5. Both the Stone & Golden Galleries provide you with 360 degree exterior views over London taking in sights including the River Thames, London Eye, Millennium Bridge, Tower Bridge, Tower of London & the Sky Garden. There is no shelter from the weather from the Stone or Golden Gallery but it does give you the thrill of being at the top of one of London’s iconic attractions.
6. The Golden Gallery has very limited capacity so you may need to wait until space becomes available.
7. You might not be aware that St Paul’s Cathedral has 8 protected views over London that has shaped high-rise construction over the centuries. This does mean that St Paul’s Cathedral has an unspoilt view to all of the following corridors; Alexandra Palace, Parliament Hill, Kenwood House, Primrose Hill, Greenwich Park, Westminster Pier, Blackheath & King Henry VIII’s mound/Richmond Park. As the city skyline has changed dramatically over the year, you’ll be sure to find perfect views from the top of the Golden Gallery, weather permitting!
St Paul’s Cathedral; Tours & Additional Information
Audio Guides; free with general admission & includes a range of languages – great for those looking to go at their own pace.
Highlight Tours; free with general admission that last around 20 minute in spoken English. This gives you a basic overview before allowing you to explore at your own pace.
Cathedral Floor and Crypt Tour; free with general admission and last around 90 minutes in spoken English. This tour covers both the cathedral floor & the crypt and offers a greater insight into the history, workings and cultural aspects of the cathedral. This is a great option for those wanting a broader knowledge around the Cathedral.
The Triforium Tour; this is additional to your entrance charges and must be booked online in advance. Available Monday to Friday at 12 noon, this is great option for those wanting to go behind the scenes that includes access to the library, the iconic geometric staircase, trophy room & great model. Ideal for those that have previously visited the Cathedral or looking for something a little unusual.
Worth noting that you are permitted to take photos with your flash off during your visit although not during prayers that take place on the hour.
St Paul’s is not open for sightseeing on Sundays.
