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 Sir Christopher Wren. The final resting place for many notable historic figures, St Paul’s Cathedral has played host to many 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 Sightseeing Tickets from £1pp
Low-income households can pick up £1 sightseeing tickets for St Paul’s Cathedral that are available for one adult and up to 4 children, (age 6-17 years). These tickets are available to those in receipt of Universal Credit, Pension Credit or Employment Support Allowance, where tickets can be purchased online or at the door.
More information is available at Top Visitor Attractions Offering Discounted Entry To Low Income Families.
St Paul’s Cathedral, (photo; Phil Loach)
St Paul’s Cathedral; National Art Pass
National Art Passholders are eligible for 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 promotion. It is not valid against guided tours or special event tickets. Look out for trial promotions offering a 3 Month National Art Pass for £20 that run at selected times during the year.
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; 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. Available Monday – Saturday on individual & family tickets only, this 2 for 1 promotion does not include group tickets, guided tours or special events. More details can be found at 2 for 1 voucher offers.
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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 most days 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; 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; FREE Entry
Whilst St Paul’s Cathedral relies on paid admission charges to cover its running costs, it remains a working church offering free entry to those who 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 to prayer.
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 ages 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 to 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.
St Paul’s Cathedral; Dome Only Tickets, (Sundays)
At selected times of the year, you can pick up a Dome Only ticket that offers great value for money. This option works for those more interested in climbing the dome & taking in the views from the top rather than exploring the Cathedral itself. When running, the discounted Dome Only ticket runs on Sundays between 12:30pm & 2pm. This reduced-price ticket offers access to the Whispering Gallery, Stone Gallery & the Golden Gallery but not the rest of the cathedral. We’ll let you know if this promotion runs again next year.
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St Paul’s Cathedral – View From The Golden Gallery
St Paul’s Cathedral; Dome & Galleries
Your admission tickets include 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, the 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.
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St Paul’s Cathedral, (photo; Phil Loach)
St Paul’s Cathedral; More Infomation
4. Upon leaving the Whispering Gallery, you have the choice of returning to 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 at 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 have 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!
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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 and last around 20 minutes 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 lasts 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 a great option for those wanting to go behind the scenes; it includes access to the library, the iconic geometric staircase, trophy room & great model. Ideal for those who have previously visited the Cathedral or are 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.
