St Paul's Cathedral was built around 1680 after the great fire of London, but a church to St Paul has stood here since 604AD. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren, the current St Paul's remains an imposing landmark in the London skyline. St Paul's is the heart of the Church of England and many royal weddings, birthday thanksgivings and funerals take place there, including the marriage of Charles and Diana.
One of the highlights of a visit to St Paul's is the Whispering Gallery in the dome where, due to its multilayer construction, you can whisper to the wall and be heard on the opposite side of the gallery. For spectacular views across London, you can climb to the top of the dome. As well as the historic art and design of the cathedral interior, St Paul's has a vibrant contemporary arts project which commissions artists to make new works for the cathedral. It also has a musical program including organ recitals. The crypt is burial place for many important people including Sir Christopher Wren himself.
St Paul's is easy to reach by bus or train. The closest stations are St Paul's, Mansion House or Cannon Street or Blackfriars (overground only). One of the nicest ways to approach is from South Bank crossing the river via the modern Millennium Bridge which gives lovely views of the cathedral.
