St Paul’s Cathedral is undoubtedly one of the most famous sights you’ll come across in London.
With a dome dominating the London skyline since 1710, and a crypt spanning the entire cathedral’s footprint, this Anglican church is synonymous with Britain’s identity and culture
St. Paul’s Cathedral started as a small 7th century church in AD 604, and the edifice you see today was built by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London in 1666.
With more than 1.5 million tourists visiting this attraction every year, here’s everything you need to know before booking your St Paul’s Cathedral tickets.
Top St. Paul’s Cathedral Tickets
# St Paul’s fast-track entrance ticket
# Welcome to London Tour
# Walking tour + St Pauls Cathedral entry
Table of contents
- What to expect at St Paul’s Cathedral
- Where to buy tickets
- How do online tickets work
- St Paul’s Cathedral ticket prices
- St Paul’s fast-track entrance tickets
- Welcome to London Tour
- Walking tour + St Paul’s Cathedral entry
- St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower of London & River Cruise
- How to reach St Paul’s Cathedral
- St Paul’s Cathedral hours
- Best time to visit St Paul Cathedral
- How long does St Paul Cathedral take
- St Paul Cathedral free entry
- St Paul’s Cathedral mass timings
- Dress code for St Paul’s Cathedral
- St Paul’s Cathedral FAQs
What to expect at St Paul’s Cathedral
When you visit St. Paul’s Cathedral, the first thing you notice is how the church captivates visitors with a respectable blend of history, art, and spirituality.
The dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral is a marvel of engineering and a defining feature of London’s skyline.
The Stone Gallery and the Golden Gallery, both situated in the Dome, offer breathtaking 360-degree views of London.
The Whispering Gallery creates a fascinating auditory experience by allowing whispers to travel along the Dome’s curved walls.
St. Paul’s Crypt, which happens to be the final resting place for many of England’s heroes, houses the tombs of Sir Christopher Wren, Admiral Nelson, and the Duke of Wellington.
Works by William Holman Hunt and William Blake adorn the walls of the Cathedral and stained glass windows by William Morris add a touch of vibrancy to this 17th century church.
As you explore the Cathedral, experience the unbelievable craftsmanship and massiveness of its Grand Nave and Quire.
St. Paul’s Cathedral holds services throughout the day and visitors are welcome to attend these services while maintaining decorum and reverence.
Where to buy tickets
St Paul’s Cathedral entry tickets are available online or at the attraction.
Online ticket prices tend to be cheaper than tickets at the venue.
When you buy online, you can avoid the long queues at the attraction’s ticket counters.
Because some attractions sell a limited number of tickets, during peak days they may sell out. Booking early helps avoid last-minute disappointments.
How do online tickets work
Go to the St Paul’s Cathedral ticket booking page.
Select the number of tickets, preferred date, and guide language, and buy the tickets.
Once you purchase the tickets, they get delivered to your email address.
There is no need to get printouts of the ticket.
You can show the e-ticket on your smartphone when you visit the attraction.
St Paul’s Cathedral ticket prices
St Paul’s Cathedral tickets cost £20 for visitors between 18 and 64 years old.
Tickets for children between six and 17 years cost £9.
Senior citizens aged 65 years and older and students with valid IDs qualify for a £2 discount and pay only £18 for entry.
Children five years and younger can enter for free.
St Paul’s fast-track entrance tickets
The fast track admission is the cheapest and most popular St Paul’s cathedral ticket.
You skip the long lines at the ticketing counter and walk right in to explore the cathedral floor and the crypt and go up the galleries.
It includes the multimedia guide, which you can pick up at the entrance.
Ticket Prices
Adult Ticket (18 to 64 years): £20
Student Ticket (with valid ID card): £18
Senior Ticket (65+ years): £18
Child Ticket (6 to 17 years): £9
Infant Ticket (up to 5 years): Free
Welcome to London Tour
The Welcome to London Tour starts at 7.45 am and lasts nine hours.
You drive around the city of London to see the significant landmarks and stop by at various places.
During the day, you also experience a scenic private cruise on the River Thames, a private tour of the Tower of London to see the Crown Jewels, and a tour of St. Paul’s Cathedral.
This ticket can be canceled 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Ticket Prices
Adult Ticket (17 to 59 years): £123
Senior Ticket (60+ years): £120
Student Ticket (with a valid ID): £120
Child Ticket (3 to 16 years): £113
Infant Ticket (up to 2 years): Free
Walking tour + St Paul’s Cathedral entry
This six-hour tour starts at 10 am and is the fastest way to explore 30 London attractions in a day.
At the end of the tour, you get to step into St. Paul’s Cathedral, one of the oldest cathedrals in the world.
Ticket Prices
Adult Ticket (14+ years): £66
Child Ticket (3 to 13 years): £10
Infant Ticket (up to 2 years): Free
If you want to keep it simple, we recommend this Old London walking tour in which you get to explore St Paul Cathedral from the outside.
St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower of London & River Cruise
In this popular combination ticket, you get whisked around London’s landmarks and cruise along the Thames.
A local guide gives you a guided tour of St Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London, after which you can go on a River Thames cruise to Westminster Pier.
The four-and-a-half-hour tour happens in an air-conditioned coach with a personal audio headset so that you can always hear the guide.
Kids two years and below join the tour for free.
Ticket Prices
Adult Ticket (17+ years): £92
Child Ticket (3 to 16 years): £82
Student Ticket (with valid ID): £82
Senior Ticket (60+ years): £87
Infant Ticket (up to 2 years): Free
Family Ticket (2 adults & 2 children): £338
Are you up for some adventure? Buy the London Outdoor Escape Game: The Great Fire ticket and follow the path of the 1666 Great Fire of London that razed some of the city’s most iconic attractions to ashes. Unlock clues and solve puzzles on your phone while reenacting the story of amateur fireman Gregory Grail on this self-guided tour.
How to reach St Paul’s Cathedral
St Paul’s Cathedral sits on Ludgate Hill, the highest point of London city.
Address: St. Paul’s Churchyard, London EC4M 8AD, UK. Get directions.
You can reach the Cathedral via public or private transportation.
By Bus
St Paul’s Cathedral bus stop (Bus No: 15, 17, 26, 76, N15, N21, N26, N199, N550) is just a few steps away from the attraction.
By Metro
The most convenient way to reach St Paul’s Cathedral is by metro.
St Paul’s metro station is a 2-minute walk from the cathedral.
The other metro stations nearest to the Cathedral are Mansion House, Blackfriars, and Bank.
By Train
If you plan to take the train, the nearest stop is the City Thameslink station, a brisk 3-minute walk to St Paul’s Cathedral.
By car
If you’re traveling by car, turn on your Google Maps and get started.
There are enough parking garages around the attraction.
St Paul’s Cathedral hours
St Paul’s Cathedral opens at 7.30 am from Monday to Saturday with a prayer.
Visitors who want to explore the Cathedral can enter from 8.30 am onward. The last entry is scheduled at 4 pm.
All tourists sightseeing the Cathedral must exit the premises by 4.30 pm.
On Sundays, prayers start at 8 am and go on till 7 pm.
Note: Tourists aren’t allowed inside the Cathedral on Sundays.
When do St Paul’s Cathedral galleries open
The St Paul’s Cathedral has three galleries—Whispering Gallery, Stone Gallery, and Golden Gallery.
These open at 9.30 am.
The galleries, just like other sections of the Cathedral, have a detailed weekly schedule.
Image: Stpauls.co.uk
Best time to visit St Paul Cathedral
The best time to visit St Paul’s Cathedral is before noon on a weekday – preferably Monday to Thursday.
For a peaceful visit, it is best to be at the cathedral as soon as the morning prayer ends at 8.30 am.
St Paul’s Cathedral is most crowded between 12 noon and 5 pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
Since the Cathedral opens for sightseeing much before the other London attractions, some tourists plan this visit as their first activity.
How long does St Paul Cathedral take
Visitors who want to explore St Paul Cathedral’s main floor, crypt, and climb the dome, will need around two and a half hours.
You can enter the Cathedral for free if you want to attend the service.
Since it is a highly rated attraction, it draws a lot of tourists and can get crowded.
To save time and avoid the queue, we recommend booking your tickets in advance.
Save money & time! For a flat fee gain free ‘skip the line’ access to 60 London attractions. Buy The London Pass
St Paul Cathedral free entry
It is possible to enter St Paul’s Cathedral for free.
On Sundays, the service begins at 8 am and on other days at 7.30 am.
If you want to attend the service, you can enter the Cathedral for free.
You won’t be allowed inside after the prayer begins – so it is best to land up 15 minutes earlier.
However, it will only be a limited experience because you will be sitting down for the service.
When you enter the Cathedral for prayers, you can’t walk around and explore.
Besides, all the other areas are blocked off during the service.
Free with London Passes
Yet another way to enter St Paul’s Cathedral for free (well, almost) is by buying one of the London discount Passes.
These passes help you save money and time because you can skip the line at most places.
Our two favorites are London iVenture Pass and London Explorer Pass.
St Paul’s Cathedral mass timings
At St Paul’s Cathedral, from Monday to Saturday, the morning prayer starts at 7.30 am, followed by Eucharist at 8 am and 12.30 pm.
Music is integral to the prayer, and everybody can join in for free.
At 5 pm, there is a Choral Evensong, and around this time, there is an occasional evening prayer as well.
On Sundays, the day begins with holy communion at 8 am, followed by Mattins at 10.15 am, and a sung Eucharist at 11.30 am.
A Choral Evensong is conducted at 3.15 pm and finally Eucharist at 6 pm.
You can find the full schedule of the St Paul’s mass here.
Dress code for St Paul’s Cathedral
There is no obligatory dress code for St Paul’s Cathedral in London.
However, since it is a religious place, visitors are expected to dress moderately.
Even though nobody will stop you from entering the Cathedral, low-neck t-shirts and mini-skirts are not advised for women.
It is a common practice for visitors in doubt to throw a scarf over their shoulders.
St Paul’s Cathedral FAQs
Visitors to this London Cathedral have lots of questions.
Here are some frequently asked questions about the St Paul’s Cathedral
The ticket includes access to the cathedral floor, crypt, and galleries, as well as the option to use a multimedia guide available in multiple languages. You can also join guided tours and talks based on availability.
There is no cloakroom, so bags or items larger than 45cm x 30cm x 25cm are prohibited.
Flashlights, Video recording, selfie sticks, tripods, and monopods are prohibited during your visit.
Yes, St. Paul’s Cathedral is an active Anglican cathedral that holds regular services. Visitors are welcome to attend these services. You do not require a ticket to participate in a service.
St. Paul’s Cathedral aims to provide accessibility for visitors with disabilities. Accessible entrances and facilities are often available.
Parking can be limited and expensive near the attraction. It’s often more convenient to use public transportation, such as the London Underground, buses, or taxis, to reach the cathedral.
Source
# Stpauls.co.uk
# Wikipedia.org
# Britannica.com
# Tripadvisor.com
The travel specialists at TheBetterVacation.com use only high-quality sources while researching & writing their articles. We make every attempt to keep our content current, reliable and trustworthy.
Popular attractions in London
Wonderful.
I live in Slovenia.
Access to all churches is free.
Access to the main museum in Ljubljana is 50p
Rip off Britain again !