Your Inside Guide to: London
GLORIOUS St. Paul's Cathedral
One of the most famous religious landmarks in the world, St. Paul's Cathedral has been rebuilt many times since 604 AD. The famous domed building you see today was the design of Sir Christopher Wren and was finished in 1710.
The Cathedral has celebrated many important events, including the funeral of Winston Churchill and the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana, and a service conducted by Martin Luther King Jr. Upon entering this famous site, you find yourself in The Nave, where the largest memorial in the cathedral is housed. Here the Duke of Wellington — famous soldier who defeated Napoleon at the battle of Waterloo and British Prime Minister from 1828 to 1830 — is buried a floor below in the Crypt. Several other famous people are entombed in the Crypt, including Florence Nightingale, Admiral Lord Nelson, artists Turner, Lawrence and Blake, and the architect of the cathedral, Sir Christopher Wren.
If you're feeling up to it, be sure to visit the Whispering Gallery, where you need to climb over 250 stone steps in the spiral staircase. The Gallery runs around the base of the dome overlooking the Cathedral floor below. One of the Cathedral's most fascinating aspects is its acoustics at this spot. Sit on the stone seat and even at a whisper, the person sitting across from you, 100 feet away, can clearly hear you. This has fascinated me since childhood and is usually a child's lasting memory of the Cathedral.
If you are in good shape, continue up the stone steps — the next level is another 119 steps to the Stone Gallery on the outside of the dome — for a great view of London. For a more spectacular view, climb another 152 steps to the Golden Gallery.
There is a £9.50 entrance fee for adults £3.50 for children under age 16. Both guided and audio tours are available and the 90-minute guided tour comes highly recommended. Guided tours depart at 11 and 11:30 a.m., 1:30 and 2 p.m. and cost an additional £3 for adults and £1.00 for children.
SERVICES:
Monday to Saturday:
• 7:30 a.m. Mattins (said)
• 8 a.m. Holy Communion
• 12:30 p.m. Holy Communion
• 5 p.m. Evensong (sung)
Sunday:
• 8 a.m. Holy Communion (said)
• 10:15 a.m. Mattins and sermon (sung)
• 11:30 p.m. Sung Eucharist and sermon
• 3:15 p.m. Evensong and sermon (sung)
• 6 p.m. Evening Services
— Stephen Langley
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