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CitySt Pauls CathedralLudgate Hill London
St. Paul's is a masterpiece of classic architecture, and was intended by its architect Sir Christopher Wren to be England's answer to St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome. The original Cathedral on this site at the top of Ludgate Hill was built in AD 614. A magnificent Gothic cathedral was later completed in AD 1100, with the tallest spire in England. (It was over 404 feet tall.) It contained the tombs of many famous men such as John of Gaunt (Shakespeare's "Time honoured Lanacaster"). This Gothic cathedral was burned to the ground in the Great Fire of London in AD 1666. Sir Christopher Wren, England's most prodigious architect, designed the present Cathedral and its Crypt in the classical style.The crypt contains the bodies of such famous men as Nelson and Wellington - and also that of Sir Christopher Wren himself with the simple and moving Latin insrcription on his tomb " Lector si monumentum requiris - circumspice" ( Reader if you seek his monument - look around you"). Photo courtesy S Worsfold When you enter the Cathedral you get an instant awareness of its huge size and spaciousness, especially when you stand under the towering splendour of the Dome. Do not miss a visit to the Golden Gallery or the Stone Gallery, and marvel at the views of London from there.
Photo courtesy S Worsfold
St. Paul's Cathedral is the grandest example of church architecture built in the City by Wren, who was also responsible for the design of over 50 of the churches within the City of London which had been burned down in the Great Fire of London, such as St. Margaret Lothbury, situated by the Bank of England, and St. Brides in Fleet Street, whose graceful spire you can see from the Stone Gallery of St. Pauls. During the Second World War when London was repeatedly bombed for oevr 40 nights, St. Paul's Cathedral alone survived the blitz and rose shining like a phoenix above the fires and smoke all around the City (the Central Business District of London). Over 80% of buildings near St Pauls were destroyed but Londoners took hope from the fact that the great Dome was spared.
The magnificent Dome of St Pauls - St Pauls Cathedral is a World Heritage sight and - quite simply - unmissable as a stupendous piece of architecture and as one of the iconic symbols of London.
Admission to St. Paul's is £3.50 for adults and £2.50 for children. It is open from Monday to Saturday between 09:45 and 16:15. Nearest Tube station: St Pauls
For further information phone the Visits Officer on 0207 236 4128 or visit their web site www.stpauls.co.uk for fuller details. Left: The magnificent winning photo of St. Pauls taken by Les Baker who won our star prize for the best photo of the favourite Thames attraction, as voted for by our viewers in 2007.
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