Sir Christopher Wren designed the current cathedral in the English Baroque style of architecture, and the exquisite design of the cathedral makes it a masterpiece. The white stone exterior of the building is still a view to admire, and it has one of the largest cathedral domes in the world, offering panoramic views of London from its gallery.
While there are church services daily, the church is open to tourists for tours of the church floor, the crypt and the dome.
Famous Events at the Cathedral
The church has held events like the wedding of Prince Charles and Diana, as well as the funerals of Lord Nelson, Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher. The crypt below the church is the resting place of many historical figures, including Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, Florence Nightingale, and Sir Christopher Wren himself.
Exhibitions
There’s also an exhibition space showing a very fascinating timeline of the history of London from the year 500 onwards. There is also an exhibition currently about the life of Sir Christopher Wren. The crypt floor also has a shop with souvenirs and historical literature.
Cathedral Dome and Galleries
One of the highlights of the tour of the church is visiting the dome and the galleries. There are three levels of galleries. The first one, the Whispering Gallery, is 30 meters above the cathedral floor with 257 steps of stairs. Its name comes from the acoustic properties of the gallery, where one can hear a whisper from one side of the gallery in any other part of it. The second one, the Stone Gallery, is 53m above the floor and up 376 steps. Finally, the Golden Gallery is 85m and 528 steps above ground, with a great view of the city. The climb does require some level of fitness and shouldn’t be tried with any medical conditions.
Location
Also, the location of the cathedral is great. The Millennium Bridge takes you to the other side of the Thames, where the Tate Modern is located. It’s a great place to take a picture, from the bridge towards the cathedral.
