Which Tube station is nearest to St Paul's Cathedral?

St Paul's station on the Central line is a couple of minutes' walk from the cathedral. Mansion House on the District and Circle lines is another short walk away.

Do you have to pay to enter St Paul's Cathedral?

Sightseeing visits need a paid ticket, best booked on the official St Paul's website. Attending a service, such as Choral Evensong, is free, though you cannot tour the building during worship.

How many steps are there to the top of St Paul's dome?

There are several hundred steps to the Whispering Gallery and more than 500 to the highest outdoor gallery. There is no lift to the upper galleries, so it is a real climb.

How long does a visit to St Paul's take?

Allow about two hours to see the cathedral floor, the crypt and the galleries in the dome. Without the climb, an hour is usually enough.

St Paul's Cathedral: Tube, Tickets and the Dome Climb

St Paul's Cathedral has dominated the skyline of the City of London for more than three centuries, and its dome is still one of the defining shapes of the city. A visit to St Paul's Cathedral combines grand architecture, a crypt full of national heroes and one of the best viewpoints in London, reached by climbing up inside the dome itself.

Why visit St Paul's Cathedral

There has been a cathedral dedicated to St Paul on this hill for well over a thousand years. The building you see today is Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece, built after the Great Fire of London in 1666 destroyed its medieval predecessor. Construction took decades and the cathedral was declared complete in the early 18th century. Its survival during the Blitz, when the dome rose above the smoke in a famous wartime photograph, made it a symbol of London's resilience.

Inside, the scale is what strikes most people first. The mosaics in the quire, the carved choir stalls and the view straight up into the painted inner dome are all worth slowing down for. The cathedral has also hosted great state occasions, including the funerals of Nelson, Wellington and Churchill and the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer.

Getting to St Paul's Cathedral by Tube

The nearest station is St Paul's on the Central line, just a couple of minutes' walk from the cathedral's east end. The Central line runs directly from Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road and Holborn, which makes it easy to reach from the West End.

Other options are close by:

Mansion House on the District and Circle lines, a short walk to the south.
City Thameslink on National Rail, useful if you are coming from the south or from Luton or Gatwick.
Bank, a major interchange for the Northern line and the DLR, about ten minutes on foot.

Contactless and Oyster cards work on all of these.

Tickets and opening times

St Paul's is a working church, and sightseeing visitors pay for entry. The ticket includes the cathedral floor, the crypt and access to the galleries in the dome, along with multimedia guides. It is usually cheaper and quicker to book in advance on the official website, stpauls.co.uk, which also lists current prices, sightseeing hours and any days when the building is closed for special services.

Sightseeing is generally not possible on Sundays, which are reserved for worship. If you only want to experience the building, consider attending a service. Choral Evensong, sung by the cathedral choir on most days, is free, open to everyone and is a memorable way to hear the acoustics of the dome. You will not be able to wander around during a service, but you will see the interior in its intended setting.

Climbing the dome

The climb is the highlight for many visitors, but it is a serious one, with no lift to the upper levels. There are three galleries:

The Whispering Gallery, which runs around the inside of the dome. Whisper against the wall and someone on the far side can hear you, at least when the gallery is quiet.
The Stone Gallery, the first outdoor level, with wide views over the City and the river.
The Golden Gallery, a narrow ring at the very top of the outer dome, reached by more than 500 steps in total and narrow stairs near the end. The view takes in the Shard, Tate Modern and much of the London skyline.

The stairs are steep in places and not suitable for anyone uneasy with heights or enclosed spaces. Gallery access can occasionally be restricted, so check on the day.

The crypt

The crypt is one of the largest in Europe and is easier on the legs. It holds the tombs of Admiral Nelson and the Duke of Wellington, and the grave of Christopher Wren himself, marked by a simple stone and the Latin inscription that translates as "if you seek his monument, look around you". There is also a café and shop down here.

Best time to visit and how long to stay

Arrive shortly after opening on a weekday for the quietest cathedral floor and the least crowded climb. Afternoons in summer and school holidays are busiest. Allow around two hours if you are climbing to the top, and about an hour if you are sticking to the main floor and crypt.

Nearby on the same Tube stop

St Paul's station is a good base for a walk through the City and across the river:

Millennium Bridge: the steel footbridge leading from the cathedral steps to the South Bank.
Tate Modern: the free modern art gallery directly across the bridge.
One New Change: a shopping centre with a free rooftop terrace looking straight at the dome.
Postman's Park: a small garden with a moving memorial to everyday heroism.

Find more around this station on St Paul's Cathedral on Around the Metro, or browse every stop on the London Tube map.