Our guides - British Culture professors - Don and Molly Rumblelow make trips like this one to St. Paul's Cathedral an experience, not just a lecture. So far we've learned that a church has stood here since 604 AD. There have been five buildings, the last one before the current one was a gothic cathedral that burned in the Great Fire of 1666. We know that the previous St. Paul's stood over 500 feet tall while the current one designed by Christopher Wren peaks at 365 feet - 1 foot for every day of the year.
As you tuck your camera away and follow your guide down the nave she points out the natural lighting Wren incorporated into his design. There is very little stained glass just for that reason. You sigh and make plans to come back earlier on a sunny day just to check out the stunning effect of sunbeams streaming through the cathedral. St. Paul's is classic in it's beauty and you feel a kinship with those who have protected it through wars and worshipped daily within its walls. It is the people's church. For those of you who can remember St. Paul's played host to the wedding of Lady Di and Prince Charles - I'm guessing this only endeared the people to Princess Di even more at the time.
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| Do you know which queen's statue welcomes you to St. Paul's??? |
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| Stone Gallery |
You can climb to the top of St. Paul's, but it is quite a climb. The first set of stairs takes you to the Whispering Gallery. You're supposed to be able to whisper against the rotunda wall and hear it easily on the other side. There were a fair number of people in the gallery when we went up, but we found it to be a bit tough to hear. The next climb gets you to the Stone Gallery, an outside walk around the rotunda that allows pretty incredible views of London. If you can overcome the vertigo, though, the next climb to the Golden Gallery is worth it. That takes you to the top of the rotunda and offers a spectacular 360 view of London, but from a very small ledge. The last climb is a bit intimidating, but worth the trip. After climbing your way through the galleries and wandering around the crypt you really should go look around in the gift shop or have a cup of tea in the cafe. Better yet, come back for a service. To come to Paul's is to embrace London.
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| 252 stairs later |
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| Millenium Walking Bridge |
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| This is my favorite level, you're up high and you can see over the rail! |
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| Maybe you shouldn't look down.... |
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| Hope with the London Eye in the background from the Stone Gallery |
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| Just to the left of Hope is the Globe Theatre, immediately behind her is the Tate Modern Gallery. This is from the Golden Gallery. |
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| These are the first of the many steps up to the Whispering Gallery |
You can climb to the top of St. Paul's, but it is quite a climb. The first set of stairs takes you to the Whispering Gallery. You're supposed to be able to whisper against the rotunda wall and hear it easily on the other side. There were a fair number of people in the gallery when we went up, but we found it to be a bit tough to hear. The next climb gets you to the Stone Gallery, an outside walk around the rotunda that allows pretty incredible views of London. If you can overcome the vertigo, though, the next climb to the Golden Gallery is worth it. That takes you to the top of the rotunda and offers a spectacular 360 view of London, but from a very small ledge. The last climb is a bit intimidating, but worth the trip. After climbing your way through the galleries and wandering around the crypt you really should go look around in the gift shop or have a cup of tea in the cafe. Better yet, come back for a service. To come to Paul's is to embrace London.
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