LONDON WEEKEND BREAKS - St. Pauls Cathedral

Designed by Sir Christopher Wren, St. Pauls cathedral is one of London's best known and most visited architectural masterpieces with its famous domed roof and towering twin spires.

Externally the cathedral is grand and imposing with its dominating greyish coloured facades composed of massive masonry units, and the many circular columns that appear in various features on three different levels of the building.

Within the cathedral the ornamentation continues giant pillars, monumental walls and many delicate carvings in both wood and stone.

The cathedral also has a number of works of art (including paintings by the artist Sir James Thornhill) and a spectacular main altar.

On a more sombre note, St. Pauls is the final resting place of some of Britain's best known and most famous historical characters.

Features of St. Pauls' Cathedral

Many visitors to the cathedral are unaware that the famous dome that tops St. Pauls is not quite what it appears to be. In fact, the most striking aspect of this building is actually a non load bearing aesthetic dome that is there for its beauty and nothing more.

The externally visible dome sits on top of a structure that is actually sandwiched between two fake domes. One that can be seen from the exterior and another that is visible from inside the structure.

A complex supportive mechanism suspends the internal dome and supports the external dome giving the impression of a single load bearing dome that would have been a remarkable feat of engineering and design in its day.

Further attractions of this remarkable building include the famous Whispering Galleries that create echoes and sound resonances, and the American Memorial Chapel that honours American soldiers killed during the Second World War.

Many of the St.Pauls visitors ascend the building's numerous flights of steps to reach the top most galleries of the cathedral and enjoy the stunning panoramic views of London.

Indirectly, St. Pauls has influenced the London Skyline for many decades and not just because of its appearance. Many years ago the planning laws of London were changed to ensure that all existing views of St. Pauls were protected.

This was done by creating invisible sight lines that prevent any new building being constructed in a position that affects a view of the famous cathedral.

Entry and location

St. Pauls has its own tube station which is named St. Pauls and basic entry into the cathedral is free. Access to some areas does however have a charge.