Noisy, exciting and culturally diverse, there has never been a shortage of things to do and places to see in London, but with so much to do and see, where is the best place to start? Well why not try St Paul Cathedral?
Under its iconic dome roof, this historical landmark not only provides its own world to discover, but being located centrally and in close proximity of other must-see attractions in the capital, it is the perfect place to start any sightseeing tour.
A cathedral dedicated to St Paul has stood on this site since 604 AD, and has remained a working church, full of activity, where millions come to reflect and find peace. The current cathedral, the fourth to reside in this site, was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and was built between the years of 1675 and 1710 following its predecessor, which was ruined in the Great Fire of London.
Forming not only an iconic part of the London skyline, something you can later experience on one of London’s newer attractions, the London Eye, but its rich and diverse history means there is lots for visitors to discover. As well as discover, visitors will be in awe of the spectacular events that have taken place at St Paul’s, including the funerals of Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington and Sir Winston Churchill together with the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, to Lady Diana Spencer to name just a few.
Visitors can relish in its history through the works of art, monuments and the words etched in the stone pillars and arches that reside within. Children and adults alike can enjoy the acoustics in the Whispering Gallery and if able and willing to climb on further, another 271 steps to be precise, visitors can enjoy the Golden Gallery which offers fantastic views of central London.
Having recently undergone a £40 million investment of cleaning and repair work for its 300th anniversary it has been transformed both inside and out, enabling visitors to experience the cathedral close to what it was like day it was built.
All the excitement and discovery will leave guests feeling tired and no doubt hungry; well fear not. There is both a restaurant and café on site serving traditional British cooking and baking, refueling tourists for the next part of their trip. There is also a shop offering a large range of gifts and souvenirs where mementos can be purchased.
Once sightseers have experienced the wonders within St Paul’s Cathedral, other nearby attractions not to be missed include Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre Tour and Exhibition, Southwark Cathedral, Tate Modern and the Tower of London.
London is a city that boasts so much and with the fast-approaching London 2012 Olympic Games as well as the most talked about Royal Wedding of the decade between HRH Prince William and Catherine Middleton; London really is the place to be.
