| ranked #8 out of 10 attractions | rated 1.63 out of 5 | total 245 votes |
St Paul’s Cathedral
Why St Paul’s Cathedral is one of the worst London tourist attractions
OK, it’s a huge cathedral in the middle of London, and if you were allowed to try the echo inside, it could be a worthwhile tourist attraction.
But as it is, it’s just another cathedral and it’s a boring waste of time watching the church service there. Attending the (extremely long) church service is the only way to enter St Paul’s for free – if you’re just there for sightseeing, it will set you back an expensive 8 pounds!
Some say it’s an unmissable part of London’s architectural history – but if you ask us, there are better things to see and do on a holiday in London.
Some girls may enjoy reminiscing over Charles and Diana’s wedding which took place there in 1981 and there are also some famous people buried in the cathedral graveyard.
What can we say – if you like visiting churches, you will like this London tourist attraction.
Address
St. Paul’s Cathedral, St. Paul’s Churchyard,
London EC4
Opening times/Cost
Open daily: 08.30am – 16.00pm for sightseeing tours
Entrance free! Guided tours from £2.50
Related links
Official website of St Paul’s Cathedral
February 13, 2005 @ 2:42 am
Dina said,
Make sure, that you know how the mass in UK works. My experience was that you cannot enter the church, just for sightseeing; you have to attend the mass! After 1h you think it’s nearly over and just want to attend the communion, so they invite you to the very front of the church. Well there you have to sit down and take part of the mass another 1.5 h …. 2.5h in a church! This is much, when you’re in London only for the weekend… Don’t ask me if it was a special day or a regular sunday. It’s years ago!
February 24, 2005 @ 8:29 pm
John P Shneider said,
St Pauls was designed and built by Sir Christopher Wren and is part of the architectural history of England and not just ‘another catherdral’ nor is it a catholic cathedral so they do not have ‘mass’. Whilst it’s a shame we now have to pay to see inside if we’re not atending a service there, you shouldn’t just do this if you don’t actually want to take part in the worship as it’s not good for others when you noisily get out of your seat half way through and go off. Sometimes there will be one service where you sit in the main part of the cathedral followed by another where people are invited to sit up in the quire. So be careful, as if you sit there long enough obvioulsy you will end up sitting through more than one service! So, if you’re just sightseeing, simply cough up the money as it’s expensive to keep this old building up and running. There’s a great organ there if you like the sound of them and there’s a good tea shop in the crypt! (downstairs) Enjoy!
July 9, 2005 @ 12:04 am
Ellen said,
I lived there as a student & missing my home church, I thought the service at St. Paul’s was excellent! It was so inspiring & the boy’s choir with their ruffled formal neckwear was amazing to both see & hear! It’s really an awe-inspiring church. As a Christian, it made for a very meaningful religious experience for me.
July 9, 2005 @ 4:59 am
Beth said,
I saw a lot of cathedrals in Europe and this one was one of the nicer ones. We got to see it without attending mass. What I mostly remember is the statue of Queen Anne and what our guide told us. Queen Anne with her face towards a pub and her back to the church told alot about Queen Anne!! Then again it was in the 1980′s and Princess Di was still around and she was married in that church….I guess they thought it would be interesting to a bunch of American College students!!
July 23, 2005 @ 4:58 pm
the mckay's from canada said,
Once again, we disagree with your review! If you are fit and relatively slim, this is a great place to visit if you love great views of London. Going up to the outer balconies on top of the cathedral is amazing: almost as amazing as going up to see Big Ben. Truly a must-see! (Don’t listen to these people.)
September 20, 2005 @ 9:00 pm
D J said,
Oh for gods sake, I can’t beleave you could slag of a place of worship but i was wrong. St Pauls is a perfect example of the church. Just think how long it took to build the thing, just for you to slag it off like that. O.K if you dont want to sit through the service you have to pay, but that’s part of it. They want people to sit for the service, it’s part of the experience.
October 16, 2005 @ 8:47 pm
John said,
What long service? Most evensongs and communion services are about an hour – surely worth attending for the wonderful music. Or why not go to a free organ recital Sunday evenings?
I agree there’s not much to see in the building so why not go for the reason it was built which is the worship of God? I have heard some good sermons there too!
November 2, 2005 @ 4:19 pm
Roger Manhatten said,
One of the great buildings of the world, steeped in history. Climb up to the Whispering Gallery and go outside around the dome to see London’s wonderful skyline views. Stay for a service and hear some of the world’s finest choral music – for free!
November 2, 2005 @ 4:26 pm
Douglas Winton said,
The sound of the choir in this extraordinary building is quite unique. Go at 5pm Mon-Sat (3.15 on Sundays) to hear Evensong. Entry to the Cathedral and the service is free at that time. Sit towards the back and you can simply walk out at any time without disturbing anyone. Agreed, the sung (Mass) Eucharist (on Sunday mornings and Saints’ Days) is overlong if you are not interested in the Anglican religion. I also found out a little about the boy choristers here: http://www.stpaulsguild.org
December 3, 2005 @ 6:21 am
Heidi said,
St. Paul’s Cathedral was amazing and beautiful. It’s horrible that you’re trash talking about it.
January 8, 2006 @ 1:20 pm
stinky mcstink said,
It was a great church. how could you give it such a bad review. It was fun for all the family
January 9, 2006 @ 5:31 pm
Jesse James said,
The historical value of such a place is one of the things that puts London on the map as a number one place to visit in Europe. Obviously, the commentator has had no education in the beauty of architecture or grace and must Not be a Londoner as this so called run-of-the-mill building brought so many people together during many years of war. Especially during WWII. Who ever put the St. Pauls Cathedral, as well as the Westminster Abby, on the 10 Worst London Tourist Attractions should be reprimanded by public display in the Tower.
March 11, 2006 @ 11:26 am
bigjohn said,
St.Pauls is ok. It looks good on the skyline, and as a cathedral, it is one of the more interesting ones. More interesting archietecturaly than Westminster cathedral, which is very predictable.
March 16, 2006 @ 5:14 am
lil jo said,
st pauls is sad and borin dont go !!!
March 30, 2006 @ 12:58 pm
Deborah d. said,
It’s true that St.Paul’s is another big cathedral. But the climb up to the top of the dome is awesome, and the views of London are exhilarating–and much cheaper than the short, crowded views from the London Eye. (And the services are not particularly long!)
April 16, 2006 @ 7:39 pm
SRB said,
Avoid the St. Paul gift shop. We were deliberately sold the wrong poster, but did not discover this until our return to the states. The gift shop people are unwilling to take responsibility for their mistake(?), nor will they rectify the problem unless WE pay postage and return the wrong poster AND pay return postage for the correct one.
May 18, 2006 @ 5:47 am
Heather said,
You refer to everything on your website as “boring”, which really irritates me! Try expanding your vocabulary and maybe we’ll take your comments more seriously!
July 14, 2006 @ 4:23 am
Chevy said,
This is a good tourist attraction if you’ve seen the rest of the London sites.
The whispering room actually works and you can get amazing views over the Thames, most of the City and see London in a way you never did before (if you are willing to climb the stairs that is).
The graveyard also hosts Admiral Nelson along with Christopher Wren but the inner architecture of the cathedral itself can take your breath away.
Queues usually aren’t a problem and you can venture inside after 4pm for free (though you are restricted in that you can’t go up the stairs or see the behind half of the cathedral but you do catch a glimpse of the amazing interior anyway.
July 15, 2006 @ 12:33 am
Chris said,
Is the person who wrote the original comment addicted to action videos and cocaine?
What’s wrong with you – St Paul’s is a fantastic piece of architecture, a big slice of history and well worth the visit.
If you’re going to it seeking “excitement”, you’ve missed the point.
August 15, 2006 @ 3:04 pm
jordan said,
St. Paul’s Cathedral was amazing and beautiful place!!!!but seriously a little bit boring….
December 3, 2006 @ 7:23 am
deniz a.... said,
i never went there, but it looks beautiful….
January 14, 2008 @ 2:14 am
ben tiase said,
ben said,
the place is very jomingsom
January 29, 2008 @ 5:18 am
F said,
Who ever made this site is a total idiot. Your complete lack of appreciation is pathetic – you don’t even deserve to have been given the opportunity to ever have come here.
May 29, 2008 @ 7:24 am
Andrew said,
This site is made by idiots for idiots. St.Pauls is one of the most beutiful Cathedrals in the world. It is a work of exceptional craftsmanship and the story of how Wren conned the City Fathers and Church of England into buying a completely different design is fascinating. If you find St.Pauls boring you don’t deserve to travel: just stay at home in front of the TV then there will be one less brainless moron cluttering up the place.
July 12, 2008 @ 5:56 am
matt delves said,
Please spare me ignorance of this measure. I am not a christian but St Pauls Cathedral is a divine building in every sense. If you cannot appreciate that then please; you do not have the requisite faculties to write reviews of this type (although I agree with you about Madame Tussauds and the London Dungeon). Infact its insulting to the memory of the thousands of artists and artisans who built St Pauls even to mention them on the same page. 8 pounds is pittance for the sublime experience that is a visit to St Pauls.
September 29, 2008 @ 10:49 am
My Name Is Mud said,
How in the heck can going to a church rank as a Worst London Tourist Attraction? It’s a freaking church! What do you expect? Monte Python’s Flying Circus? It’s historic. Mary Poppins “Feed The Bird” lady was shot on St. Paul’s steps. Cheating Charles and Diana were married there. Ya da ya da ya da. It’s the 2nd largest domed church in the world – second to St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. If you decide to go to St. Paul’s, go around 5PM and you can sit up at the front for Evensong. Doesn’t last forever. You get a program to follow along and participate if you want. You sit in a circle and the sound of the organ and choir envelopes you. Afterwards go on out to Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese pub (one of the oldest is not the oldest) on Fleet Street.
I could understand St. Paul’s Cathedral not being a big attraction, but making the 10 Words London Tourist Attractions is excessive. It’s a freaking church for crying out loud.
March 15, 2009 @ 9:28 pm
Gene Hopkins said,
Sir Christopher Wren undertook the rebuilding of this spectacular cathedral, in ruins, after the great London fire in the 17th century. It is said that “at the worst of times he did his best work”. Indeed after the great fire the times then were not at all good. It was wonderful to visit St. Pauls in 1987, partake of the mass offered to all that came, climb to the top of the dome, view the beautiful wonders of this spriritual place, and lookout over the sites of London. St. Pauls is a bright place to enjoy unlike Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris which is rather dark and dreary but is also a great wonder of architectural worship to visit. The Jesuit Church on the left river in Lucerne Switzerland is an outstanding 17th century baroque church to visit. Maybe we can all follow the example that Sir Christopher Wren set with his inspiration, foresight, vision, and dedication of his life to also have been the architect of another 50 cathedrals and places of worship throughout Europe. ***In the current hard times we are now experiencing may we do the very best we can.
July 10, 2009 @ 6:26 pm
Willam said,
Iam glad I attended evensong. the choir and singing echoing to the highest tower was inspiring as the excellent message on God’s love “God’s love is far greater than any building” said the visiting minister.
November 25, 2009 @ 1:15 am
amina said,
it is so gay
December 10, 2009 @ 4:07 am
lockwoodhorne said,
Everything is boring eh? Well maybe we should just put a McDonalds, Cable TV and Nintendo there for you? New World Philistine, get some culture that extends beyond watching American Gladiators. Ignorant Septic Tank.
March 31, 2010 @ 4:28 pm
vacsad said,
This site is just crap.
June 17, 2010 @ 11:36 pm
annoymous said,
it cost 12.50 pounds now and you’re not allow to take a photographs! what a rip off!
June 19, 2010 @ 1:51 pm
Phil said,
Disagree with this review. I did hesitate at the cost of entry. However the view from the top, the crypt, climbing to the dome and choir (if you go at the right time) are definitely worth going for.
August 8, 2010 @ 8:31 am
Sally said,
I visited St Pauls last Summer and did a London guided tour and visted the crypt and the whispering gallery. They were great and then you could get outside and look at the London skyline. I felt like I was on the Apprentice tv show in the helicopter. It was fab!!
August 13, 2010 @ 6:01 am
chelsie wallace said,
did you know that August 11 2010 in skem uk in st pauls church 7 grave stones were smashed i worried it myit be my my grate gagas
June 2, 2011 @ 12:52 am
Olivia said,
How ignorant you are! St Pauls is considered one of the most important Baroque cathedrals in the world. Part of the reason they have to charge so much is because its not government funded in any way, if you’d rather not pay it then go to a service and donate what you’d like, or an organ recital.
To denounce it as a ‘London tourist attraction’ is really cheap and very irrating, do you even live in London? And wheres the name of the dozy writer?
July 22, 2011 @ 4:13 am
mispulka said,
I don’t agree with this one. When you go all the way up the cupola, it’s an amazing view. And the whispering gallery is really cool too. Don’t rule this one out.
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October 24, 2011 @ 12:53 pm
Chuck said,
Right on. Now admission is £14.50, which makes it even less likely for me to go.
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