St Paul’s Cathedral is one of London’s best-known landmarks and an active place of Christian worship. Sir Christopher Wren designed the present Cathedral after the Great Fire of London destroyed its medieval predecessor, and the new building was completed around 1710. Today, visitors can explore the Cathedral Floor, Crypt and famous Dome Galleries while discovering centuries of British history, art and architecture.
Quick Answer
As of September 2026, standard Monday-to-Saturday St Paul’s Cathedral sightseeing costs £27 for adults, £24 for seniors and students, and £10.50 for children aged 6–17; ages 0–5 enter free. Admission includes the Cathedral Floor, Crypt, Dome Galleries and a multimedia guide.
Key Takeaways
- Standard sightseeing is normally available Monday to Saturday, with adult admission currently £27 before an optional donation.
- A standard ticket includes the Cathedral Floor, Crypt, Whispering Gallery, Stone Gallery, Golden Gallery, multimedia guide and eligible temporary exhibitions.
- Free Highlights and Cathedral Floor and Crypt tours may be available to sightseeing ticket holders on the day, subject to availability.
- The one-hour Treasures Tour costs £16 in addition to admission and reaches the Triforium by stairs.
- The Dome Galleries are stairs-only: 257 steps to the Whispering Gallery, 376 to the Stone Gallery and 528 in total to the Golden Gallery.
- Opening times, tours and events can change, so check the Cathedral’s official calendar before travelling.
St Paul’s Cathedral Ticket Prices
For visits outside the Cathedral’s temporary 2026 summer-discount period, the standard Monday-to-Saturday sightseeing prices are as follows. These are the no-donation prices published by St Paul’s Cathedral; visitors can choose an admission option that includes an additional 10% charitable donation.
| Ticket type | Standard price |
| Adult, age 18+ | £27 |
| Senior, age 65+, or eligible student | £24 |
| Child, age 6–17 | £10.50 |
| Infant, age 0–5 | Free |
| Family: 2 adults + 2 or 3 children age 6–17 | £64.50 |
| Family: 1 adult + 2 or 3 children age 6–17 | £37.50 |
For groups of 15 or more, published no-donation rates include £24.30 per adult, £21.60 per senior/student and £9.50 per child aged 6–17. Student visitors should bring valid photo identification issued by their place of study or an accepted ISIC full-time student card.
A disabled visitor and an accompanying carer or companion can receive complimentary admission. St Paul’s also offers a £1 sightseeing scheme for qualifying UK visitors receiving Universal Credit, Pension Credit or Employment and Support Allowance, subject to its terms and proof requirements.
Check the official St Paul’s Cathedral ticket-prices page before booking because admission prices and promotions can change.
Note: Attendance at Cathedral worship services is free. A sightseeing ticket is needed when you want to explore the building as a visitor during sightseeing periods.
What Does a Standard Sightseeing Ticket Include?
A Monday-to-Saturday sightseeing ticket normally gives you access to the Cathedral Floor and Crypt as well as the Dome Galleries: the internal Whispering Gallery and the external Stone and Golden Galleries. A multimedia guide is included, along with temporary exhibitions and installations included in sightseeing admission on the day.
The Dome rises to about 111 metres, or 365 feet, and is one of the Cathedral’s defining architectural features. Visitors who climb all the way to the Golden Gallery can look across central London from the highest public gallery.
Guided Tours of St Paul’s Cathedral
Guided tours can give first-time visitors more context about St Paul’s history, architecture, monuments and worship. Rather than offering only one standard 90-minute tour, the Cathedral currently has several formats.
Highlights Tour
The Highlights Tour is a short introduction lasting about 20–30 minutes. It is free for sightseeing ticket holders and is normally offered Monday to Saturday at various times, often between 11am and 3pm. Places are arranged at the Guiding Desk on the day and are subject to availability.
Cathedral Floor and Crypt Tour
This more detailed guided visit lasts approximately 90 minutes and is also free for individual sightseeing ticket holders, subject to availability. It covers the Cathedral Floor and Crypt and can include the Geometric Staircase and Quire, giving visitors access to areas that are not normally part of a standard self-guided route.
Private groups can book this tour in advance. The current private-tour guide fee is £195 for up to 15 people, in addition to admission, with a further per-person charge above that number. Private group arrangements should be made directly with St Paul’s well before the visit.
Treasures Tour
The Treasures Tour is a one-hour English-language tour of the Triforium. It explores spaces such as the Cathedral Library, the Great Model of Wren’s design, the Geometric Staircase area and a high-level view down the Nave.
For individual visitors, it currently costs £16 per person in addition to general admission and should be pre-booked with the sightseeing ticket.
Warning: The Treasures Tour requires 141 steps to reach the Triforium and includes additional short flights of stairs. There is no lift to this level, so the tour is not suitable for wheelchair users or many visitors with mobility difficulties.
Current details and booking requirements are available on the official guided and self-guided tours page.
Self-Guided Tours of St Paul’s Cathedral
A self-guided visit is a good choice if you prefer to move at your own pace. With a standard sightseeing ticket, you can explore the main visitor areas without following a fixed group schedule.
This is especially useful if you want extra time with the memorials in the Crypt, the mosaics and architecture on the Cathedral Floor, or the views from the Dome Galleries. You can pause for quiet reflection where appropriate instead of moving at a guide’s pace.
The included multimedia guide adds historical and architectural context, so a self-guided ticket does not mean exploring without information. St Paul’s also provides an online interactive map that can help you understand the Cathedral Floor, Crypt and Dome before or during the visit.
Audio and Multimedia Guides at St Paul’s Cathedral
St Paul’s now describes its main self-guided devices as multimedia guides rather than simple audio tours. They are included with sightseeing admission and combine spoken commentary with images, video material, close-up views and expert interviews.
General multimedia commentary is offered in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin, Japanese and Korean. Family versions include quizzes and activities aimed at younger visitors.
Audio-description guides are also available for visitors with visual impairments. For d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors, the Cathedral provides hearing-loop support and a British Sign Language multimedia tour with subtitles.
Special Events and Exhibitions at St Paul’s Cathedral
St Paul’s Cathedral is an active place of worship as well as a major historic visitor attraction. Its calendar can include concerts, talks, installations, exhibitions, seasonal celebrations and special services, so two visits can offer different experiences.
As of September 2026, the Cathedral is presenting A dangerous calling: 500 years of William Tyndale’s New Testament, an exhibition marking 500 years since the publication of Tyndale’s New Testament. The exhibition runs through February 2027.
The Cathedral’s first-edition Tyndale New Testament is displayed as part of the Treasures Tour, so seeing the original book requires a Treasures Tour ticket in addition to normal admission.
Pro Tip: Check the Cathedral’s What’s On calendar shortly before your visit. Services and special events can affect sightseeing hours, while a temporary exhibition may add value to the same admission ticket.
Group Tours of St Paul’s Cathedral
Groups can explore St Paul’s using discounted admission rates or arrange private guided experiences. Standard group admission rates apply from 15 visitors, while private guide fees are separate from general admission.
For a private Cathedral Floor and Crypt tour, the current guide fee is £195 for up to 15 people plus admission, with an additional charge per person above 15. Private tours should be booked well in advance because availability is limited.
A private Treasures Tour is also available for groups, subject to capacity, timing and advance-booking requirements. Because it involves extensive stairs, group leaders should check every participant’s mobility needs before choosing it.
During a guided group visit, participants can ask questions and explore the Cathedral’s history, architecture, monuments and religious role together. This can work well for families, clubs, institutions and organized travel groups.
Educational Programs at St Paul’s Cathedral
St Paul’s offers dedicated learning opportunities for schools, colleges, home educators and young people. Programs include interactive guided visits, workshops, self-guided trails, virtual sessions and curriculum-linked resources covering subjects such as history, religious education, art and other cross-curricular themes.
For UK schools and colleges, current published prices start from £3.60 per student for guided visits and £3 per student for self-guided visits. A Dome Galleries option can be added for an additional £3 per student. Accompanying teachers, adults and required one-to-one support are not charged under the school offer.
UK home educators can access similar curriculum-connected options, with published guided visits from £3.60 and self-guided visits from £3 per child, subject to the Cathedral’s current booking conditions.
Teachers and group leaders should use the official school-visits information because learning sessions require separate arrangements from standard public sightseeing.
Accessible Tours and Visitor Access at St Paul’s Cathedral
St Paul’s provides ramps, lifts and other measures to improve access to the Cathedral Floor and Crypt. Disabled visitors can book complimentary admission for themselves and an accompanying carer or companion.
Visitors with visual impairments can use audio-description guides, and pre-booked Touch Tours offer an interactive guided experience of the Cathedral Floor and Crypt. Touch Tours last around two hours, are free for eligible ticket holders, and should normally be requested at least two weeks in advance.
The Cathedral also has hearing-loop coverage in important areas, personal induction loops for multimedia guides, a BSL-signed multimedia tour with subtitles, accessible toilets in the Crypt and a Changing Places facility.
Dome Gallery Accessibility
The Dome Galleries are not step-free. Access is by stairs only:
- Whispering Gallery: 257 steps.
- Stone Gallery: 376 total steps.
- Golden Gallery: 528 total steps.
St Paul’s advises visitors with mobility difficulties, relevant medical conditions, concerns about heights or problems with confined spaces to consider whether the climb is appropriate. A video fly-through of the gallery levels is available through the multimedia guide for people who cannot make the climb.
Detailed current information is available on the official Cathedral accessibility page.
St Paul’s Cathedral Opening Hours
Regular sightseeing is normally available Monday to Saturday. Current published sightseeing hours are generally 8:30am to 4:30pm, with last sightseeing admission at 4pm. Dome Galleries normally open later than the Cathedral Floor, so visitors planning to climb should check the day’s timetable.
Opening and closing times can change because St Paul’s remains a working Cathedral with regular worship, special services and events. Checking the official calendar before travelling is more reliable than relying on a fixed timetable copied months in advance.
Dome Sundays in 2026
Although Sunday is primarily a worship day rather than a standard sightseeing day, St Paul’s has a seasonal Dome Sundays program in 2026. The Cathedral’s published season runs through October 25, 2026, with separate limited tickets for access to the Dome Galleries.
Current Dome Sunday tickets are listed from £13.50 for adults and £5.25 for children, with concessions available for eligible seniors and students. Availability is limited, so check the official booking page before making Sunday plans.
Which St Paul’s Cathedral Tour Should You Choose?
- Choose standard self-guided sightseeing if you want maximum flexibility and plan to use the included multimedia guide.
- Choose the Highlights Tour if you want a quick expert introduction without committing much extra time.
- Choose the Cathedral Floor and Crypt Tour if you want a fuller guided explanation and access to some areas not normally included in self-guided exploration.
- Choose the Treasures Tour if you are interested in the Triforium, Library and behind-the-scenes history and are comfortable with extensive stairs.
- Request a Touch Tour if you are visually impaired and would benefit from a tactile, guided exploration of the Cathedral Floor and Crypt.
Tips for Visiting St Paul’s Cathedral
Booking online is useful for fast entry and lets you select a date and time in advance. Walk-up sightseeing tickets can also be available, but advance booking gives you more certainty during busy periods.
St Paul’s Cathedral is at St Paul’s Churchyard, London EC4M 8AD. The nearest Underground station is St Paul’s, making the Cathedral straightforward to reach by public transport.
Allow Enough Time for the Dome
If climbing the Dome is a priority, arrive with enough time and energy for 528 total steps to the Golden Gallery. The stairways become progressively more demanding and can include narrow or confined sections.
Check Your Bag Size
Security checks operate at the Cathedral. Bags larger than 45cm × 30cm × 25cm, including handles, wheels and pockets, cannot be brought inside. There is no cloakroom for oversized luggage.
Warning: Do not arrive with an oversized suitcase expecting to store it at St Paul’s. The Cathedral does not provide a cloakroom, and bags above its permitted dimensions cannot be admitted.
Know the Photography Rules
Personal non-flash still photography is generally allowed during sightseeing hours in permitted areas, including the Cathedral Floor, Crypt, Stone Gallery and Golden Gallery. Photography is not permitted on the Whispering Gallery or in designated private-prayer areas.
Visitor video recording is not permitted. Flash, additional lighting, tripods, monopods, gimbals and selfie sticks are also prohibited.
Check Services and Events Before You Go
St Paul’s is first and foremost a working Cathedral. Worship, special services, concerts and other events can change normal visitor arrangements. Check the official timetable on the day or shortly before travelling.
The full Dome climb reaches the Golden Gallery after 528 steps, so ticket price is only part of the planning: time, mobility and comfort with heights also matter.
Conclusion and Final Thoughts on St Paul’s Cathedral Tickets
St Paul’s Cathedral combines worship, history, art and one of London’s most recognizable architectural landmarks. For most visitors, the standard sightseeing ticket is the simplest choice because it includes the Cathedral Floor, Crypt, Dome Galleries and multimedia guide in one admission.
Visitors who want more context can join a free Highlights or Cathedral Floor and Crypt tour when available, while the paid Treasures Tour offers a more specialized look at the Triforium and Cathedral collections. Families, students, seniors, groups, qualifying UK benefit recipients and disabled visitors should also check the concessions that apply to them before paying.
The most important planning points are to confirm the day’s opening hours, allow enough time for the Dome if you intend to climb it, bring only permitted-size bags and check any special events that may affect access. With those details settled, you can spend more of your visit enjoying the Cathedral rather than solving logistics at the door.
If you’re looking for a unique culinary experience to complement your visit to St Paul’s Cathedral, consider trying your hand at making delicious homemade cottage cheese with this simple and healthy recipe from Tagline Today. This delightful dish can be a refreshing and nutritious snack to enjoy before or after exploring the iconic cathedral.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the ticket prices for St Paul’s Cathedral?
As of September 2026, standard Monday-to-Saturday sightseeing outside the temporary summer-discount period costs £27 for adults, £24 for seniors aged 65+ and eligible students, and £10.50 for children aged 6–17. Children aged 0–5 enter free. Family, group and concessionary rates are also available.
What does a St Paul’s Cathedral sightseeing ticket include?
A standard Monday-to-Saturday sightseeing ticket includes the Cathedral Floor, Crypt, three Dome Galleries, a multimedia guide and temporary exhibitions or installations included with sightseeing admission on the day.
What types of tours are available at St Paul’s Cathedral?
Options include a free 20–30 minute Highlights Tour, an approximately 90-minute Cathedral Floor and Crypt Tour, the paid one-hour Treasures Tour, self-guided sightseeing with an included multimedia guide, private group tours and pre-booked Touch Tours for visitors with visual impairments.
Can I purchase tickets in advance for St Paul’s Cathedral?
Yes. Tickets can be booked online in advance, including for dates several months ahead, and online booking offers the fastest entry. Walk-up sightseeing tickets can also be purchased when available.
Are there discounts available for St Paul’s Cathedral tickets?
Yes. St Paul’s publishes concession prices for seniors and students, child and family tickets, group rates for 15 or more visitors, and £1 tickets for qualifying UK visitors receiving certain benefits. Disabled visitors and an accompanying carer or companion can receive complimentary admission.
What are the opening hours for St Paul’s Cathedral?
Regular sightseeing is normally Monday to Saturday from about 8:30am to 4:30pm, with last sightseeing entry at 4pm. Hours can change for worship and events. In 2026, separate seasonal Dome Sunday visits are also available through October 25.
Is the Dome accessible by lift?
No. All three Dome Galleries are reached by stairs only. There are 257 steps to the Whispering Gallery, 376 total steps to the Stone Gallery and 528 total steps to the Golden Gallery.
Can I attend St Paul’s Cathedral without buying a sightseeing ticket?
Yes. Attendance at Cathedral worship services is free. A paid sightseeing ticket is required when you want to explore the building as a visitor during sightseeing periods.
Sources
- St Paul’s Cathedral — Ticket Types and Prices — current admission, family, concession and group prices.
- St Paul’s Cathedral — Planning Your Visit — opening hours, Dome access and visitor planning.
- St Paul’s Cathedral — Guided and Self-Guided Tours — tour durations, prices, booking and multimedia-guide details.
- St Paul’s Cathedral — Accessibility — mobility, sensory access, Dome limitations and accessible facilities.
- St Paul’s Cathedral — Visit Us — location, security, bag restrictions and general visitor information.
- St Paul’s Cathedral — Filming and Photography — current photography, equipment and video rules.
