 |
 |
 |
St Paul's Cathedral, London Sat, 10th July 2010 - Fri, 31st December 2010 From £12.00*Book your admission tickets in advance and save 50p per adult admission. Advance tickets only £12 compared to £12.50 door price. St Paul's with its world-famous dome is an iconic feature of the London skyline, but there is so much more to Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece than its impressive façade. The interior of the soaring dome, the glittering mosaics, the intricate stone carving and the breathtaking view down the nave towards the quire are just a few of the reasons why a visit to St Paul's is a must. St Paul's has been a spiritual focus for the nation since its first service in 1697 and many important events have taken place within its walls, from the state funerals of Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington and Sir Winston Churchill to the wedding of the HRH The Prince of Wales to Lady Diana Spencer and the Thanksgiving for Her Majesty The Queen's Golden Jubilee. The Cathedral is also where national services of reconciliation and remembrance are often held, most recently the Asian Tsunami Memorial Service and the Service of Remembrance: London 2005. With its historic £40 million restoration programme now nearing completion, there has never been a better time to visit St Paul's. For the first time in its 300-year history, the Cathedral has been comprehensively cleaned and repaired inside and out and the results are simply breathtaking. The West Front, once blackened and damaged, now rises majestically at the top of Ludgate Hill and details previously hidden stand out crisp and proud. The interior has been transformed by state of the art restoration techniques and the light that now floods the space highlights the luminescent Portland stone and brings mosaics, carvings and sculpture to life. In the dome, exquisite 18th century paintings by Sir James Thornhill showing scenes from the life of St Paul have been returned to their original beauty. As well as noting the startling changes in the interior of the Cathedral and admiring the contemporary paintings by Russian artist Sergei Chepik on the Cathedral floor and arresting wrought-iron and bronze memorial gates for Sir Winston Churchill in the Crypt, visitors can compare the restored West Front and East End of the Cathedral with the still to be completed South and North façades - a fascinating way to appreciate the hard work and expertise that have gone into removing centuries of London soot and grime. But of course, the pinnacle of any trip to St Paul's has to be the winding journey up the spiral staircase to the Whispering Gallery to sample its unique acoustics before travelling up and out to the Stone and Golden Galleries, which afford a panoramic view of London that never ceases to take one’s breath away. Whether you've visited St Paul's in the past or will be making your first trip, we can guarantee you won't be disappointed. Please Note Will all customers please print off and present booking confirmation. Last ticket for admission to the galleries sold at 15:30 Last entry to the galleries at 15:45 Last ticket sold for Cathedral Floor & Crypt 16:00
| |
