visit st paul's cathedral free

Rachel Karoline

Budget-Conscious Travel & Lifestyle Blog

How to visit st. paul’s cathedral for free.

St Paul’s Cathedral in London, England is a must-do for many tourists. But when you’re traveling on a budget, the £18 ticket price for one adult is a bit steep. Luckily, there is a simpler way to visit St. Paul’s – and a way to do it for free!

St. Paul’s is a London landmark, easily accessible from the St. Paul’s tube station, and right across the Thames on the Millennium Bridge. It is home not only to spectacular architecture, but also a wide range of art. There are perks to paying the entrance fee: on the sightseeing ticket, you can climb to the top of the dome for views of the city. You are permitted to take photos during non-worship hours, to remember your visit. And both guided and self-guided tours of the space are available.

Worship Services

But if £18 per person just isn’t in your budget, it is free to enter St. Paul’s and spend time in the space during any of the daily worship times. There are at least three services each day that are open to the public to attend. These are traditional, Anglican services – so anyone familiar with the Anglican order of service will find it all very traditional. Even if the Anglican tradition isn’t one you’ve been part of before, it is not hard to follow along, and the order of service is provided in writing (which tells you when to sit, stand, or kneel).

If you would like to attend a service for the religious aspect, of course attend whichever you like. But if it is music you are after, aim to catch the Choral Evensong , offered at least four evenings each week at 5pm. Check the online schedule for times beforehand when planning your visit.

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Evensong is a 45-minute long sung service. It’s somewhat meditative, and is a really lovely way to hear the choir (which is excellent) in the acoustics of the cathedral.

There is plenty of seating at the cathedral, but if you arrive early enough two things could happen. You could get a really good seat near the front under the dome, and look at the choir and the altar front-on.

Or, as when I went to Evensong recently, they may invite you to sit in the choir loft if the whole choir is not in attendance. If there are extra seats in the choir loft, then those who are interested are guided through the cathedral to the front, and get to sit in the choir seats. The view is quite different; you are side-on with the choir, and get to look out over the cathedral, rather than straight at the speakers and singers. But it is very cool to sit where the choir sits. And of course, if you have time, you can go again the next night and observe Evensong from a different seat. This is by far the best way to visit St. Paul’s for free.

Have time for a day trip? Head to Brighton

The Surroundings

Don’t forget to tour the grounds around the cathedral as well during your visit. They have some lovely gardens, and there are several spots to get cool photos of the dome. I was there in November, so the sun was setting shortly before the service started, making for lovely photography lighting.

And then – should you wish to experience the sublime to the ridiculous – head out from Evensong down Watling Street, very near to the cathedral, and enjoy a pint outside with the raucous post-work crowd. A trip to London is all about balance!

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Just to say, if you do visit St Paul’s ‘for free’, please consider making a donation if you can. If not to St Paul’s itself, to your local parish church instead. Many of these places don’t have anything like the income and financial reserves you might think they do, and would be grateful for your gift.

Martin Luther King at St Paul's

A black and white image of Martin Luther King standing in the pulpit at St Paul's

Worship with us

couple reading service schedule during consecration service

Ways to donate

choristers boys sharing candle light christmas

Our learning library

Rowan Williams smiling as he leafs through his book at an event at St Paul's Cathedral

The East India Company at St Paul's

Ticket types and prices

Find out the cost of sightseeing tickets to the Cathedral, and what discounts are available.

The price of admission includes entry to the Cathedral Floor, Crypt and the Dome Galleries. Admission also includes multimedia guides.

Terms and conditions of entry

* Concessions are available to any student with a photo ID issued by their place of study. Please bring ID with you. It should be easily readable by Cathedral staff and not have expired. ISIC full-time student cards are also acceptable.

Complimentary entry can be granted to a disabled visitor and an accompanying carer or companion. These can be pre-booked online or can be requested on arrival.

Child ticket holders must be accompanied and supervised by an adult aged 18 or over when accessing the Dome Galleries. Please read our groups page for the minimum ratio of supervising adults to child ticket holders that we ask applies throughout a group visit.

More on sightseeing

Planning your visit

Find out everything you need to know to get the most out of your visit to St Paul’s, including opening times, ticket types and prices and what's on offer.

Responding to COVID-19

We hold the ‘Good to Go’ industry standard, meaning we are following official COVID guidance and keeping our visitors safe.

visitors walking the nave women tourists

Group visits

For groups, we offer free tickets for leaders and guides, bookable private tours and special equipment to help you lead your own tour.

How to find us

Find our address and learn how to reach us by different forms of transport.

visitors at entrance smiling sightseeing

Why we charge

Although our services are free, we ask our sightseeing visitors to contribute a small entrance fee. Find out how your sightseeing contribution is used to support us.

St. Paul’s Cathedral – tickets, prices, hours, dress code, free entry

St Paul’s Cathedral is undoubtedly one of the most famous sights you’ll come across in London.

With a dome dominating the London skyline since 1710 and a crypt spanning the entire cathedral’s footprint, this Anglican church is synonymous with Britain’s identity and culture

St. Paul’s Cathedral started as a small 7th-century church in AD 604, and the edifice you see today was built by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London in 1666.

With more than 1.5 million tourists visiting this attraction annually, here’s everything you need to know before booking your St Paul’s Cathedral tickets.

Top Tickets # St Paul’s fast-track entrance ticket # Welcome to London Tour # Walking tour + St Pauls Cathedral entry It’s highly recommended to book your tickets for St. Paul’s Cathedral in advance. These tickets sell out quickly, so securing your spot early ensures you don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience.

St. Paul’s Cathedral tickets

There are several ways to explore the cathedral, and booking a ticket is the best way to ensure you get a reserved entry or a guided tour. Here are some popular St. Paul’s Cathedral tickets worth checking out.

St. Paul’s fast-track entrance ticket

The fast-track admission is the cheapest and most popular St Paul’s Cathedral ticket.

With this ticket, you can skip the long lines at the ticketing counter, walk right in to explore the cathedral floor, the crypt, and go up the galleries.

Just that you know, the Dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral is a marvel of engineering and a defining feature of London’s skyline.

The Dome’s Stone Gallery and the Golden Gallery offer breathtaking 360-degree views of London.

Likewise, the Whispering Gallery creates a fascinating auditory experience by allowing whispers to travel along the Dome’s curved walls.

It includes the multimedia guide, which you can pick up at the entrance.

Ticket Prices

Adult Ticket (18 to 64 years): £20 Student Ticket (with valid ID card): £18 Senior Ticket (65+ years): £18 Child Ticket (6 to 17 years): £9 Infant Ticket (up to 5 years): Free

St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower of London, River Cruise ticket

This is a popular combination ticket which entails being whisked around London’s iconic landmarks and a cruise along the River Thames.

The first leg of this tour involves a guided tour of St Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London, after which you will be taken on River Thames cruise to Westminster Pier.

The four-and-a-half-hour tour happens in an air-conditioned coach with a personal audio headset so that you can always hear the guide.

Kids two years and below can join the tour for free. Ticket Prices

Adult Ticket (17+ years): £92 Child Ticket (3 to 16 years): £82 Student Ticket (with valid ID): £82 Senior Ticket (60+ years): £87 Family Ticket (2 adults & 2 children): £338

St. Paul’s Cathedral entrance + walking tour ticket

This six-hour tour starts at 10 am and is the fastest way to explore 30 London attractions in a day.

The tour starts from Ritz London, and from there you pass through Downing Street, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament in the Westminster area.

Next, your guide will walk you through the London Bridge, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, HMS Belfast, Tower Bridge, and the Tower of London.

At the end of the tour, you get to step into St. Paul’s Cathedral, which is also the final resting place of Sir Christopher Wren , Admiral Nelson , and the Duke of Wellington . Ticket Prices

Adult Ticket (14+ years): £66 Child Ticket (3 to 13 years): £10 Infant Ticket (up to 2 years): Free

Welcome to the London Tour ticket

The Welcome to London Tour starts at 7.45 am and lasts nine hours.

You drive around London to see the significant landmarks and stop by at various places.

During the day, you also experience a scenic private cruise on the River Thames, a private tour of the Tower of London to see the Crown Jewels and a tour of St. Paul’s Cathedral.

If you want to keep it simple, we recommend this Old London walking tour in which you get to explore St Paul Cathedral from the outside.

Adult Ticket (17 to 59 years): £123 Senior Ticket (60+ years): £120 Student Ticket (with a valid ID): £120 Child Ticket (3 to 16 years): £113 Infant Ticket (up to 2 years): Free

Know before booking tickets

Here are some things to keep in mind before booking your tickets.

Knowing the details of how to book tickets or the best time to visit St. Paul’s Cathedral can help make your visit smooth and enjoyable.

Where to buy tickets

St Paul’s Cathedral entry tickets are available online or at the attraction.

Online ticket prices tend to be cheaper than tickets at the venue.

When you buy online, you can avoid the long queues at the attraction’s ticket counters.

Because some attractions sell a limited number of tickets, they may sell out during peak days. Booking early helps avoid last-minute disappointments.

How do online tickets work

Go to the St Paul’s Cathedral ticket booking page .

Select the number of tickets, preferred date, and guide language, and buy the tickets.

Once you purchase the tickets, they get delivered to your email address.

There is no need to get printouts of the ticket.

You can show the e-ticket on your smartphone when you visit the attraction.

St. Paul’s Cathedral, gallery, and mass timings

St Paul’s Cathedral opens with a prayer at 7.30 am from Monday to Saturday.

Visitors who want to explore the Cathedral can enter the premises from 8.30 am onward. The last entry is scheduled for 4 pm.

All tourists sightseeing at the cathedral must exit the premises by 4.30 pm.

Moreover, tourists aren’t allowed inside the Cathedral on Sundays as the liturgy prayers start at 8 am and go on till 7 pm.

Gallery timings

The St Paul’s Cathedral has three galleries—Whispering Gallery, Stone Gallery, and Golden Gallery. These open at 9.30 am.

The galleries, just like other sections of the Cathedral, have a detailed weekly schedule .

Mass timings

The prayer service at St Paul’s Cathedral starts at 7.30 am, followed by the Eucharist at 8 am and 12.30 pm, from Monday to Saturday.

Music is an integral part of prayer; everyone can join in the mass and eucharistic choir sessions for free.

There is a Choral Evensong at 5 pm during the weekdays; this is followed by the evening prayer.

On Sundays, the day begins with holy communion at 8 am, Mattins at 10.15 am, and a sung Eucharist at 11.30 am.

The Sunday Choral Evensong is conducted at 3.15 pm, and the Eucharist at 6 pm.

You can find the full schedule here .

Best time to visit the Cathedral

The best time to visit the attraction is before noon on a weekday—preferably Monday through Thursday.

Some tourists plan on visiting St. Paul’s first thing in the morning. This is because the Cathedral opens for sightseeing much before the other London attractions

For a more intimate experience, it is best to be at the cathedral as soon as the morning prayer ends at 8.30 am.

The Cathedral is most crowded between 12 noon and 5 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. So it is best to avoid visiting the attraction during these hours.

How long does it take to tour St. Paul’s

You will need around 2.5 hours to explore St Paul Cathedral’s main floor, the crypt, and climb to and fro the attraction’s dome.

While entry to the Cathedral and its masses is free, you need to buy a ticket to view the crypt and the galleries in the dome.

Again, St. Paul’s is a highly-rated attraction; it draws many tourists and gets crowded in no time.

Hence, we recommend booking your tickets in advance to save time and avoid the queue.

There is no obligatory dress code for St Paul’s Cathedral in London.

However, visitors are expected to dress moderately since it is a religious place.

Even though nobody will stop you from entering the Cathedral, low-neck t-shirts and mini-skirts are not advised for women. Men should also avoid wearing caps inside the attraction.

Are you up for some adventure? Buy the London Outdoor Escape Game: The Great Fire ticket and follow the path of the 1666 Great Fire of London that razed some of the city’s most iconic attractions to ashes. Unlock clues and solve puzzles on your phone while reenacting the story of amateur fireman Gregory Grail on this self-guided tour.

How to reach St. Paul’s Cathedral

St. Paul’s Cathedral sits on Ludgate Hill, the highest point in London.

Address: St. Paul’s Churchyard, London EC4M 8AD, UK. Get directions .

You can reach the Cathedral via public or private transportation.

St. Paul’s Cathedral bus stop (Bus No: 15, 17, 26, 76, N15, N21, N26, N199, N550) is just a few steps away from the attraction.

St. Paul’s metro station is just a 2-minute walk from the cathedral. The other metro stations nearest to the Cathedral are Mansion House , Blackfriars , and Bank .

If you plan to board a train, the nearest stop is the City Thameslink station , a brisk 3-minute walk to the Cathedral.

If you’re traveling by car, turn on your Google Maps and get started. There are enough parking garages around the attraction.

Save money & time! You can gain free ‘skip the line’ access to 60 London attractions for a flat fee. Buy The London Pass

St. Paul Cathedral free entry

It is possible to enter St. Paul’s Cathedral for free on Sundays. The service begins at 8 am, and on other days at 7.30 am.

Do note that you won’t be allowed inside after the prayer begins, so it is best to arrive 15 minutes early.

This is, above all, is a limited experience: You need to sit down for the service and can’t walk around and explore the Cathedral as all the other areas are blocked off during the service.

London Passes

Another way to enter St. Paul’s Cathedral for free—well, almost!—is by buying London discount Passes. These passes help you save money and time by allowing you to skip the the line at most attractions.

Our two favorites are the London iVenture Pass and the London Explorer Pass . Do check them out!

FAQs about St. Paul’s Cathedral

Visitors to this London Cathedral have lots of questions. Here are some frequently asked questions about St. Paul’s Cathedral.

What does the ticket to St. Paul’s Cathedral include?

The ticket includes access to the cathedral floor, crypt, and galleries, as well as the option to use a multimedia guide available in multiple languages. You can also join guided tours and talks based on availability.

Can I bring my luggage to St. Paul’s Cathedral?

There is no cloakroom, so bags or items larger than 45cm x 30cm x 25cm are prohibited.

Can I take videos during my visit to the St. Paul’s Cathedral?

Flashlights, Video recording, selfie sticks, tripods, and monopods are prohibited during your visit.

Can I attend a religious service at St. Paul’s Cathedral?

Yes, St. Paul’s Cathedral is an active Anglican cathedral that holds regular services. Visitors are welcome to attend these services. You do not require a ticket to participate in a service.

Is St. Paul’s Cathedral accessible to people with disabilities?

Yes, St. Paul’s Cathedral is committed to providing access to all visitors. There are ramps, lifts, and accessible restrooms available. Specific arrangements can be made for visitors with mobility impairments, including wheelchair users.

Is there parking available near St. Paul’s Cathedral?

Parking near the attraction can be limited and expensive. It’s often more convenient to use public transportation, such as the London Underground, buses, or taxis, to reach the cathedral.

What are the opening hours of St. Paul’s Cathedral?

St. Paul’s Cathedral is generally open from Monday to Saturday from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm, with the last admission at 4.00 pm. The Cathedral is closed for sightseeing on Sundays but open for worship.

Are there toilet facilities available at St. Paul’s Cathedral?

Yes, there are toilet facilities, including accessible toilets, available within the Cathedral. These are located in the Crypt.

Is there a café or restaurant at St. Paul’s Cathedral?

Yes, there is a café located in the Crypt of St. Paul’s Cathedral, offering a variety of snacks, meals, and beverages.

Are guide dogs allowed in the Cathedral?

Yes, guide dogs and other assistance dogs are welcome in St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Source # Stpauls.co.uk # Wikipedia.org # Britannica.com # Tripadvisor.com The travel specialists at TheBetterVacation.com use only high-quality sources while researching & writing their articles. We make every attempt to keep our content current, reliable, and trustworthy .

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This article was researched & written by

Jamshed V Rajan

He is a two-faced traveler, who enjoys both the hustle-bustle of an urban holiday and the serenity of a break from the rest of the World. During some of his vacations, he is a resort hopper, and on others, he barely spends time in his hotel. He loves to try mouth-watering local cuisines, especially non-vegetarian dishes. Favourite Cities: Amsterdam, Las Vegas, Dublin, Prague, Vienna

3 thoughts on “St. Paul’s Cathedral – tickets, prices, hours, dress code, free entry”

We visited on a sunny winter day with clear blue skies. We prebooked the tickets online since they’re cheaper that way. Entry was smooth, and the staff were super helpful with maps and guides. Climbing to the whispering gallery was awesome—it really works! I could hear my husband from the other side. The views from there were fantastic. We continued up to the Stone Gallery for fab views of London, then up the winding stairs to the Golden Gallery at the top of the Dome for even more amazing views. We definitely picked the perfect day!

Absolutely stunning and totally worth it! The tour guides are super passionate and know their stuff. Went on a Monday, so it wasn’t too crowded—just a really chill and awesome experience.

Wonderful. I live in Slovenia. Access to all churches is free. Access to the main museum in Ljubljana is 50p Rip off Britain again !