St. Paul's is England's national church. There's been a church on this spot since 604. It was the symbol of London's rise from the Great Fire of 1666 and of London's survival of the Blitz of 1940.

St Paul's Cathedral, the seat of the Bishop of London, and the spiritual centre of the City, is Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece. He supervised the building from across the river.

No sooner was Christopher Wren selected to refurbish Old St. Paul's church than the Great Fire of 1666 incinerated it. Within six days, Wren had a plan for a whole new building.

His achievement took 35 years to create, with a nave that is 146m long and with a height of 110m from the floor to the top of the cross.

St Paul's was the burial place of Wren who died at the age of 91 having changed London's skyline with some 50 exquisite churches. His tomb, one of the first in the Cathedral, is marked by a black marble slab in the crypt.

The Dome

The 365-foot dome of St. Paul's rises above the rooftops of the neighborhood. It's a tall dome set on classical columns, capped with a lantern, topped by a 6-foot ball and a cross.
When the Dome was being built Wren was hauled up in a basket two or three times a week to see how work was progressing. His son fixed the last stone in position. The Dome is among the largest in the world.

The Whispering Gallery

Is located above the arches in the dome. It is called the Whispering Gallery because a whisper against the blank circular wall can be heard on the opposite side, some 42 metres away.

Blitz

German planes firebombed London in 1940. While the City around it burned to the ground, St. Paul's survived, giving hope to the citizens. Some swear that bombs bounced miraculously off Wren's dome. Others credit the heroic work of local firefighters.

The Crypt

Grand tombs of General Wellington and Admiral Nelson dominate the center of the crypt. Nelson lies buried directly beneath the dome (and heating grate). Christopher Wren's tomb is in the far corner. Also buried here is Florence Nightingale

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