The dome climb at St Paul’s: 257, 376 and 528 steps
What each gallery actually gives you
The three galleries are stacked on one staircase, so you pass through them in order and you can stop at any of them. Most people who turn back do it at 257.
- 257 steps — the Whispering Gallery. A walkway running round the inside of the dome, looking straight down on the cathedral floor and straight up at Thornhill’s painted scenes. The acoustic trick is the famous part: a word spoken softly against the curved wall carries round to someone sitting on the far side. It works better when the cathedral is quiet, which in practice means early.
- 376 steps — the Stone Gallery. The first time you get outside, on a balustrade around the base of the dome. This is the one I rate. The Whispering Gallery is the gallery everyone has heard of and the Stone Gallery is where the view actually opens up, across the river to Bankside and back over the City.
- 528 steps — the Golden Gallery. The top, at the foot of the lantern, 111 metres above the churchyard on a building that was the tallest in London from 1710 until 1963. The last stretch is the hardest: the stairs narrow, steepen and become enclosed.
Stairs only, and who should not start
I want to be blunt about this, because people book the ticket and find out at the bottom of the staircase. There is no lift on the gallery route at all. The cathedral advises against the climb for anyone with a pre-existing medical condition, a mobility difficulty, or a problem with heights or confined spaces, and that advice is sensible rather than defensive. The staircase is narrow, it is two-way in places, and there is nowhere sensible to sit down.
The rest of the building is a different story. The cathedral floor and the crypt have ramps and lifts, and step-free entry is through the North Transept — see getting to the cathedral for where that door is. If someone in your group is climbing and someone is not, the crypt and the quire are enough to fill the hour the climbers will be gone. There is plenty to look at on the floor and in the crypt.
What works
- The whole climb is included in a standard entry ticket, with no separate dome charge
- Three distinct viewpoints, so you can stop at 257 or 376 and still have seen something
- The Stone Gallery view over the Thames and the City is the best free-standing view in the City of London
- Going up early means a quieter Whispering Gallery and an emptier staircase
Worth knowing
- 528 steps, stairs only, no lift to any gallery
- The final flights narrow, steepen and become enclosed, which rules it out for some people
- Galleries open an hour later than the cathedral and close before it does
- Galleries can close at short notice for weather, services or maintenance
Climb first, then look around downstairs. The galleries open at 9.30am and stop admitting people around 4.15pm, while the crypt is there all day. Doing it the other way round is how people end up at the foot of the stairs at ten past four with tired legs. More on how long the whole visit takes.
Which ticket covers the climb
The straightforward entry ticket includes the cathedral floor, the crypt and all three dome galleries, and it is valid for the whole day of the date you book, so you can go up, come down, have lunch and come back. Read what a ticket covers, or check the live price on the widget below. If you want a guide with you on the climb and flexibility on the timing, the private option includes dome tickets, though it is a young listing with very few reviews.
Tickets that include the dome
Most bookedCathedral entry includedSt Paul’s Cathedral Entry Ticket
Private guideEntry fee includedSkip-the-Line St Paul’s Cathedral Private Tour
Multi-attractionSt Paul’s includedThe London Pass® — 100+ Attractions
Frequently asked questions
How many steps to the top of St Paul’s Cathedral?
528 steps from the cathedral floor to the Golden Gallery. The Whispering Gallery is at 257 steps and the Stone Gallery at 376, and both counts are cumulative, so the top is 528 in total. Allow the best part of an hour for the round trip — see how long to spend at St Paul’s.
Is there a lift to the Whispering Gallery or the dome?
No. All three galleries are reached by stairs only and there is no lift on that route. The cathedral floor and the crypt do have step-free access, via the North Transept entrance — details on getting there.
Is the dome climb included in the St Paul’s entry ticket?
Yes. A standard sightseeing ticket covers the cathedral floor, the crypt and the Whispering, Stone and Golden Galleries, with no extra dome charge. See what the ticket covers.
What time do the dome galleries close?
Last entry to the galleries is usually 4.15pm, and everyone is out around 30 minutes after last entry. They open at 9.30am, an hour after the cathedral doors. Times shift for services, so check the opening hours for your date.