How long do you need at St Paul’s Cathedral?
Ninety minutes: the floor and the crypt
This is the version most coach-trip visitors get. You walk the nave, stand under the dome and look up, work along the quire to the American Memorial Chapel, then go down to the crypt for Nelson, Wellington and Wren. It is a decent 90 minutes and it is the one I would give someone with a train to catch. It is also, in my honest opinion, the version that makes people feel the ticket was expensive, which I have written about on whether St Paul’s is worth visiting.
Half a day: add the 528 steps
The climb is the part that turns a cathedral visit into a day out. Reckon on the best part of an hour for the round trip to the Golden Gallery and back if you stop at each gallery, longer if the staircase is busy or you spend time trying to make the Whispering Gallery acoustic work. That puts a thorough visit at two and a half to three hours. Full detail on the dome climb.
Five hours: the Jenny version
Jenny, a UK reviewer of the entry ticket, put it well — who knew you could spend five hours wandering around St Paul’s. You can, and the ticket lets you, because it is valid for the whole day of the date booked. Go up early, come back down, walk out for lunch, come back for the crypt film and a service. That is the outer limit rather than the plan I would give a first-timer, but it is not a fantasy.
What works
- The ticket is valid all day, so you can leave and come back
- The multimedia guide is included and lets you set your own pace, in nine languages
- Free guided tours and talks run inside on limited spots — register on arrival
- An early start means a quieter staircase and a working Whispering Gallery
Worth knowing
- Last sightseeing entry is usually 4pm, and the day ends earlier than people expect
- Dome galleries close before the cathedral does, so the climb has to come first
- No general Sunday sightseeing, which catches out weekend visitors
- Free in-house tours are not reserved, so they may be full when you arrive
If you have a half day and a fixed end time, work backwards from the dome rather than forwards from the door. Get in when the galleries open at 9.30am, climb, then spend whatever is left on the floor and the crypt. Check the hours for your date first, because services move them.
Fitting it into a London day
St Paul’s sits between two obvious walks. The Millennium Bridge lands at the south side of the churchyard, so Tate Modern and Bankside are ten minutes away on foot, and the City is on the other side. If you would rather have the whole day organised for you, the guided walks that end inside the cathedral run five and seven hours respectively — see the guided options or how to get there on your own.
Frequently asked questions
How much time does it take to visit St Paul’s Cathedral?
About 90 minutes for the cathedral floor and the crypt, and two and a half to three hours if you climb the 528 steps to the Golden Gallery as well. See the dome climb for what the climb involves.
What is the latest I can arrive?
Last sightseeing entry is usually 4pm and dome-gallery last entry is usually 4.15pm, with everyone out around 30 minutes later. Arriving at 3.45pm gets you in, but not up the dome and round the crypt. Check the opening hours for the exact date.
Can I leave and come back on the same ticket?
Yes — the entry ticket is valid for the whole day of the date booked, which is what makes the five-hour version possible. More on what the ticket covers on the ticket page.