Yes, you can visit St. Paul's Cathedral for free by attending a service or for private prayer, but tourist sightseeing requires a paid ticket (approx. £27-£29.70). Free entry is available for services, including Evensong, where you can experience the interior, though access to the dome galleries and crypt is limited.
It's free to attend the Cathedral for services, but if you want to explore the building, you will need a sightseeing ticket. Tickets for our Monday to Saturday sightseeing are priced at £27 per adult and £10.50 per child with discounts for families, groups and concessions and free tickets for those with a disability.
There are different timings and durations – I opted for the 30-minute highlights tour with Jim, who was full of fascinating stories and a deep love for the building. It's totally worth doing – the guides bring the cathedral to life, from tales of fire and wartime defiance to how exactly that dome was engineered.
Most cathedrals don't charge an admission fee, but say they are grateful for visitor donations. The Association of English Cathedrals says cathedrals that do charge, give free access to those attending services and for private prayer.
At St Paul's we receive virtually no government funding and as such, are fully responsible for raising all the income needed to operate. It costs at least £16 million a year to keep the Cathedral open.
How long should I spend at St Paul's Cathedral? Visitors usually spend about 1.5 to 2 hours exploring the Cathedral. This gives you enough time to admire the interior, visit the crypt, and climb up to the dome for those unbeatable views of the London Eye, the Thames River, and The Shard.
Although many people like to dress smartly to attend church, there is no requirement to do so: please simply wear clothing that is comfortable and appropriate for a place of worship.
Last Sunday of the month (subject to the Calendar of museum openings/closures). Children below the age of 7. Directors of museum institutions, managing boards and other bodies engaged in the protection of archaeological, historic and artistic heritage.
It's fine just to come along and see what goes on, or join in as you feel like it. Tea, coffee and biscuits are served after the service where there is plenty of time to meet new people and ask more questions.
Was any of Harry Potter filmed at Durham Cathedral?
Durham Cathedral on screen
Notably, various locations across the cathedral were used in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and Avengers: Endgame.
Freshwater West has become a mecca for Harry Potter fans, as the location of Shell Cottage in the Deathly Hallows movies – where Dobby the house elf died and was buried. You can visit his “grave” on the beach and leave your own tribute – a definite bucketlist activity for any potterheads who visit Bluestone.
CECIL COURT THE REAL DIAGON ALLEY. Cecil Court being "just off Charing Cross Road" and with its curious mix of bookshops and antique shops, is widely believed to be the real Diagon Alley, or at least the thoroughfare on which Diagon Alley was based.
Since this is a functioning church, it is free to attend a service. But to experience all of St. Paul's glory, including its historic galleries, tombs, and domes, you must buy tickets.
Many of us are familiar with the 80/20 rule. Twenty percent of parishioners typically do 80 percent of the work in congregations. This means no matter the size of your church the pool of individuals in leadership and ministry is limited.
The Bible clearly states that continued absence to church can lead to wilfull sin. Going to church and coming together in the name of the Lord is also a way of helping and motivating each other — a responsibility charged to every follower of Christ.
Peter's Basilica and many of them dream to see and meet the Pope. If you are among them, you have to know that the Pope usually gives a Public Audience every Wednesday (and some Saturdays) at 10.30am and that to gain access to the meetings you need to reserve tickets to the Papal Audience, which are absolutely free.
What happens if you take a picture in the Sistine Chapel?
In the Sistine Chapel it is forbidden to take photographs or films with any type of electronic equipment. The guard staff is authorised to request the immediate cancellation, in their presence, of video or photographic material produced in contravention of this rule.
The Sistine Chapel is located inside the Vatican Museums. So in order to visit it you need to buy a ticket to the Vatican Museums. As we said, given the large turnout that the museum has, it is recommended to book a skip-the-line ticket for the entrance. In order to avoid the lines there are many solutions.
Why can't you take pictures in St. Paul's Cathedral?
Visitors are welcome to photograph the Cathedral during sightseeing hours, Monday to Saturday. Up to date opening hours can be found on our Visit us page. We do ask, however, that to be respectful and mindful of the privacy of others, visitors do not take photographs during any of our services.
Why can Mel B get married at St. Paul's Cathedral?
Very exclusive location aside (granted because she was a Member of the Order of the British Empire by appointment of Prince William in 2022, for her activism against domestic violence), Mel B wore a white gown that blended tradition and contemporaneity.
There is a required legal fee for marrying in a church. In 2026, the legal fee is a maximum of £723 if you choose to marry away from where you live, and a maximum of £605 if you marry in your home parish. See the Affording the costs section below for more details.
