St. Paul's Cathedral

View from Millennium Bridge

What & Where: St Paul's Cathedral

When: Saturday, November 13, 2010  (Closes at 4pm)


Come and visit the icon of London that is St Paul's Cathedral on Saturday 13th November, the only day of the year when it is totally free to get in!

The 13th November is the day of the Lord Mayor's Show in the City and St Paul's is taking part in this by not charging an entrance fee and it will also be putting on free performances inside the cathedral of the musical tale of Peter and the Wolf.

About St Paul's
St Paul's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral on Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London. The cathedral was designed by Sir Christopher Wren after the previous St Paul's was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. The current cathedral opened in 1708.

It is generally reckoned to be London's fifth St Paul's Cathedral, all having been built on the same site since AD 604. The cathedral is one of London's most famous and most recognisable sights. At 365 feet (111m) high, it was the tallest building in London from 1708 to 1962.

Important services held at St. Paul's include the funerals of Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington and Sir Winston Churchill; Jubilee celebrations for Queen Victoria; peace services marking the end of the First and Second World Wars; the launch of the Festival of Britain and the thanksgiving services for both the Golden Jubilee and 80th Birthday of Her Majesty the Queen.
The Royal Family holds most of its important marriages, christenings and funerals at Westminster Abbey and St Paul's was used for the marriage of Charles, Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981.

St Paul's Cathedral is still a busy working church, with hourly prayer and daily services.

The Crypt
The cathedral has a very substantial crypt, holding over 200 memorials, some of the most famous ones are:

Sir Christopher Wren
Lord Horatio Nelson
Henry Moore
Sir Winston Churchill
T. E. Lawrence
Sir Alexander Fleming
Florence Nightingale
J. M. W. Turner
Sir Joshua Reynolds
Arthur Wellesley, he Duke of Wellington

Peter and the Wolf musical performance
Jo Brand, one of Britain's funniest and best-loved comedians, narrates the magical children's tale of the boy Peter and his daring attempt to capture a hungry wolf.

You will be able to hear some of the greatest tunes ever written in an arrangement made especially for the organ of St Paul's by the cathedral's Organist, Simon Johnson. Performances will be at 2pm and 3pm.

Cheers,
WMMc