Climb to the top of St Paul's Cathedral

A surprising number of Londoners have never been into St Paul's Cathedral, but in your author's view they are the ones missing out on one of London's gems.

The 'modern' St Paul's was built after its predecessor was burnt down in the Great Fire of London in 1666, and was completed in 1708. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren, legend has it that the cathedral elders wanted a more traditional design, and Wren promised them this, safe in the knowledge they would be long gone by the time his masterpiece was completed.

Sure, it's fairly expensive at £11 a ticket, but for that, you can see inside one of Britain's most iconic landmarks, and climb to the top of the dome for spectacular views out across London.

The cathedral has played host to many state occasions, including the funerals of Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington (both of whom are buried in the Crypt) and Sir Winston Churchill, the 80th and 100th birthdays of the Queen Mother and the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana and

The cathedral is open to tourists from Monday to Saturday between 8.30am and 4pm. For more information visit the website at http://www.stpauls.co.uk/.

^{^Picture from Wikipedia under Wikimedia Commons^}