It’s always a pleasure to take in the sights when you have no expectations or preconceived ideas about an area. I set out with the intention to visit St Paul’s Cathedral, but encountered some interesting distractions along the way.
Setting out from Brick Lane, I detoured via the imposing structure of “the Gherkin” (30 St Mary Axe). 180m tall and an icon of London’s skyline, it was built on the site of the former Baltic Exchange that was severely damaged by a bomb in 1992.
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From here I randomly made my way onto Leadenhall St. Lined with stately buildings, the occasional old church, the historic annexe of the market, and lots of nice shops, it was an enjoyable walk down to Bank. Here I spent quite some time snapping photos of the historic buildings that circle the square – quintessential London!
Venturing further down Poultry and Cheapside, I continued to enjoy the buildings until I reached St Paul’s Cathedral churchyard. I highly recommend doing a circuit around the Cathedral before going inside, to truly appreciate the dimensions of the structure and to take in the details on the exterior. I also encountered some interesting mirrored sculptures in the general vicinity that, when correctly positioned, reflect the Cathedral.
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- Generally regarded as Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece, the current Cathedral dates from the 17th century, and was part of the major rebuilding that took place after the Great Fire of London in 1666.
- It took 35 years to be completed, and has since survived two bombings during the Blitz in World War II.
- The recognisable dome rises to 110m, and was inspired by St Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
There was a choir practising their hymns as I explored the Cathedral floor with the aid of the audio guide. The acoustics showcased one particular voice in the choir: as she started her solo, the tone and range of her voice swelled to fill the church, the sound seemed to bounce and reverberate from every surface.
The interior space was beautiful to explore, a highlight being the mosaics on the ceiling that are comprised of over 6 million pieces of coloured glass. Unfortunately the exterior viewing platforms were closed, but I was able to access the interior Whispering Gallery, set 30m above the cathedral floor at the base of the dome. Worth the 259 step climb!
Beneath the Cathedral floor lies the crypt, the resting place of many notable Brits, including:
- Lord Nelson (killed in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805);
- the Duke of Wellington (who led the defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo, and has left behind a legacy of namesakes such as the trusty Wellington boots and the national dish of beef wellington);
- Wren himself.
St Paul’s is a serene and peaceful space, and worthy of a visit whilst in London.
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From the Cathedral, it’s a short walk down to the Thames and the Millennium Bridge. As the sky darkened, I took in the vista of the Tate Modern across the bridge, Shakespeare’s Globe theatre, the Shard, and Tower Bridge in the distance.
A great day of exploration with some unexpected surprises thrown in.
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Follow Your Dream 