What each ticket gets you
The Cathedral sells three ways in. Which one fits depends on the day you can go and whether you want the dome.
| Option | When | Adult price | What you see |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sightseeing ticket | Monday to Saturday, 8.30am–4.30pm | £27 | Floor, Crypt, three Dome Galleries, multimedia guide |
| Dome Sundays | Sundays to 25 October 2026, admission 12.30pm–2pm | £13.50 | Three Dome Galleries only |
| Attending a service | Daily, at service times | Free | The service, from your seat |
Sightseeing prices are from the Cathedral's ticket types and prices page and Dome Sundays prices from the Dome Sundays page (both checked 9 October 2026). The lower "Great British Summer Savings" prices on those pages applied only to visits from 25 June to 1 September 2026.
Sightseeing ticket prices, Monday to Saturday
| Ticket | Price | With optional 10% donation |
|---|---|---|
| Adult (18+) | £27 | £29.70 |
| Senior (65+) or student | £24 | £26.40 |
| Child (6–17) | £10.50 | £11.55 |
| Infant (0–5) | Free | Free |
| Family: 2 adults + 2 or 3 children | £64.50 | £70.95 |
| Family: 1 adult + 2 or 3 children | £37.50 | £41.25 |
The donation is optional and is offered at checkout. Students need a photo ID from their place of study or an ISIC full-time card. Disabled visitors and one carer or companion get free tickets, which can be booked in advance or requested on arrival. Groups of 15 or more pay £24.30 per adult and £9.50 per child.
A family of two adults and two children therefore pays £64.50 instead of £75 at single-ticket prices. A couple pays £54, or £27 in total with the National Rail 2 for 1 offer if both arrived in London by National Rail on a valid ticket.
Online or at the door
The booking FAQ says booking online gives the fastest entry, with dates released about six months ahead and same-day booking possible. Walk-up visitors are also welcomed, and the Cathedral accepts cash for walk-up visits as well as most major cards, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, China UnionPay and JCB.
Some discounts work only one way. The National Rail 2 for 1 offer must be pre-booked online, and you show your train tickets to London on arrival. A National Art Pass (50% off) and Tesco Clubcard Partner codes apply to walk-up tickets only. A London Pass or a tour operator voucher needs no booking: you bring it on the day.
Hours and the Sunday rule
Sightseeing runs Monday to Saturday. The booking page gives 8.30am to 4.30pm with last entry at 4pm, and the planning page adds that times can change on some days, so check the Cathedral's calendar for your date (checked 9 October 2026).
On Sundays the building is open for worship, not sightseeing. Between 15 March and 25 October 2026 the Cathedral runs Dome Sundays: admission to the galleries from 12.30pm to 2pm, at £13.50 per adult, £12 for seniors and students and £5.25 for children aged 6–17. Tickets are sold online, with a limited number on the day. As of 9 October 2026, three Dome Sundays remain: 11, 18 and 25 October.
Climbing the dome: steps and limits
All three Dome Galleries are included in a Monday to Saturday ticket, and they are reached by stairs only. The Cathedral counts 257 steps to the Whispering Gallery inside the dome, 376 steps to the outdoor Stone Gallery, and 528 steps in total to the Golden Gallery at the top.
The Cathedral advises anyone with a medical condition, reduced mobility, or concerns about heights or confined spaces not to attempt the climb; the multimedia guide includes a video fly-through of the galleries instead. Photography is allowed on the two outdoor galleries but not in the Whispering Gallery.
Under the terms of entry, a child ticket holder must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over in the Dome Galleries. Buggies and pushchairs cannot be taken up.
Getting in without a ticket: services
The Attending a service page says regular services such as Evensong are free and most need no booking; about thirty services take place each week. Everyone passes through the same security check at the door.
In the Cathedral's service schedule for 27 September to 24 October 2026, Choral Evensong is at 5pm on most weekdays and Saturdays and at 3pm on Sundays. Some days change; on 30 September, for example, Evening Prayer was transferred to another church. Check the calendar for your date.
At a service you sit under the dome or in the nave, stay in your seat, and do not take photos. It is the free way to hear the choir under the dome, but not a substitute for the sightseeing route.
Time, tours and add-ons
Ticket holders can join free guided tours on the day by asking at the Guiding Desk: a 20–30 minute highlights tour, or a tour of about 90 minutes covering the floor, Crypt, Geometric Staircase and Quire. Both run Monday to Saturday, usually between 11am and 3pm, according to the tours page.
The one-hour Treasures tour of the Triforium, library and Great Model costs £16 on top of admission and is booked online. It involves 141 steps plus short flights of stairs.
Bags and what can go wrong
The planning page sets a bag limit of 45 × 30 × 25 cm, including handles and wheels, and says there is no cloakroom. If you are coming straight from a station with a suitcase, store it first; see where to store luggage in London.
You may amend a ticket booked with the Cathedral up to 24 hours before your slot through Manage my booking; later changes may cost a fee, and tickets are non-refundable. If some areas close on your day, the entry terms give no refund. If opening hours change after you bought, you may ask to move the date or for a refund of the ticket price.
The Cathedral's How to find us page puts St Paul's Underground station about 270 metres (3 minutes) away, City Thameslink 300 metres and Blackfriars 500 metres. For paying Tube fares, see how daily capping works on a bank card. If you are in Westminster on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday morning, see Changing of the Guard days and times.