Best 10 Quid I've Spent
August 23, 2008
Faced with the prospect of paying £10 to get into St. Paul's, I nearly turned away and left, especially after being fairly disappointed with the even pricier Westminster Abbey. I decided to go for it anyway - might as well see it once.
St. Paul's is magnificent. I wish it was free, but who cares because this place is completely awesome in the original sense of the word (the Bill & Ted sense also works). The only times I went to church growing up was while staying with relatives or singing in a boys choir, but even I felt like crossing myself a few times in St. Paul's.
The architecture is justly famous, and the detailed decoration (mosaic tile work, painting, masonry) is on a par with the Natural History Museum if not better in some places. There is a beautiful Henry Moore sculpture of a mother and child (big blob and little blob) on the main floor that is meant to be rubbed, so be sure to go rub the blobs.
It is definitely worth taking the time to ascend the hundreds of stairs up to the 3 layers of the dome, the first being inside the top of the dome, and the other two outside (so be sure to go in good weather). Be warned, none of this is a good idea for vertigo sufferers, and the final platform is scary no matter who you are.
While the list of notables buried in the crypt at St. Paul's pales by comparison to Westminster Abbey, the crypt is a far more peaceful place than anywhere you can go in Westminster Abbey.
All told, this was the best £10 experience I've had in London. Sure, I've had some excellent free experiences too, but this was definitely value for money.
Tags: church, historical landmark, views, architecture
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