St Paul's a timeless Icon

St Paul's Cathedral is one of London's most enduring symbols, the magnificent dome providing a comforting backdrop to life in the capital. During World War Two, the dome came to symbolise Londoners unwillingness to be bowed by bombing. St Paul's is more than 300 years old and was the first Cathedral to be built specifically for English Protestantism.

Sir Christopher Wren was commissioned to design the Cathedral after the previous building on this site had been destroyed by the Great Fire of London in 1666. Undercover tourists with the Ride & Stride downloadable travel guide, The City & The Tower tourist guide or the City & South Bank Circular mp3 guided tour (which is a combination of the best of the Ride & Stride and The City & the Tower London travel guides)will discover which monument was the only effigy to survive the fire. To hear an audio sample from the Ride & Stride city guide please click here.

To construct such a building today would be impressive, but to do so without the aid of modern machinery is testament to the skill and dedication of the architect, Sir Christopher Wren, and the craftsmen who put his ideas into practice.

Visitors can climb the 530 steps to the Golden Gallery which sits atop the outer dome, and from which there are commanding views over London. The acoustics at the top of the first 259 steps, 30 metres from the Cathedral’s floor, are so good that a whisper can be heard distinctly opposite; hence its name, the Whispering Gallery. Above this is the Stone Gallery which is 23 metres above and higher still, at 85 metres, is the Golden Gallery. Wren was hauled up here on a weekly basis to inspect the construction.

A healthy rivalry exists between St Paul's and Westminster Abbey. Grand State occasions regularly take place in both buildings. The tomb of Lord Nelson, the victor at the Battle of Trafalgar, lies in St Paul's crypt. The funeral services of the Duke of Wellington and Sir Winston Churchill, to name but two, were held here, too.

Wren’s son penned a fitting epitaph to his father, who is buried in St Paul's. “Beneath lies buried the founder of this church and city, who lived more than 90 years, not for himself but for the public good. Reader, if you seek his monument, look around you.”

Happier occasions such as the Wedding of Diana Princess of Wales and Prince Charles have also been celebrated in the Cathedral.

Independent travelers can discover the secrets of St Paul's with a Walk Talk Tour London travel guide. Three of Walk Talk Tours five London mp3 guided tours include Wren's masterpiece. The five London iPod travel guides are all available in English, French, German and Spanish.

Each Walk Talk Tour podcast guided tour is divided into commentary points. Visitors listen to the information about any given landmark, before hearing clear instructions as to how to reach their next destination. Walk Talk Tourists are then invited to Press Pause, before Pressing Play at their next destination. In addition, each Walk Talk Tour comes complete with a downloadable map to ensure that you won't miss a thing!

Walk Talk Tours represent excellent value for people sightseeing in groups and parties. For more information on the cost of completing a tour please click here.