Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Visiting the Cathedral:
Inside, this big church feels big. At 515 feet long and 250 feet
wide,it'sEurope'sfourthlargest,after Rome (St.Peter's),Sevilla, andMilan. Thespacious-
ness is accentuated bythe relative lack ofdecoration. The simple, cream-colored ceiling and
the clear glass in the windows light everything evenly.
There are many legends buried here: Horatio Nelson, who wore down Napoleon; the
Duke of Wellington, who finished Napoleon off; and even Charles Cornwallis, who was fin-
ishedoffbyGeorgeWashingtonatYorktown.Oftenthesiteofhistoricfunerals(QueenVict-
oriaandWinstonChurchill),St.Paul'smostfamousceremonywasawedding—whenPrince
Charles married Lady Diana Spencer in 1981.
During your visit, you can climb the dome for a great city view and have some fun in
the Whispering Gallery. Whisper sweet nothings into the wall, and your partner (and anyone
else) standing far away can hear you. For best effects, try whispering (not talking) with your
mouthclosetothewall,whileyourpartnerstandsafewdozenyardsawaywithhisorherear
to the wall. The crypt (included with admission) is a world of historic bones and interesting
cathedral models.
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Old Bailey
To view the British legal system in action—lawyers in little blonde wigs speaking legalese
with an upper-crust accent—spend a few minutes in the visitors' gallery at the Old Bailey,
called the “Central Criminal Court.” Don't enter under the dome; continue down the block
about halfway to the modern part of the building—the entry is at Warwick Passage.
CostandHours:
Free,generallyMon-Fri9:45-13:00&14:00-16:00dependingoncase-
load, last entry at 15:40, closed Sat-Sun, fewer cases in Aug; no kids under 14; no bags, mo-
bile phones, cameras, iPods, or food, but small purses OK; you can check bags at the Cap-
able Travel agency just down the street at Old Bailey 4—£5/bag, £1 per phone or camera; 2
blocks northwest of St. Paul's on Old Bailey Street, follow signs to public entrance, Tube:
St. Paul's, tel. 020/7248-3277.
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Museum of London
ThismuseumtellsthefascinatingstoryofLondon,takingyouonawalkfromitspre-Roman
beginnings to the present. It features London's distinguished citizens through history—from
Neanderthals, to Romans, to Elizabethans, to Victorians, to Mods, to today. The museum's
displays are chronological, spacious, and informative without being overwhelming. Scale
models and costumes help you visualize everyday life in the city at different periods. In the
last room, you'll see the museum's prized possession: the Lord Mayor's Coach, a golden
carriage pulled by six white horses, looking as if it had pranced right out of the pages of
