St. Paul’s Cathedral should certainly be on your list of places to visit while in London.   And you should also check out The London Pass , the brand new leisure pass that lets you experience the best that London has to offer

For three hundred years St Paul’s Cathedral has served as one of the enduring symbols of London, a role it richly deserves. Completed in 1708, Sir Christopher Wren’s masterwork is recognized the world over by its large dome and classical architecture.

The fame of the dome is particularly ironic since the plans, third in succession after two rejected models, didn’t call for one. Wren took advantage of a clause in the commission permitting him to make ‘ornamental’ changes.

And, in effect, the large dome - visible from several parts of London far away - is just an ornament. In the interior is a much smaller dome directly underneath and between the two a large cone-shaped structure supporting the 850-ton lantern.

Outside, astride the large dome are two towers and an extraordinary classical facade. Though it forms the entrance, the view is less familiar since photographs typically concentrate on the famous dome, which lies on the other side. The west side offers an especially good view. From here, visitors can take in the columns and the clock tower.

Whether viewing from outside or in, though, there are several outstanding features and dozens of smaller ones of interest.

One of the more popular interior features is the Whispering Gallery. The result of the way sound waves move within an arched structure, a person can stand at one corner and whisper and be heard far away. It can be reached by a muscular climb up 259 spiral steps. Most find the effort well repaid.

Someone standing far away beneath the opposite side of an arch can still hear plainly what was said. There are often several pairs trying this at once, though. The sound is clearest if you can find a time when no one else is testing the effect.

But the main interest lies less with physics and more with art. One example is the 20-foot oak model representing Wren’s second major attempt at gaining approval for a design. Another is the large pipe organ, commissioned in 1694 and still functional.

Several other functional, yet artistic, elements are around the cathedral. One, Wren’s memorial, contains an epitaph from his son. It reads, translated from the Latin: ‘Reader, if you seek his monument, look around.’

Many other plaques, carvings, statues and other memorials to the powerful and famous of London’s past are within the cathedral: in the south transept Admiral Nelson, in the north aisle the Duke of Wellington.

There’s also a memorial in the south choir aisle of the poet John Donne, Dean of St. Paul’s before the current building was erected. The disastrous London fire of 1666, destroyed the original. Almost ten years elapsed before construction was begun, followed by more than another 30 until completion. That gives some idea of how construction projects were carried out 300 years ago.

Undergoing a £40 million ($71 million) restoration to celebrate it’s 300-year anniversary, many of the building’s surfaces have been cleaned and restored. Now is an especially good time to pay a visit.

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One of the best ways to see London is from the air. Unfortunately, that was fairly difficult until recently. Now it’s as easy as stepping onto a platform that moves slower than the average escalator into the London Eye pod.

The London Eye can only approximately be described as an enormous Ferris Wheel. The designers beginning with the originators Julia Barfield and David Marks have produced an engineering marvel. True enough it rotates in a circle through a vertical plane. But it never stops or starts apart from the occasional need to accommodate the elderly or handicapped.

Conceived as part of the British Millennium celebration, the wheel was eventually worked on by several architects under the sponsorship of British Airways. So large it had to be cast and constructed in sections, it took over a week to hoist into position.

Though not open to the public due to technical problems until March 2000, the wheel now provides rides to thousands of daily visitors. Even at the current somewhat high prices the cost of rent, construction and interest on loans keeps the operation from being in the black.

Given its status as a major tourist attraction, though, the British government has vowed to keep it in London and in operation for years to come. With 15,000 per day who come to ‘take a flight’ there’s definitely the potential for a profitable operation.

The bicycle-hub-and-spoke design supports oval shaped pods that accommodate visitors in comfort and style.

The 135m high (443 ft) wheel holds 32 of the glass pods, all with 360 degree views of London. The pods, which hold 20, are air conditioned and the wheel provides a smooth, nearly noiseless ride. The passengers may not, so choose your partners well.

Not only spectacular to look at it provides unobstructed views that, on a clear day, can extend all the way to Windsor Castle dozens of kilometers outside London.

The total trip is around 30 minutes and during that time riders can see Big Ben, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament) and the Thames as it meanders through the city.

During the continuous ride, you can take in the view of everything from the mundane Ministry of Defence building across the way to the Saatchi Gallery and the spectacular Millennium Dome. The latter, largely a failure as a turn of the Millennium tourist attraction, is finding new life as a sports arena and concert venue.

Open all day and year round, many visitors take the trip early in the day to get a clear view of daytime London. Another visit allows seeing the scenery at dusk when the setting sun makes the city glow.

The London Eye is located nearby the IMAX cinema and the London Aquarium, not to mention Big Ben and the Tower, so there are lots of attractions within a short walk. Getting there is easy, too, via the London Underground, i.e. the ‘tube’ or subway. Exit at Waterloo station.

To minimize the wait, get tickets online and collect them from the automated ticket machine inside the main hall. See http://www.ba-londoneye.com/ for additional info and prices.
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To many the name ‘Whitehall‘ evokes ‘British Government’. And, indeed, the Houses of Parliament are at one end of the road running north from Parliament Square. But there’s much more along this major London artery than the Palace of Westminster, home to the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

The name derives from the original Palace of Whitehall, home to royalty and its ministers for centuries until destroyed by fire in 1698. Fortunately for today’s visitors The Banqueting House, completed in 1622, survived.

Used today for official receptions, the 17th century building is a remarkable work of art inside and out. One of the most outstanding examples of Italian Renaissance in London, the view from the street is spectacular.

But the interior is no less worth a visit. Inside, there are dozens of paintings, decorative items and furniture from the period and later. Visitors can also enjoy lunchtime concerts of classical baroque while they dine.

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Nearby are the beautiful Whitehall Gardens. Hosting several memorial sculptures, including one of the famous Gordon of Khartoum, the setting is a pleasant oasis within bustling London. Parts of the destroyed Palace of Whitehall can still be seen, including the wine cellars.

Further along are The Admiralty, the Ministry of Defence building and Horse Guards Parade. Be sure not to miss the two mounted Horse Guards, bedecked in colorful uniforms capped by plumed helmets. If you’re visiting in June, arrive in time to see the ‘Trooping the Color’ ceremony held to celebrate the Queen’s Official Birthday.

Continuing the military theme, Trafalgar Square merits a visit where you can see the statue of Lord Nelson in the plaza built to honor his victory at the Battle of Trafalgar. At least, you could if it weren’t atop a column 53m (174 ft) high.

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Fortunately, you don’t need binoculars to get a good look at the four bronze lions at the base. Designed by the renowned Sir Edwin Landseer, the large sculptures constitute some of his best work.

There are several other outdoor sights, including the Cenotaph. Designed to commemorate the fallen of WWI, the empty tomb is the site of a Royal ceremony held in November to honor them.

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A recent addition is the excellent Churchill Museum. Used by the famed statesman during WWII to house war planning activity, the Cabinet War Rooms and other areas have been completely restored to the period.

Visitors can see Churchill’s private living quarters within the War Rooms and there are dozens of memorabilia about. The £13.5 million ($24 million) Churchill Project has accurately depicted the scenes the British leader and his aides would have seen and lived with.

At the end, Whitehall becomes Parliament Street. Visitors can see Big Ben and (by prior arrangement) view debates from the public galleries of the House of Commons or the House of Lords. Tours are available for two months during the summer when Parliament is out of session (’not sitting’, as the British say).

Whitehall is easy to reach via the Tube (the London Underground, i.e. subway). Exit at Westminster.

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