View from St. Paul's Cathedral London

Let's just suppose that you were in London, and let's just suppose that you were walking along and looked up to see the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral...

...As you approached the north door

you wondered what it would be like to be near the top of the building to see the view...

...so you walked inside, climbed the 257 worn, stone steps up to the 'whispering gallery,' then another 119 steps to get to the 'stone gallery' an area outside the dome...

Yes, this is it. Looking over the balustrade, you're stunned by the view!  

Don't be impatient; we're getting there.

And wouldn't you think that would be adequate?? But no, because Kevin wants to go the remaining 154 steps to the 'Golden Gallery.'  Why?   Because it's there??


I had no doubt that my husband would survive the climb, it's just that one could, quite easily it seems, launch oneself from the dome of St. Paul's if one were so inclined. Then again, we don't hear of that happening very often, do we. ANYway, I have to give Kevin the credit for the photos from the Stone Gallery and the Golden Gallery. I was safe inside the dome at the Whispering Gallery, being perfectly content to look down at the gorgeous interior of St. Paul's.

 photo credit

So this is the kind of thing I was looking at (above) while Kevin was risking life and limb several feet above me. He's the guy who's eager to drive Hardknott Pass (while I walk.)

So, can I identify these shots he took? Mostly, no. But I think the above view was looking east from the dome.

From the dome, looking down onto the west end and towers

The clock tower (the south tower) on the west end.

looking north

Looking north, to the center of the financial district

Obviously, Christopher Wren did not design the Swiss Re building

East with a zoom - Tower Bridge

Looking southeast, and on the south bank of the Thames, the Anchor Bar and Restaurant

'This is one of London's oldest and most historic pubs, it was around during the Great Fire of London in 1666. It itself succumbed to fire later on and was rebuilt in 1676...


...They have a big dining room which has gorgeous views over the Thames. They also have a Shakespeare Room which has pine paneling from the 18th century. This room is used mostly for functions and the like.'  from Virtual Tourist

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre on south bank

 This is an interior shot of the Globe which I took in 2004 when my daughters and I went to London.

Obviously not a view from the top of St. Pauls

Looking south at the Millennium Bridge and Tate Modern

I once bought 'chestnuts roasting on an open fire' at the south end of the bridge.

Shakespeare's Globe is just off the frame to the left (east)

Looking southwest, the OXO building and the London Eye

Looking west, southwest. 

I'm trying to figure out what the round building is at the right side of the photo. I think that's Blackfriar's Bridge that we see (just a couple blocks west of the Millennium Bridge) and I think the one in the distance (way to the right) is Charing Cross.

If someone reading this knows, I would appreciate it if you would leave a comment informing me.

Looking south again. There, now you can see Shakespeare's Globe in relation to the Tate Modern

I think this is a long zoom shot which brings what I think is Charing Cross Station appearing so close. Also, there's that round building again.

I think I need to stop obsessing over that round building now (doing a Google search on 'round building in London' wouldn't help me much).

Have a great weekend! Let me know when you're going to London. :-)

Be sure to enter my Soap'n'Such Giveaway if you haven't already. :-) It ends Sunday night.