Despite its elaborate appearance, the Font’s purpose is simple – to hold water used in the ceremony of baptism. Baptism celebrates the beginning of a Christian’s spiritual journey and the Font is positioned near the west entrance – to welcome visitors into the home and family of the Christian Church.

St Dunstan's Chapel, consecrated in 1699, was the second part of Wren's building to come into use, after the Quire. The chapel is set aside for prayer throughout the day. You can light a candle here or leave names of those whom you would like to be prayed for during one of our services.

This chapel in the north tower was dedicated in 1925 to the memory of Field Marshal Lord Kitchener. Kitchener died at sea and his body was never recovered. He is known for his restructuring of the British army during World War One and for the most effective recruitment campaign in British military history, using the slogan 'Your Country Needs You'.

This chapel was originally a consistory court in which cases of ecclesiastical law were heard. Dedicated in 1906 to St Michael and St George, its stalls feature banners of current knights and officers of the Order of St Michael and St George, including HM The Queen, who visits periodically for the Order's ceremonial service.

Hidden away in the south west bell tower, the Geometric Staircase is a wonder of design, with its steps appearing to float up to the ceiling without support. The staircase was made famous when it was used as the route for young wizards to get to their divination class in the Harry Potter film franchise.

A monument to one of Britain's greatest soldiers and statesmen, Arthur, Duke of Wellington, sits in an arch between the Nave and North Aisle. Wellington died in 1852 but his monument was not completed until 1912, when the figure on horseback was unveiled.

A beautiful embroidered textile on display on the Cathedral Floor dates from around 1897 and is an altar frontal – made to decorate the front of an altar. It was made by Watts & Co and possibly designed by Cecil Hare working with G.F Bodley. It is decorated with images of St Peter, Christ and St Paul.

The Chapel of St Erkenwald and St Ethelburga – also known as the Middlesex Chapel – is a place for prayer, reflection and remembrance. Since March 2022, it has had a special focus on remembering those lost to the COVID-19 pandemic, and features podiums showing our virtual book of remembrance – part of our Remember Me project.

Please note that the artwork 'The Light of the World' by William Holman Hunt is currently not on display.

The altar under the Dome is used for the daily celebration of the Eucharist. This area is the natural heart of the building, the centre of worship today and a good example of how the Cathedral continues to evolve. For many years, services were only held in the Quire. Now, with an altar permanently located here, services look and feel much more welcoming.

The first piece of contemporary art to be housed by the Cathedral, Moore's Mother and Child:hood arrived in 1983, and was the artist's last large-scale work. Made specifically for its location in the Minor Canons’ Aisle, the work presents three stages of motherhood: conception, gestation and parenting.

Mary is the second video work by Bill Viola to be featured in the Cathedral, joining its sister Martyrs in October 2016. A much less disquieting piece than its counterpart, it is also comprised of vertical video screens, showing rich depictions of the life of the Mother of Christ.

Martyrs opened in May 2014, and is one of two video works on loan from the Tate Modern, both created by Bill Viola and his collaborator and partner Kira Perov. This challenging, soundless work shows four individuals across four colour vertical plasma screens being martyred by the classical elements – earth, air, fire and water.

Please note that this piece is currently not available to view due to technical issues. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

The American Memorial Chapel is also known as the Jesus Chapel. This part of the Cathedral was destroyed during the Blitz. During restoration, it was made to commemorate the 28,000 Americans in the UK who died during WWII. The images that adorn its wood, metalwork and stained glass include depictions of the flora and fauna of North America.

The current High Altar dates from 1958 and is made of marble and carved and gilded oak. It features a magnificent canopy based on a sketch by Christopher Wren, but which wasn't built in his time. It replaced a large Victorian marble altar and screen, which were damaged by a bomb strike in WWII, which destroyed a large part of the east end of the Cathedral.

The Quire is where the choir and clergy normally sit during services, and was the first part of St Paul's to be built and consecrated. The stalls on both sides feature delicate carvings by Grinling Gibbons, whose work is seen in many royal palaces and great houses. The Bishop's throne, or cathedra, sits in the Quire.

The Grand Organ was built and installed in 1695 and has seen several restorations since. Its case, by Grinling Gibbons, is one of the Cathedral's greatest artefacts, and once formed a screen keeping the Quire separate from the Nave and Dome areas. The third largest organ in the UK, it has 7,189 pipes, five keyboards and 138 organ stops.

John Donne lived many lives before becoming Dean of St Paul's in 1621; as husband, father, lawyer, soldier, politician, poet and priest. His funeral effigy was the only monument to escape significant damage during the Great Fire of London. Sculpted by Nicholas Stone, the story goes that a dying Donne posed for the artist wrapped in a shroud.

Prison reformer John Howard travelled Britain and Europe in the 1700s, studying prison conditions and campaigning for change. Howard’s monument, sculpted by John Bacon the Elder, was the very first to be introduced into the Cathedral in 1795, 80 years after the building was completed.