Terms and conditions of entry
Terms and conditions of entry
St Paul's Cathedral warmly welcomes you, and hopes you enjoy your visit.
To ensure the enjoyment, wellbeing and safety of visitors, volunteers and staff, we ask that all visitors to the Cathedral are subject to and abide by our terms and conditions of entry. By entering the Cathedral you are deemed to have accepted these terms and conditions and also acceptance of our Privacy Policy.
1. Security and personal belongings
1.1 In the interests of safety, visitors may be asked to submit to a search of their person and/or belongings and anyone refusing to submit or found to be in possession of materials believed by St Paul’s Cathedral to be offensive, dangerous or unsuitable may be denied entry, have their items confiscated or be removed from the Cathedral.
1.2 St Paul’s Cathedral does not accept liability for any damage howsoever caused to items during a security search.
1.3 St Paul’s Cathedral have the exclusive right to determine what items are dangerous or prohibited and what items may be brought into the Cathedral.
1.4 Dangerous or prohibited items may be left at the entrance with Cathedral staff or its appointed agents for collection after a visit. St Paul’s Cathedral accepts no responsibility for loss, theft or damage howsoever caused to such items.
1.5 Illegal items such as knives, pepper spray, mace, CS spray or any offensive weapons cannot be left at the entrance for later collection and will not be allowed into the Cathedral. These items will be confiscated and police may be informed.
1.6 Visitors cannot bring any item or luggage into the Cathedral above the maximum permitted dimensions of 45cm x 30cm x 25cm including handles, wheels and pockets. As there is no cloakroom facility please do not bring larger items with you. Prams and pushchairs are permitted should they exceed these dimensions.
1.7 Visitors must keep their personal belongings with them at all times and St Paul’s Cathedral accepts no responsibility for loss, theft or damage howsoever caused to any personal belongings brought into the Cathedral.
2. Rights of access
2.1 As a busy working Cathedral and historic building, St Paul’s Cathedral reserves the right to change any advertised opening hours and areas open to visitors.
2.2 Where a visitor is in possession of a sightseeing admission ticket we offer no rights to a refund in circumstances where the areas open to such ticketholders may be restricted. Where opening hours might need to vary from those advertised by St Paul’s Cathedral at the time of purchase of a sightseeing admission ticket, ticketholders may request to amend their visit date or to request a refund of the amount paid. There is no right to compensation in such circumstances beyond refund of the ticket price paid.
3. Children
3.1 St Paul’s Cathedral welcomes people of all ages to attend the Cathedral, be that to worship, for an event or as a sightseer.
3.2 Visitors with a sightseeing admission ticket should please be aware that a child ticketholder (available to those aged 6-17 years) must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over at all times when accessing the Dome Galleries.
3.3 Groups of 10 or more children must be accompanied and supervised by an adult(s) aged 18 or over at all times during a visit. Please refer to formal education group guidelines as issued by our Education team.
3.4 St Paul’s Cathedral does not accept legal responsibility for students visiting as a group and it is the responsibility of the group leader to ensure they have the correct level of supervision at all times whilst on site
3.5 Parents should stay with their children at all times.
4. Visitor conduct
4.1 Visitors must comply with all directions from our staff, relevant health and safety notices, policies and announcements made available within the Cathedral.
4.2 St Paul’s Cathedral reserves the right to refuse admission to the Cathedral, ban from entry to the Cathedral, or remove from the Cathedral without any right to a refund (where applicable) any person:
- 4.2.1 Whose presence or behaviour may affect the enjoyment and/or safety of other visitors or staff.
- 4.2.2 Who uses violent, aggressive, threatening, abusive, discriminatory or insulting words or behaviour that our staff may find unacceptable.
- 4.2.3 Whom climbs or stands upon barriers, walls, roofs, exhibits or any other features at the Cathedral.
4.3 St Paul’s Cathedral reserves the right to initiate legal proceedings or prosecute any person found damaging or defacing any part of the buildings, walls, barriers, exhibits or fabrics at the Cathedral or has displayed any sign or visible representation of any kind which is, or could be reasonably judged to be, threatening, abusive or insulting.
4.4 St Paul’s Cathedral reserves the right to refuse admission or to remove a visitor from the Cathedral without any right to a refund (where applicable) if in our reasonable opinion there has been a breach of any of the following:
- 4.4.1 No smoking, including e-cigarettes and vaping.
- 4.4.2 No pets or animals except for guide dogs, hearing dogs and registered assistance dogs.
- 4.4.3 No consumption of food or drink in areas open to the public, other than water in transparent containers. Food and drink may be consumed in designated café and picnicking areas.
- 4.4.4 No offensive, dangerous or prohibited items.
- 4.4.5 No access to any area of the Cathedral other than areas designated for access by visitors.
- 4.4.6 No unnecessary noise (whether from mobile phones or personal stereos or otherwise) or behaviour likely to annoy or offend other visitors or intimidate Cathedral staff.
- 4.4.7 No use of illegal drugs or consumption of alcohol except in authorised places and in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003.
4.5 The use of roller skates, scooters (except for mobility scooters), skateboards, roller blades or roller-shoes is not permitted in the Cathedral.
4.6 St Paul’s Cathedral is a place of Worship and therefore we ask that all visitors respect and are sensitive to this. Clothing should be appropriate.
4.7 St Paul’s Cathedral operates a zero tolerance policy; aggressive or abusive behaviour towards Cathedral staff will not be tolerated.
5. Photography
5.1 Respectful non-flash photography for personal use only is permitted inside the Cathedral during sightseeing opening hours. Please be considerate of other visitors when using a camera.
5.2 The following activities are not permitted:
- 5.2.1 Photography in any areas where it would be unsafe or inappropriate and which are marked accordingly. These include, but are not limited to, the Whispering Gallery and any chapels designated for private prayer.
- 5.2.2 Video and recording of moving image.
- 5.2.3 The use of flash or additional lighting, tripods, monopods and selfie sticks.
- 5.2.4 Photography of children and young people without consent of the accompanying adult.
- 5.2.5 Commercial photography except with prior permission (visit our Media page for more information).
- 5.2.6 On Sundays, after Evening Prayer and during services, we ask that visitors do not take photographs or videos. A member of the St Paul’s team will advise on arrival, please also refer to on site signage.
5.3 Please read our full Photography Policy. St Paul’s Cathedral reserves the right to amend or replace the photography policy at any time and without advance notice.
5.4 St Paul’s Cathedral, or other authorised parties, may from time to time carry out photography and/or video recording in the Cathedral, which may feature visitors. You agree that St Paul’s Cathedral or any authorised party may use such images in perpetuity in any promotional, advertising or publicity material in any format whatsoever. You further agree that copyright in these materials rests with St Paul’s Cathedral or such authorised party (as the case may be). Signage will be clearly displayed to alert you to any recording. Should you not wish to be filmed, please make yourself known to a member of the Visitor Experience team or Virgers.
6. Groups
6.1 It is the responsibility of a group leader to ensure that their group members are aware of and comply with these terms and conditions of entry. If a group member breaches any terms and conditions that may result in their refusal of admission or removal from the Cathedral, St Pauls’ Cathedral reserves the right to apply the same for the entire group without any right to a refund (where applicable).
6.2 Group leaders must additionally ensure that they and their group comply with any group visiting guidelines issued to them in advance or on arrival by Cathedral staff.
7. Liability
7.1 Except in respect of death or personal injury caused by our negligence or by that of our employees or any other liability that cannot, as a matter of law be excluded or limited by English law:
- 7.1.1 We exclude our liability for any loss, damage, cost or expense suffered by you or occurring to any items belonging to you as a result of your visit; and
- 7.1.2 Our liability to you shall be limited to the price of your admission ticket (where applicable). Under no circumstances will we be liable to you or to any third party for any consequential or indirect loss, damage or expense.
8. Law and Jurisdiction
8.1 These Terms and Conditions are governed by English law. Any dispute arising from, or related to, such Terms and Conditions shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
