St. Paul's Cathedral Bells: London’s Rich Ringing History

Quick Takeaways

• St. Paul’s Cathedral houses three historic bells: Great Paul, Great Tom, and the 12‑bell ring of the West Tower.
• Great Paul, cast in 1881, is the heaviest bell in the British Isles at 16.5tons.
• The bells are rung for daily services, special national occasions, and by the Ancient Society of College Youths.
• You can join guided tours on weekdays and on Sundays during the 11am service.
• Nearby attractions include the Millennium Bridge, the Tate Modern, and the historic Whitechapel Bell Foundry.

When you hear a deep, resonant toll echoing across the Thames, you’re likely hearing the bells of St. Paul's Cathedral -the iconic Anglican cathedral that dominates the City of London skyline. In London, the cathedral’s peal is not just a sound; it’s a living piece of the capital’s heritage, woven into everything from state ceremonies to everyday commuter moments. This guide unpacks the story behind those massive bronze shells, explains how they’re cared for, and shows you how to experience them up close.

The Birth of the Bells

London’s love affair with bells stretches back to medieval times, when the sound of church bells regulated work, marked the Angelus, and warned of fire. The first recorded bells at the site of St. Paul’s date to the 12th‑century Old St. Paul’s, a Gothic structure that pre‑dated Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece. Those early bells were cast by the nearby Whitechapel Bell Foundry, a workshop that would later supply the famous Liberty Bell in Philadelphia.

When the Great Fire of 1666 devoured the old building, it also claimed its bells. Wren’s reconstruction plan included a grand new tower designed specifically to hold a set of change‑ringing bells. By 1697, a ring of eight bells was installed, forming the foundation of today’s West Tower ensemble.

Great Paul - The Cathedral’s Crown Jewel

The name St. Paul's Cathedral bells instantly conjures the massive Great Paul. Cast by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in 1881, it weighs a staggering 16.5tons (about 36,300lb) and measures 8feet in diameter. Its deep “E‑flat” tone is the lowest of any English bell, audible across the City on clear evenings.

Great Paul was commissioned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s reign and to replace an earlier, cracked bell. The casting process required three months of molten copper and tin, poured into a massive wooden mould. After cooling, the bell was hoisted into the West Tower using a custom‑built winch, a feat that still draws admiration from engineers.

Today, Great Paul rings for special occasions: royal weddings, the State Opening of Parliament, and Remembrance Day services. It is also sounded at 9pm on New Year’s Eve, providing a solemn backdrop to London’s fireworks over the Thames.

Great Tom - The Midnight Sentinel

Unlike Great Paul’s occasional grandeur, Great Tom chimes every night at 9pm, a tradition that began in 1669. Originally a replacement for a bell destroyed in the Great Fire, Great Tom was recast in 1717 by the Whitechapel Foundry. It weighs 3.8tons and strikes a brisk “C‑sharp” that cuts through the city’s hum.

The midnight toll serves a practical purpose: it marks the hour for the office‑going crowd still navigating the financial district. In World War II, when the city was under blackout, the bell’s sound helped guide fire‑watchers and air‑raid responders.

The West Tower Ring - Change Ringing in Action

The West Tower holds a ring of twelve bells, a classic example of English change ringing. Each bell is tuned to a specific note, forming a musical scale that change‑ringers manipulate to produce intricate patterns without a melody. The Ancient Society of College Youths, founded in 1637, practices weekly on Friday evenings.

If you’re lucky, you can watch the ringers in their traditional striped “tippets” and hear the mathematical beauty of methods like “Plain Bob Minor” or “Cambridge Surprise Maximus”. The ringing not only showcases skill but also links modern Londoners to a centuries‑old communal rhythm.

Whitechapel Bell Foundry - The Master Craftsmen

The Whitechapel Bell Foundry, located just a short tube ride east of St.Paul’s, is the world’s oldest manufacturing company, dating back to 1570. Its craftsmen forged not only Great Paul and Great Tom, but also the bells of Westminster Abbey and the iconic Big Ben’s Great Bell.

Although the foundry closed its doors in 2017, the legacy lives on through the bells that still ring over the city. Tours of the historic workshop remain available through heritage groups, offering a hands‑on look at how these massive instruments are tuned and maintained.

Visiting the Bells - Tours, Times, and Tips

St.Paul’s offers several ways to experience its bells:

1. Guided Cathedral Tour - Runs weekdays at 10am, includes the crypt, dome, and a short climb to the West Tower balcony where you can see the bell chamber.
2. Evening Ringing Demonstrations - Held on the first Thursday of each month at 7pm. Space is limited, so book ahead through the cathedral’s website.
3. Sunday Service - The 11am service features a full peal of the twelve bells. Arrive early to secure a seat in the nave or the west gallery.

All tours are wheelchair‑accessible, and audio guides are available in multiple languages, including French, Mandarin, and Arabic, reflecting the city’s diverse visitor base.

Nearby Attractions and Practical Advice

After you’ve soaked up the bell sounds, wander to nearby highlights:

• Millennium Bridge - A ten‑minute walk across the Thames leads you to the sleek pedestrian bridge that connects St.Paul’s to the Tate Modern.
• St.Paul’s Whispering Gallery - Test the famous acoustic effect that lets a whisper travel along the dome’s curve.
• City of London Museum - Offers exhibits on the medieval guilds that originally funded the cathedral’s bells.

When planning your visit, grab an Oyster card for seamless travel on the Central Line (St.Paul’s station) or the riverbus from Westminster Pier. Coffee lovers can stop at a nearby chain like PretAManger or a boutique spot such as Monmouth Coffee on Fleet Street.

Comparison of London’s Historic Bells

Next Steps for Bell Enthusiasts

If you’re a local looking to deepen your connection, consider joining the Ancient Society of College Youths as a guest ringer. For tourists, book a combined “St.Paul’s and Thames Walk” tour through a reputable operator like London Walks, which includes a stop at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry.

And if you happen to be a photographer, the golden hour just before sunset bathes the cathedral’s dome in warm light-an unbeatable backdrop for a shot that captures both architecture and the soft echo of the bells.