7 Times St Paul’s Cathedral Was Used as a Filming Location
St Paul’s Cathedral has been used as a filming location in numerous Hollywood films, British classics and family movies. Thanks to its famous dome, Geometric Staircase, Whispering Gallery and historic interiors, it has appeared in Harry Potter, Mission: Impossible, Paddington 2, Wonka, Mary Poppins, Sherlock Holmes and Thor: The Dark World.
St Paul’s Cathedral is an iconic London landmark and a stunning building both inside and out.
It should come as no surprise, then, that this architectural marvel has been featured in many famous films over the years.
Here are 7 (very) famous films that have used St Paul’s Cathedral as a filming location.
7 famous movies filmed at St Paul’s Cathedral (plus exactly where they were filmed)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Filming Location: The Geometric Staircase
First up is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. This is the film in which the third-year Hogwarts students are introduced to the noble art of divination, and it’s up, up, up these beautiful steps that the students go to Professor Trewlaney’s class.
Yep, the Geometric Staircase inside St Paul’s Cathedral was used as Professor Trelawney’s staircase in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
In real life, it leads down to the cathedral crypt, but on screen, it became part of Hogwarts.
The staircase is somewhat dizzying to look down in real life, and it definitely has a magical feel – partly because of its perfectly symmetrical spiral structure and partly because of the striking black-and-white star tiling at the bottom.
If you’re a Harry Potter fan visiting London, I highly recommend visiting this filming location. However, you’ll only be able to visit it as part of a guided tour (the Treasures Tour), which runs a few times a week and must be booked in advance.
Tickets to these tours are very limited and sell out quickly, so you’ll need to plan in advance if you want to include this as part of your Harry Potter itinerary in London.
Check out this in-depth guide to all the Harry Potter filming locations in London for more inspiration.
Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
Filming Location: The Whispering Gallery
In this 2018 action blockbuster starring Tom Cruise, St Paul’s Cathedral appears during a tense sequence set inside the dome.
The Whispering Gallery, which runs around the interior of the dome 30 metres above the cathedral floor, is instantly recognisable.
In real life, it’s famous for its unique acoustics – a whisper against the wall can be heard clearly on the opposite side of the circular gallery!
In Mission: Impossible – Fallout, however, it becomes the backdrop for dramatic action rather than architectural appreciation.
Paddington 2
Filming Location: Exterior, Nave, Choir area, Geometric Staircase, Whispering Gallery
Many different parts of St Paul’s Cathedral also appear in Paddington 2 (a film that has no business being quite as brilliant as it is!).
You see the exterior of the Cathedral and the steps leading in, the ground floor sections (where the police have cordoned off certain sections), the dramatic Geometric Stairs (which Hugh Grant runs up in one costume, and then down again in another costume) and the circular Whispering Gallery.
What I love about this London filming location is how different all of the films that have used this space are – the same London landmark can serve very different cinematic purposes, from a high-stakes action movie to a family comedy.
Wonka
Filming Location: Choir area
Whilst the exterior of the church in the Wonka film was filmed at a film studio, the inside of St Paul’s Cathedral was used for some of the interior shots.
The policeman knocks on the door to the church, and the doors open into the magnificent real-life St Paul’s Cathedral. The policeman goes straight to the confession box, where Father Julius awaits, who is played by none other than national treasure Rowan Atkinson.
The confession box is actually a lift that goes down into the basement, where the leading chocolatiers keep a secret stash of chocolate.
There is a genuine crypt under St Paul’s Cathedral, where there are several notable graves; however, it is sadly not a secret meeting place for the best chocolatiers of the city. The crypt in the film was again filmed at a film studio.
St Paul’s Cathedral appears again in Wonka during a funeral scene. No chocolate is allowed during the service but Father Julius just can’t resist a bite of chocolate hidden in his pocket.
Father Julius opens the doors to the chapel to Abigail the giraffe, who starts furiously chasing him through the lower level of the Cathedral in London.
This scene is absolutely hilarious, and I love it when Father Julius shouts: “Save yourselves, judgment has come… in a most unexpected form!”
Father Julius hides in the pulpit and grabs a telephone. He admits that he knows what sins he’s committed – he sold his soul for 30 pieces of chocolate!
Unfortunately, his hiding spot is not particularly good, and Abigail the giraffe finds him.
He then runs out of the chapel shouting, “I’m a sinner, I’m a chocoholic”.
You and me both, Father.
A few moments later, Abacus Crunch is seen wheeling Abigail’s box back into the Cathedral, in which they’ve smuggled Wonka and Noodle. They then go down to the basement via the confession box.
The whole sequence with Abigail the Giraffe is hilarious and uses filming locations in both Oxford and London. Check out my guide to the Wonka locations in Oxford that then lead into this scene.
Mary Poppins
Filming Location: Exterior
Perhaps one of the most famous cinematic uses of St Paul’s Cathedral is in the original Mary Poppins.
The cathedral features prominently in the beloved song “Feed the Birds”, where the Bird Woman sits on the steps outside St Paul’s. The dome rising behind her has become one of the most iconic London film images of all time.
Even if you’ve never consciously clocked it, you almost certainly recognise the silhouette!
Sherlock Holmes
Filming Location: Geometric Staircase
In Sherlock Holmes, directed by Guy Ritchie and starring Robert Downey Jr., St Paul’s Cathedral appears once again.
The Geometric Staircase doubles as part of the film’s moody Victorian London setting. Its perfect symmetry and dramatic drop make it ideal for period drama and mystery alike.
Robert Downey Junior is seen going down the Geometric Staircase, but when he gets down to the bottom, the scene switches to being in the church St Bartholomew the Great. This is where the (almost) human sacrifice scenes were filmed.
Thor: Dark World (2018)
Filming Location: Exterior
The exterior of St Paul’s Cathedral features briefly in this Marvel instalment. The Cathedral’s dome is an essential part of the capital’s skyline, so when cinematic chaos descends upon London, it’s often visible in the background.
How to Visit St Paul’s Cathedral
If all this has inspired you to plan a filming location hunt in London, here’s what you need to know:
Address:
St Paul’s Churchyard, London EC4M 8AD
Nearest tube stations:
St Paul’s (Central Line), Blackfriars, Mansion House
Opening hours:
Generally Monday–Saturday (closed for sightseeing on Sundays due to services). Always check the official website before visiting as hours can vary.
Tickets:
You’ll need to book a sightseeing ticket to access the Cathedral interior, including the Whispering Gallery, but if you want to see the Geometric Staircase, you’ll need to book onto the Treasures Tour separately.
Top tip: Climb all the way to the Golden Gallery at the top of the dome for one of the best views in London.
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St Paul’s Cathedral is one of London’s most versatile filming locations, appearing everywhere from family favourites like Paddington 2 and Mary Poppins to action blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and Marvel films.
Whether you’re visiting for the Harry Potter staircase or simply want to explore one of London’s greatest landmarks, it’s an easy addition to any film lover’s itinerary.
Discover more iconic UK filming locations with these guides:
