London Attractions Familiar Attractions St. Paul'sSt. Paul's - Tate Modern
St. Paul's Cathedral is built of Portland stone in the late Renaissance, Baroque style. Its impressive dome was inspired by St Peter's Basilica in Rome, which rises to 365 feet (108 m) at its summit. It was the fifth of his designs which was eventually approved for the commission. The dome is actually three 
domes, each inside the other. The tall outer dome is non-structural but aesthetically pleasing, the lower inner dome provides an artistically balanced interior, and between the two is a structural cone that supports the inner and outer domes. The weight of the dome is prevented from pushing the base outwards, by means of an enormous chain, to restrain the forces. Wren was said to have been hauled up to the rafters in a basket during the building of St Paul's Cathedral's later stages to inspect progress, despite being in his seventies.
South of St. Paul's Cathedral is the recently constructed Millennium Bridge, which leads across the Thames to the Tate Modern.
The Tate Modern at Bankside is Britain's national gallery for modern art. The galleries are housed within the former Bankside Power Station, which was originally designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, the architect of the iconic Battersea Power Station.
It's a huely popular attraction, but whether it furthers the cause of modern art, is not as easy to measure as visitor numbers. A recent review cites the high quality artwork being at odds with the bland structure it's housed in. Which couldn't be further from personal experience. To me, the majority of people love the building and have limited affection for the art displayed inside it. No matter - visit the Tate Modern and make up your own mind, within its vibrant and busy atmosphere.
The Turbine Hall (main atrium), which once housed the electricity generators of the old power station, is seven storeys high with 3,400 square metres of floorspace. It is used to display large specially-commissioned works by contemporary artists, between October and March each year in a series sponsored by Unilever. This series was planned to last the gallery's first five years, but the popularity of the series has led to its extension until at least 2012.
Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG.
Blackfriars or Southwark Tube.
Call: 020 7887 8888
