View from St Paul’s Cathedral 1964

A 1960s colour photo taken from the Stone Gallery of St Paul’s Cathedral in 1964, looking southeast across the City of London during the latter half of the 20th century. The right side of the frame is dominated by the intricate baroque stonework of one of the cathedral’s western towers, featuring a dark dome and pinecone finial. Below, the urban landscape reveals a dense network of streets, including Cannon Street and Queen Victoria Street, leading toward the River Thames. Notable landmarks include the church of St Nicholas Cole Abbey and the distant, hazy silhouette of Tower Bridge, while a forest of cranes along the Pool of London marks the city’s active commercial docks.

Today, while the historic churches and the cathedral itself remain perfectly preserved, the surrounding skyline has been completely redefined by modern architecture. The low-rise commercial buildings and post-war car parks seen in 1964 have been replaced by the glass and steel towers of the financial district, such as The Shard and the skyscrapers of the ‘Eastern Cluster’. St Paul’s Cathedral remains a protected focal point of the city, with specific sightlines maintained to ensure its dome and towers continue to dominate the horizon.