{"id":120221,"date":"2023-10-21T02:19:35","date_gmt":"2023-10-21T02:19:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leviolonrouge.com\/?p=120221"},"modified":"2023-10-21T02:19:35","modified_gmt":"2023-10-21T02:19:35","slug":"i-visited-one-of-londons-most-impressive-hidden-gems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/leviolonrouge.com\/travel\/i-visited-one-of-londons-most-impressive-hidden-gems\/","title":{"rendered":"‘I visited one of London\u2019s most impressive hidden gems’"},"content":{"rendered":"

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If you thought I was going to describe perhaps London\u2019s most iconic building, St Paul’s, as a hidden gem, don’t worry. However, on a recent visit, I discovered there\u2019s a room inside the Cathedral that most people have never seen.<\/p>\n

St Paul\u2019s Cathedral has just reopened its library to members of the public, following five years of intensive restoration work. Over 10,000 books and manuscripts were cleaned, recorded and moved off site during the process.<\/p>\n

It marked the first time the shelves were emptied since the Second World War. I went down to the Cathedral to take a look at the big reveal.<\/p>\n

In a building that\u2019s packed with breathtaking architecture, the library really takes some beating. From its carved Portland stone pillars to its decorated wooden brackets, the room is probably one of the UK\u2019s most majestic places to read a book.<\/p>\n

On a library tour, there\u2019s also the chance to hear more about the room\u2019s interesting history, which dates back to 1709.<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s not a place for light reading, the room\u2019s books range from first edition Bibles to the rather dispiritingly titled, \u2018Birken\u2019s Anatomy of Melancholy\u2019. In fact, the books are so precious that only two to three readers are allowed in the library at once and they have to be supervised by the cathedral\u2019s librarian.<\/p>\n

While tourists won\u2019t get to thumb through any copies on a library tour, just seeing the books, many of which are hundreds of years old, is an incredible experience. The Library will host rotating mini exhibitions of some of its most interesting texts.<\/p>\n

Dean of St Paul\u2019s Cathedral, the Very Revd Andrew Tremlett, said: \u201cThe Cathedral Library is a remarkable room, and remains one of Sir Christopher Wren\u2019s great achievements.<\/p>\n

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