St Paul’s Cathedral rises above the City of London, its great dome standing out among the office towers just north of the Thames. From the street you catch it between buildings. From a helicopter over the river you see the dome from above, with the City packed around it and the South Bank across the water. It is a named sight on every private flight on the London hub.
The London Thames 35-Minute Private Helicopter Tour passes it in the middle of the central section. The flight is about 35 minutes in the air and about an hour in total, from £1,055 (GBP) per helicopter for up to 3 guests. Before St Paul’s the route names the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye and Trafalgar Square; after it come the Globe Theatre, the City, the Tower of London, HMS Belfast, Tower Bridge, the Olympic Stadium and Canary Wharf.
The London Champagne 35-Minute Private Helicopter Flight for Two also names St Paul’s, on its route along the river to Tower Bridge; it costs £1,055 per helicopter for 2 guests and includes a bottle of champagne. The London Olympic Park 45-Minute Private Helicopter Tour covers the same central section in its 45 minutes, from £1,210 per helicopter for up to 3, and its route map then continues east.
All three flights begin at Redhill Aerodrome in Surrey, about 20 miles (32 km) south of central London. The helicopter crosses the Surrey countryside and the M25, passes through the Heathrow control zone and reaches the Thames at Barnes before turning towards the centre. You fly at about 1,000 feet, just above the height of the Shard, so the dome is below you rather than beside you. On the way back, the route heads to Redhill via Croydon. Pilot commentary points out the sights as you go, so you know which dome and which bridge you are looking at.
St Paul’s is a sight from the air only. There is no landing, no hover over the cathedral and no set number of minutes above the City; the flight keeps moving down the river. Each flight is private, so only your group is on board, and the price covers the whole helicopter. Tickets are non-refundable: all sales are final and there is no refund if you cancel. If the pilot finds the weather unsuitable on the morning, you are offered another date. Flights usually run between about 10:00 and 16:00, year-round except 25–26 December; the Thames and champagne tours fly Tuesday to Sunday.
The meeting point is Hangar 1, Redhill Aerodrome, Kings Mill Lane, Redhill RH1 5JY. Park in the roadside car park and walk through to the airside area following the signs. There is no pickup. Check in online at least 48 hours before, then arrive 30 minutes early on the day with photo ID; allow about an hour for the whole visit. The minimum age is 6, and children under 16 fly with an adult. To see St Paul’s and the City, book the Thames tour.
Se St Paul’s Cathedral från luften: London · London Thames 35-Minute Private Helicopter Tour.