One of London’s most famous landmarks is opening the doors to its hidden library, allowing guests the chance to stay overnight surrounded by its literary treasures.
St Paul’s Cathedral will allow two lucky guests the chance to immerse themselves in the enchanting world of literature and stay in its “secret” room – as well as enjoy dinner at a nearby restaurant and breakfast the next morning – all for just £7.
It will be the first time anyone has officially slept inside the cathedral since the Second World War, when a voluntary organisation protected the venue from bombing raids.
Designed by Sir Christopher Wren in the late 17th century, St Paul’s Cathedral is the most recent building on a site where there has been a cathedral for more than 1,400 years.
The guests will enter the cathedral through the dean’s door and climb a geometric staircase, designed by Sir Christopher more than 300 years ago.
At the top of the staircase, they will reach the library and its collection of more than 22,000 books, ranging from timeless classics to upcoming releases from Holly Jackson, Kevin Kwan and John Grisham.
They will be welcomed by the dean and will be given a tour of the cathedral. After breakfast the next morning, they will be able to climb to the famous cathedral dome to complete their stay.
The guests will stay in the bedroom section of the hidden library and will have access to the reading room, the nooks and the library of St Paul’s Cathedral throughout their stay.
As a souvenir, they will be given signed and stamped copies of yet-to-be-released Penguin Random House US books such as Jackson’s The Reappearance Of Rachel Price and Grisham’s Camino Ghosts.
The hidden library is being opened up in honour of World Book Day and the £7 fee was decided on because the day falls on 7 March.
The stay is for one night on 15 March and can be booked through Airbnb from 10am on 12 March.
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Sandra Lynes Timbrell, director of visitor engagement at St Paul’s Cathedral, said: “The recently restored library at St Paul’s has long been a secret gem of the cathedral – cleverly concealed by the ingenious architecture of Sir Christopher Wren.
“Some very fortunate guests will now get the chance to delve deeper into the history and wonder of St Paul’s with this truly one-of-a-kind stay.”
Amanda Cupples, general manager of Northern Europe at Airbnb, said the hidden library is “truly a haven for book-lovers seeking the ultimate literary escape”.
Director of brand strategy at Penguin Random House US, Alyssa Castaneda, said the stay would be a “once-in-a-lifetime experience” and “the stuff of fairy tales”.