The reflection of St Paul's dome in the glass walls of One New Change shopping center on Cheapside creates a unique juxtaposition of historic and contemporary architecture.
The reflection of St Paul's Cathedral dome in the curved glass curtain wall of One New Change shopping centre on Cheapside is one of London's most widely shared urban photographs, juxtaposing Sir Christopher Wren's Baroque masterpiece — completed in 1710 — with the building specifically designed to reflect and frame it. French architect Jean Nouvel designed One New Change, opened in 2010, with a south-facing curved glass facade that acts as a fragmented mirror, breaking the cathedral's dome and lantern into distorted, graphic reflections that shift as the viewer moves along Cheapside or New Change Street.
At blue hour — approximately 25 to 50 minutes after sunset — the luminous glass panels glow with internal building illumination while the dome above takes on deepening cobalt tones. This window provides the most balanced exposure: both the historic cathedral and the reflective contemporary facade are equally legible, and the contrast between the two architectural eras is most striking. Overcast evenings with a hint of colour in the sky can also be productive, reducing glare and creating more even tones across the glass surface.
The primary shooting position is on the public footway along Cheapside, standing directly opposite the One New Change ground-floor glass walls and looking south across the street toward the reflection. An alternative composition from New Change Street — the narrow street running south along One New Change's eastern face — provides a closer, more abstracted view of the reflective panels. The One New Change roof terrace is also open to the public during trading hours and offers direct elevated views of the cathedral's lantern at no charge.
Cheapside is a busy City of London street on weekdays with significant pedestrian and vehicle traffic during office hours. The best conditions for tripod photography are early morning or late evening, particularly at weekends when the area becomes much quieter. No special permissions are required to photograph from the public street. St Paul's underground station is a two-minute walk from the shooting position.
Shooting notes
- Equipment
- Standard to mild telephoto zoom (50–85mm) for isolating the reflection panels against the cathedral; tripod for blue hour long exposures.
Highlights
- St Paul's dome reflected in One New Change's curved glass curtain wall — a Baroque-to-contemporary juxtaposition
- Blue hour provides ideal exposure balance between the illuminated glass panels and a cobalt sky
- Multiple sub-positions along Cheapside and New Change Street produce different reflection fragments and angles
- One New Change roof terrace offers direct elevated views of the cathedral's lantern during trading hours at no charge
- Street-level access from St Paul's underground station in under two minutes
Tips for visiting
- Blue hour 25–50 minutes after sunset offers the most balanced exposure between the illuminated glass and deepening sky
- Moving left or right along Cheapside shifts which portion of the dome appears in the reflection — explore multiple positions
- A standard to mild telephoto (50–85mm) frames the reflection panels tightly against the cathedral
- Weekend evenings provide much quieter street conditions for tripod use than weekday afternoons
- Overcast evenings with muted skies reduce glare from surrounding buildings and create more even tones in the glass
When to visit
Blue hour (25–50 minutes after sunset) on any clear to lightly overcast evening; weekend evenings preferred for quieter street conditions on Cheapside.
Accessibility
The shooting location is on the flat, paved public footway along Cheapside in the City of London, fully accessible to wheelchair users and those with mobility aids. No steps or gradients are required.
Frequently asked questions
What is One New Change?
One New Change is a mixed-use retail and office building on Cheapside in the City of London, designed by French architect Jean Nouvel and opened in 2010. Its curved glass curtain wall was specifically designed to reflect St Paul's Cathedral across the street.
What time is best for the reflection shot?
Blue hour — approximately 25 to 50 minutes after sunset — is widely considered optimal. The glass glows with internal illumination while the sky deepens to cobalt, providing an even balance for the exposure.
Is a tripod required?
A tripod significantly improves sharpness during blue hour and evening conditions. During daytime, the reflection photographs well without a tripod in adequate ambient light.
Can visitors access the One New Change roof terrace?
The roof terrace is open to the public during the building's trading hours (typically 10am–8pm on weekdays, shorter on weekends) and offers unrestricted direct views of the cathedral's lantern and upper dome at no charge.