The Monument to the Great Fire of London

The Monument to the Great Fire of London commemorates the devastating fire of 1666, which destroyed much of medieval London.

Designed by Sir Christopher Wren and Dr Robert Hooke, the 61-metre-high column stands close to where the fire began on Pudding Lane.

You can also climb the 311 steps to the viewing platform, which offers panoramic views over the City of London.

Yes! Pudding Lane still exists in the City of London, although the street looks very different from how it would have in 1666. It’s famous as the location of the bakery owned by Thomas Farriner, where the Great Fire of London is believed to have started on 2 September 1666. 

The medieval St Paul’s Cathedral was one of the most famous buildings destroyed in the Great Fire of London, along with thousands of homes and hundreds of other buildings.

The cathedral was later rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren, with the present-day St Paul’s Cathedral completed in 1711. Other notable buildings lost included the Royal Exchange and Guildhall, although parts of both were subsequently rebuilt.

The Great Fire of London destroyed a huge part of the City of London. It burned for four days in September 1666, destroying around 13,200 houses, 87 parish churches and 52 livery company halls, as well as landmarks including the medieval St Paul’s Cathedral.

Around 80% of the City of London was affected by the fire, although the exact area and extent of the destruction vary depending on how it is measured.