This was SUCH a fun cool touristic thing to do :D I'd wanted to do it for a while and so glad we went! Came here with my boyfriend back in December. It was chilly but still well worth it. You take a staircase up (that has quite a few steps but is not too difficult) and then end up on a 360 view platform, with extraordinary views of London! You can recognize a lot of different landmarks from here. Really cute thing to do and I have a fantastic memory of our visit :) read more

There's a monument or statue at almost every turn in London, but the Monument of the Great Fire is special. The Monument memorializes the Great Fire of 1666 which burned for three days and left over 100,000 people homeless. The Fire started in a bakery close to the monument. The Monument was designed by Robert Hooke and Christopher Wren. Construction of the great Doric column was completed in 1677. Internal stairs lead to an observation deck. Atop the structure is a bronze flame depicting fire. The Monument at one time as used as a weather laboratory taking wind and other measurements. The structure has also been mentioned in Dickens' novels and James Bond movies. Today, the tall monument is dwarfed by neighboring modern buildings. Visitors can climb the 311 stair spiral staircase for a mere £6. I did not climb as the day was overcast and I want to come back on a clear day. read more

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On our first day exploring around London. We happened to stop at this spot. My dad and I decided to hike up the 311 steps (narrow spiral staircase) in this monument. At the top you'll get a 360 degree view of London but it's obstructed by a wire fence. When you come down to exit they will give you a certificate. A neat souvenir! read more

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#MemoriesMonday The Monument (a.k.a. The Monument to the Great Fire of London) was built in the 1600s to commemorate the huge fire that gutted the city of London. It stands over 200 feet tall close to where the fire started. With 300+ steps, we got our glutes worked out that day! Our tickets were part of the Tower Bridge + The Monument combo, saving ourselves 20% in the process. It was not crowded during the time of our visit so we didn't have any issues when we went up and down the tight-spaced spiral staircase. The viewing platform near the top provided a 360°-view of the area. The mesh cage was a bit of a hindrance since I was using a DSLR, but I managed to "shoot through" it. The Tower of London and the Tower Bridge are on the southeast, St. Paul's Cathedral on the northwest, the Shard on the east, and the "Walkie-Talkie" building on the south among all nearby landmarks. We loved the surrounding views along with the exercise so the experience was memorable. Combined with the Tower Bridge entrance, this historical atraction was a steal. We even got a certificate upon completion! Definitely worth the time especially when on this side of London... read more

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The first time I saw this I was sort of blown away by the fact that it was actually so tall. Mind you, these days it isn't as if it stands out, or can be seen from a distance, because many of the buildings in Central London are actually larger than this monument. However, it is pretty impressive, and stands there as a memento of the fire that ripped through the city in 1666, pretty much destroying everything. This is basically why you would be hard-pressed to actually find any buildings that date back to before that time. Well, the stone buildings are likely to have survived, but even then they would have been guttered. However, yeah, this is pretty impressive. read more

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One of those landmarks that's not hard to miss. It's one of the first distinguishing sights that you'll see if you're crossing over the London Bridge from the south end to the north. The Monument was built to commemorate the Great Fire of London that swept through the central part of the city in late 1666. The Monument stands at just over 200 feet tall and features a viewing deck at the top. The climb up to the top entails the scaling of 311 steps. I didn't go inside, but I can only imagine that the views are gorgeous up there. It will cost you about £5 to make a trip up to the top. If climbing stairs isn't really your thing or if you don't have the time to do so, you can still enjoy the wondrous views of the Monument from the street. You can actually get up close and personal too. There's actually a little scripture on the base of the Monument that details its' purpose and how it was designed. If you're walking around the north side of the London Bridge, you're almost bound to pass by this historic monument. read more

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The building was made to commemorate the Great London Fire. Came by in the morning with the London Pass and there was already quite a few people. The steps up were pretty steep and the space was extremely tight. The view was okay, kind of obstructed by the wires so it was difficult to take pictures. Personally, I think the views at St. Paul, a few blocks down are more worth it in my opinion. Would only recommend if you already have the London Pass. read more

The Monument - Views from the Monument - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - London, XGL

The Monument to the Great Fire of London, also often just called the Monument like the Underground station there, is a tall column topped with a gilded flaming urn. One may go inside and take a spiral staircase up to a viewing platform just below the gilded urn at the top. The platform goes all the way around the Monument nut is fully enclosed with a cage for safety while allowing great views all around. It is inexpensive and you get a certificate memento for doing it. I had to wait a few minutes to go in bt once in you go basically at your own pace. There's not much else but I love places like this. read more

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A penny a step with 11 thrown in for free. Unlike the twisted version of hell that is Covent Garden's version, there is two-way traffic on this spiral staircase. At least the railing looks stable. Mostly. I wouldn't want to lean on it, so when offered the choice I took the outside lane to pass. There is no rest area and no landing. It's just up and up and up, with the occasional party of kids passing you by. Yes, the kids will look at you and mutter "Pardon me, gramps" and laugh as you stand there, trying to put your heart back into your chest as you make the climb. Even with the workout track cooking along on my iPod, I still had to rest at least once. Jeez, I'm only 43! Once I did manage to make it to the top, the view was incredible. You could see for miles and miles and miles from every direction. Amazingly, only 200 feet up, I felt even more vertigo than when I did the Ledge at the Sears Tower in Chicago. Other than being a great viewing platform, there is actually a purpose to the Monument that should not be forgotten. It is in memory of the great fire of 1666 that burned and nearly destroyed London. The tower is 202 feet tall, meaning that if it were laid on its side and this spot, the thistle at the top of the tower is exactly where the fire started in a bakery on Pudding Lane. Do take time to read the plaques which list the terrible destruction of the Fire and the building of the Monument. It's in Latin but translated to English. And it's also available on the website. If you're in this neck of the woods, you absolutely need to stop here and make the climb. It's totally worth it. Even if you had to pay for those extra 11 steps. read more

The Monument - It's 200 feet tall, so it doesn't quite fit in the thumbnail image. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - London, XGL

Grab your cappuccino, latte, coffee and espresso because you have 311 steps ahead of you. However, it's worth the exercise once you arrive at the top floor. The view of the city is breathtaking or maybe it's the 311 steps that's actually taking your breath away. You get a 360 view of London. You'll see the Shard, Tower Bridge and many more landmarks up here. The monument is right outside of the Monument train station which makes it very convenient. The ticket price is cheaper when you purchase as a combo with the tower bridge ticket. If you add the round trip it's actually 622 steps up and down the narrow stairway. It would be a disaster if 2 big guys were crossing. read more

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I would highly suggest a visit to the Monument if you are visiting London. It offers phenomenal views for only 4.50 GBP (note: better than the Sky Garden!). Or, if you haven't visited the Tower Bridge Exhibition. I recommend buying a combined ticket for both attractions. The monument was built to commemorate the Great Fire of London and on the site where the first church was destroyed by the fire. The structure was completed in 1677 and designed by Christopher Wren and Robert Hooke. Warning: the climb to the top is not for the faint of heart. The staircase is a narrow and winding climb of 311 steps up. You receive a certificate upon completion of your visit stating you survived the experience! read more

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Completed in 1677 as a monument to the great fire of london this is a cheap fun thing to do if you are capable of climbing all those stairs in a tight(ish) space. There is plenty of space for passing eachother on the stairs, and there are even a lot of small alcoves for 3/4s of the column to sit ot be passed. At the top is enough space to snuggly fit about 20 people and the views are amazing, which you can check out in the pictures uploaded. Well worth the £3, make sure you go pee beforehand! and dont look down the spiral!!! read more

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In memory of the Great Fire of 1666. London - a city that rose from ashes. You can climb up the stairs, but it looks extremely claustrophobic. read more

The Monument - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - London, XGL

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This monument was built after the great fire in London. You might look at the monument from the ground level and be like " nah, Im not climing that huge column" but its not hard at all & so worth it as it less then £5. You can also climb St. Paul but more expensive. 311 stairs to the top with some sick views. Went when the sun was setting and it was spectacular. Winter hours were until 5 only. The stairway is spiral and narrow so dont try to run it fast as you will get dizzy. Its small up there but everyone works around each other and you have views of all 4 directions. Once you come down and exit they even give you a little certificate that you completed the stairs and a history about the monument. Highly recommended & cheap to get views of the whole city. Do it. read more

The Monument - You can't beat that view from the top xoxo - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - London, XGL

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This monument commemorates the Great Fire of London in 1611 and the rebuilding of the city after the fire. Ascending to the top of this monument is a great way to enjoy a panoramic view of London for a fraction of the price you'd pay at the Shard. If you're physically able, I'd recommend paying the £4 and climbing the 311 steps to get to the top of the monument to enjoy the view. There's no elevator inside and the stairs are quite narrow, so wear comfortable shoes. You will get a handsome reward once you make it back to the bottom of the winding staircase -- a certificate of completion. This certificate also provides information about the history of the monument. What a great way to get some physical activity, learn a little bit about London, and enjoy gorgeous aerial views of the city! read more

What's the quickest way to give yourself vertigo? Easy, run up the Monument stairs! At least you'll get to treat yourself to a spectacular view of the city. Come up on a sunny day so you really get to take advantage of the cityscape. It's a cheap tourist stop that packs in some history and gives you a killer workout in the process. It's worth seeing for the Wren design and really, I think we need more excuses to go to the touristy parts of town on our own accord. I know I'm not technically a tourist anymore, but I get really involved in daily life that I sometimes like a reminder of what London has to offer and little stops like this can rekindle my love of the city. It doesn't take a lot of time to see unless you're terribly out of shape, so look up a place to grab some lunch or tea afterwards and hike on up for an afternoon in the city. read more

Just fun. 311 steps up. Only costs students 2 pounds. You walk up, take your pictures, enjoy the panoramic view. This monument was particularly interesting to me just because it's built to pay respects to the Great Fire of 1666. Like dude, the fire lasted for three days and killed off 3/4ths of the city's property. Bad, ass, fire. I got here late in the afternoon and there was practically no one there. The lady at the door taking money was sweet and friendly. Too bad I was backpacking -- I had to fold up my certificate I got after walking back down. Totally recommended, if nothing more than for the novelty of it. read more

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What a nice monument in the middle of the street. I must hike up it when I have time the next time I'm in town. When having a break and relaxing, this monument is something to admire. read more

It's a shame that people do not visit these historic site more and instead favours the likes of the The Shard. It is a climb to get to the top but there is no rush, take it as easy as you like and have a laugh and giggle as you climb the stairs. The Boy and I love reading about the significance of the Monument and learned a few things after the visit. Would definitely recommend. read more

The Monument - Tower Bridge from the top of The Monument - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - London, XGL

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Fun and cheap, and a great view. It's not nearly as fancy as many of the other towers w views or attractions, but it's a good little workout and vista. read more

The Monument - Going back down the long winding staircase - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - London, XGL

Forget the Shard or the Skygarden for views of London - do some legwork and climb the stone steps to the top of the monument! It only cost £4 to go up and you get a little certificate to take home afterwards to prove you made the 311 step journey to the top. While you aren't as high up as other viewing platforms in the city (cranes weren't around back when this baby was made) you are OUTSIDE so you can feel the wind in your hair, making the experience so much more 'real' Be warned, the step are tight and there's only one way up and down so expect to squeeze past people on your trip to the top. If you're not good with heights, this might not be for you....I started to get vertigo somewhere near the top but persevere and the views will be worth it! read more

The Monument - Steps up the monument - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - London, XGL

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Visited on 3/29/15: We continued on our journey by walking to The Monument. It commemorates the Great Fire of London which was started by a candle and it burned down half the city. This monument was built in 1677 and you are able to go to the top to look at the city below. We took some incredible photos. Definitely something you need to do with your London Pass, read more

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311 stairs. In a tight spiral. I started out trotting happily up the circular stairs, racing my cousin and thinking it would be a piece of cake--but by the time I got to the top I was practically crawling up the stairs and I thought my heart would burst from my chest. All that hassle just to get to the top and suddenly remember that I'm terrified of heights and too scared to look over the top anyway; I glued myself to the wall, despite the safety cage, and waited for my family to decide to end the torture. I've heard it's a lovely view. A pretty monument to a terrible event. I believe the monument is standing in the same area where the Great Fire of London began. If you decide to pay the few £'s to go up, make sure you're in good shape! read more

I work opposite the Monument but had never gone up to the top until recently, which is surprising given that I love views of London. It only cost £4 for an adult ticket and then a hefty 311 steps to the top which provided a good work out. At the top you get an impressive view of the City, although it is getting dwarfed by the new office blocks springing up on a daily basis. I love that the height of the Monument is the same distance to Pudding Lane where the Fire of London began. I would definitely recommend this to any visitor to London. read more

Really great view from the top of the Monument! It's a bit of a hike up the 300+ step spiral staircase but at the top is a great view of London. They also give you a certificate of completion when you come back down. I will frame this and keep it forever. read more

The Monument - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - London, XGL

London is filled with monuments, so I like the arrogance of its name: THE Monument. It's just open again after being closed for a year and a half for renovation. As tourist attractions go, this is a good one. It was designed by Christopher Wren, architect of St. Paul's Cathedral, as a memorial to the Great Fire of London. It was the tallest monument in Europe at the time it was built, 210 feet tall, 210 feet away from where the great fire of London started. For £3 (£1 for children) you can take the stairs all the way to the top, and your reward for climbing all those stairs is a fantastic panoramic view of London. read more

I was taken here by a friend last week and eventhough the idea of climbing 311 steps didnt sound very appealing, it was really worth it. The views are spectacular! and you are also given a certificate stating that you have climbed it and explaining the history of the building... Fee was 3GBP. Highly recommended to both tourists and locals, but be aware if you are claustrophobic as the spiral steps get really tight towards the top. read more

After considering The Shard and being repelled by its £30 price, I wandered over to The Monument, where for £4 I could get a still pretty decent view of London, including the Shard itself. And you get some exercise in the process. For claustrophobic people: yes, there are enclosed stairs but this is not as bad as much of the castles in Europe. The stairs are reasonably spacious but it takes awhile to get to the top. read more

An imposing piece of architecture, but masked by surrounding tall buildings from street level and hence frequently overlooked (pun) as a place to visit. Here's a piece of trivia : originally the inscriptions around the base included a passage blaming the whole sorry affair on naughty Roman Catholics ( on the basis of no evidence whatsover); this has since been removed. Another piece of trivia: there is a school of thought that the "miraculously" low death toll , traditionally a grand total of six people, is a massive underestimate, as it didn't include those people from poorer backgrounds, or those whose remains were consumed by the conflagration; bear in mind it is estimated to have destroyed the houses of over 80 % of the population of London. read more

A good work out and a good view! Whenever anyone of able body comes to London to visit me and I am in the area I will always take them to Monument. For about £3 you can climb the 311 steps for some of the best panoramic views of the city. I would give this a 5 star rating however the steps can be a little scary if you are scared of heights as I am and when it is busy it can be very frightening when people push past you on them. The views however are worth getting over the fear! read more

It's all uphill babe so b prepared for a good hike up 311 steps. There's a nice view @ the top but the hike is something u have to b ready for. read more

Ok, this was really not on my radar in all of the times I've visited London, but I should have done it earlier, sure there are a lot of steps but you get a great view, a little workout and a certificate at the end. I might do it again, hopefully on a warmer day! read more

I only found out yesterday that you could climb the Monument to the Great Fire of London 1666, but it's true - at least now, as it re-opened last week after 18 months of refurb. But it was worth the tired feet, 15-minute queue to get in, £3 entry charge, 311 steps, and crowded staircase. It's a nice view: you can see St Paul's, the Eye, Battersea, and glimpse Parliament. It's an excellent view of the City and especially of Tower Bridge. read more

A much undervalued attraction in these days of the London Eye in my opinion, it is currently undergoing rennovation & cleaning at the time of this review. Built near the site of the great fire of London as a tribute to those who died, lots of commercial building have sprung up around it which have swallowed it up a little. The plaques at the base tell the story of the fire. To get to the top when I went I paid just £1.50. Make sure you are willing to get all the way along a narrow steep spiral staircase as there is no way down until you reach the top. Spectacular views from the top, it can get very windy but you are safely enclosed. Before the cages were introduced people used to commit suicide regularly by jumping from the top. read more

At the top, there is an amazing view of the various bridges in London as well as the Shard building. You can take quite breathtaking photos of the Tower Bridge and the Shard at the top. Definitely come on a sunny day though as I can imagine the fun would be totally lost on a rainy day as it can get quite cold and windy at the top of the tower. Other than that, definitely get the combo ticket to visit here and the Tower Bridge for a deal, and even cheaper for students at 6.20 pounds. The climb can be quite an ordeal, so I recommend this also only to people who can climb quite a few stairs to the top! read more

A great, not-too-touristy thing to do in London. Wonderful views from the top of 311 stairs, and a £1-£3 entrance fee plus a bit of exercise to work off those fish and chips make this a winner in a normally expensive city. Unlike 99% of London, at the top you can relax a little and take in the sights without a million things happening around you. read more

It was the most valuable 3 pounds I spent since I came to London. 311 steps and it's truly breath taking - yes it will literally take your breath away - it is an excellent place to get a spectacular view of London - wear good shoes and do not bring too much stuff as the stairwell is not spacious and you do have to carry with you all the way to the top but of course coming down was much easier!! read more

The best view in London. Really! For 3 quid you get history and a certificate with your name on it. Teh Win.

Combine a little exercise with great views of Southwhark and east/central London. 4 Euro fee in June 2014.

It's a great little monument in the central city. Unfortunately it gets hidden between all the tall buildings around it and many people don't really understand the significance of the monument. It's worth a look though, and you can climb to the top for a great view out over the city! read more