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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!
#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...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!!!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
When in London to run the marathon and doing some sightseeing a few days before we visited the Tower of London. It's a 200+ foot tall monument dedicated to the Great Fire of London and close to the spot in Pudding Lane where the fire started Sept 2, 1666. There are inscription and texts describing the event, how the fire started, the damage it caused, and how it ended. If you're a history buff it's worth seeing to learn about the devastation the fire caused. Hard to miss as it's within eyesight of the London Bridge when crossing. You can also pay a small fee to climb 300 stairs to the top. read more
7 months ago
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
2 years ago
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
#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
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
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
7 years ago
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
3 years ago
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
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
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
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
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
11 years ago
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
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
12 years ago
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
11 years ago
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
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
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
18 years ago
9 years ago
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
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